Brighton 3-0 Derby Player Ratings: 10s for Kayal and Knockaert

Seagulls celebrate – mirror.co.uk

Goals from Anthony Knockaert, Sam Baldock and Glenn Murray gave Brighton a 3-0 win over a sluggish Derby side – but how did players on both teams fare?

Brighton & Hove Albion

David Stockdale – he was playing, was he? 5

Bruno – a battling display that is typical of the 36-year-old. Early signs are the injury is not as bad as might have been feared. 7
Uwe Hünemeier – some excellent covering work when the ball got in behind Bruno. 8
Lewis Dunk – dominated Bent for most of the first half, though he let the striker get goalside for a header on one occasion. 7
Liam Rosenior – got forward superbly in the first half hour and was industrious throughout. On one occasion he outpaced Ince, seven years his junior, through sheer desire. 9

Anthony Knockaert – Brighton’s most creative player who thrived in the space created by the front two. Took his goal superbly. 10
Dale Stephens – disciplined and aggressive when needed. No coincidence Brighton have only lost two games that he has started in 13 months. 9
Beram Kayal – much like Stephens with one or two good passes into forward areas. Been out of the team a lot due to Sidwell’s form but made a case for himself tonight. 10
Jiri Skalak – worked in tandem with Rosenior, the left flank being a common source of Brighton’s early attacks. 8

Glenn Murray – blocked pathways for Derby centre-backs to play balls into midfield. Used his physical presence to hold onto the ball in good areas and get Brighton up the pitch. 9
Sam Baldock – full of running and used his movement to get into the gaps, as he did for an opportunistic finish just before the break. 8

Fikayo Tomori (on 65) – put a good shift in, though if fit Bruno’s experience would be favourable for next week’s trip to Leeds. 6
Tomer Hemed (on 79)
Solly March (on 82)

Derby County

Scott Carson – took evasive action at times and made one or two good saves. Not necessarily at fault for any of the goals. 4

Cyrus Christie – standards were not set high, but he was Derby’s most creative player. His crosses from deep set up heading opportunities for Bent in the first half and Vydra in the second. 5
Chris Baird – didn’t know where Baldock was at times and didn’t have the pace to compete for balls. 2
Jason Pearce – forced back by the physical presence of Murray in the first half. Caught out of position too often. 4
Marcus Olsson – one good cross at the end of the first half but looked slow to second balls. 2

Julien de Sart – a more productive player for Brighton than Derby! His tackle near the end of the first half inadvertently set up Baldock’s goal. 1
Jacob Butterfield – gave the ball away from the opener and needs to get stuck in more. Hindered by a lack of support from those in front of him. 2

Tom Ince – didn’t do his defensive work. Always tried to show his skill in possession, rather than look for where other players were. 2
David Nugent – one of the few who tried hard but didn’t have the legs to press at a high intensity. 4
Matej Vydra – didn’t look at home on the left. Favoured getting into central areas, as he did for a second half header that few wide. Clearly out of position. 3

Darren Bent – given lots of balls in behind that he didn’t have the pace to latch onto. Headed narrowly wide early on but was otherwise dominated by Dunk. 3

Craig Bryson (on 45) – worked hard. Showed a desire to press and harry the opposition that was not matched by his teammates. 6
Will Hughes (on 45) – lacked his usual intelligence and ran into cul-de-sacs at times. 4