Hurzeler Reflects on Welbeck’s Late Winner Sealing Brighton Victory

Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Fabian Hurzeler revealed he considered substituting veteran forward Danny Welbeck before the player netted a crucial goal to secure a 2-1 victory against Newcastle United on October 7, 2023. The match took place at the Amex Stadium, where Welbeck’s second goal in the 84th minute proved decisive, despite a prior equaliser from Newcastle in the 76th minute.

Welbeck, who had already scored in the first half, displayed his striking prowess again with a right-footed shot from the edge of the area. This marked his fourth goal in as many appearances against Newcastle, highlighting his effectiveness in these encounters. Prior to this, the game had shifted momentum when Nick Woltemade equalised for Newcastle, prompting Hurzeler to prepare for substitutions, including Charalampos Kostoulas and Tommy Watson, both of whom were poised to make their Premier League debuts.

In a post-match interview with The Athletic, Hurzeler candidly stated, “It’s important to be honest and it was the case that I was thinking of taking him off. And then he surprised me another time, so credit to him. Sometimes it’s about timing in life and it was good timing.” This moment underscored Welbeck’s ability to deliver in critical situations, a trait that has proven valuable to the team.

Despite Welbeck’s two goals drawing attention, Hurzeler emphasized the importance of the forward’s overall performance. “Everyone will focus now on his two goals. Of course, that is important to win games, but when we look at his performance, how many times he defended, how many recovery runs he did, I think that is the main thing,” he noted. The coach highlighted the significance of hard work and commitment, stating that these qualities inevitably lead to success on the pitch.

With this victory, Brighton climbed to ninth place in the Premier League standings. This match also marked their fourth win in nine unbeaten home encounters against Newcastle, which includes five draws, demonstrating a solid home advantage.

Looking ahead, Brighton faces a challenging schedule, with a match against Manchester United at Old Trafford next Saturday, followed by a clash with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup four days later. The upcoming fixtures will test the team’s resilience and strategy as they continue to build momentum in the league.