Brighton move second with 2-0 win over Brentford after Thiago red card

Brighton climbed to second in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Brentford at the Amex Stadium on Sunday, with Diego Gómez and Pascal Gross scoring before half-time. According to the Guardian's match report, the visitors were reduced to 10 men when Igor Thiago's yellow card was upgraded to red following a video review of an incident involving Chema Andrés.

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Gómez opened the scoring with a shot past Caoimhín Kelleher, giving Brighton the advantage before Thiago's dismissal. The Brentford forward had initially been booked by referee Michael Oliver for a shove during a midfield confrontation. Video assistant referee Stuart Attwell intervened, and the incident was judged to constitute violent conduct. Brentford were consequently left to chase the game with a numerical disadvantage as well as a one-goal deficit.

Brighton extended their lead through Gross from the penalty spot. Luka Vuskovic won the penalty after Keane Lewis-Potter pulled his shirt inside the area, allowing Gross to add to Gómez's opener. Brentford manager Keith Andrews subsequently criticised his side's defending of the situation, saying they needed to improve despite the pride he took in their work at set pieces.

Andrews introduced Yehor Yarmolyuk and Nathan Collins at half-time, but Brighton continued to control possession, with their share rising above 75%, the Guardian reported. Brentford offered little threat, although they did force corners during the second half. Kevin Schade later received a yellow card for shoving Vuskovic near the touchline; unlike the earlier incident involving Thiago, that challenge did not result in a dismissal.

The victory marked Brighton's return home after five away matches, with their previous two outings bringing wins at Manchester City and Getafe. Brentford, meanwhile, remained without a Premier League victory at the Amex. Brighton did not add to their first-half goals, but the two-goal advantage was enough to secure the points and take them into second place.

Manager Fabian Hürzeler welcomed supporters' excitement while stressing the importance of putting the team first. Gross took a more cautious view of expectations, emphasising the narrow margins across the Premier League and the difficulty of individual matches. Andrews expressed frustration with the video-assisted decision to dismiss Thiago, while also acknowledging that his own players needed to handle such situations better.