Brighton 2-1 Forest: Milner tops ratings again as Seagulls win back-to-back | OneFootball

Brighton edged Nottingham Forest 2-1 at the Amex, securing back-to-back wins for the first time since November. James Milner again emerged as the standout performer.

According to WeAreBrighton.com, Fabian Hurzeler named an unchanged XI and Milner topped their ratings for the second straight week. It continues a sharp turnaround for a side booed off three weeks ago after losing to Crystal Palace. The veteran had been reduced to late cameos while chasing Gareth Barry’s Premier League appearance record, which he surpassed at Brentford last week.

Forest struck first through Morgan Gibbs-White. Brighton levelled when Jan Paul van Hecke’s raking pass unsettled the visitors, Pascal Gross fed Diego Gomez and the midfielder fired home. Danny Welbeck then grabbed the winner.

Van Hecke also made two vital blocks, one diverting a certain goal over the bar. Milner, alongside Gross and Jack Hinshelwood, anchored midfield with energy and nous, repeatedly snuffing out counters. Gross went close from a cleverly worked free kick with Milner, Matz Sels saving.

Mats Wieffer collected a booking that left him injured, Joel Veltman replaced him and helped close out the game. Kaoru Mitoma dragged a first-half one-on-one wide but contributed plenty defensively.

Gomez moved into double figures for the season in his first full campaign in English football. Welbeck’s strike made him only the second Albion player to hit double figures in consecutive Premier League seasons since Glenn Murray. Solly March’s return after knee surgery, his first appearance in 10 months, capped a positive night.

Source: WeAreBrighton.com