Head coach Fabian Hurzeler has apologised to supporters for Brighton & Hove Albion’s heaviest league defeat for 67 years at Nottingham Forest.
The 7-0 drubbing for Hurzeler’s side at the City Ground is the club’s worst league loss since a 9-0 hammering at Middlesbrough on the opening day of the 1958-59 season in the second tier.
Hurzeler said: “We have to apologise for this result to our supporters and everyone who supports Brighton, because they spend a lot of time, they spend a lot of money, and of course they are very disappointed about the result. So, we can just apologise.”
Brighton were 3-0 down in 32 minutes to a Lewis Dunk own goal and headers by Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood. Hurzeler made a triple substitution at half-time, bringing on Diego Gomez, Matt O’Riley and Simon Adingra for Kaoru Mitoma, Joao Pedro and Jack Hinshelwood, but it got worse in the second half.
7 – Nottingham Forest enjoyed their biggest league victory since beating Chelsea 7-0 in the top-flight in April 1991. Meanwhile, this was Brighton’s heaviest league defeat since a 9-0 loss at Middlesbrough on the opening day of the 1958-59 season in the second tier. Resounding. pic.twitter.com/VizSSWnKue
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 1, 2025
Wood completed his hat-trick with two more goals, including a penalty. Nico Williams and substitute Jota Silva added to the misery in the closing stages.
Hurzeler said: “It’s not an easy one to take, but in the end it’s football and it’s part of the business to deal with these days and performances and results.
“Therefore, keep staying positive and keep finding solutions and taking responsibility for a bad result and performance.”
Brighton’s second successive defeat after losing 1-0 at home to Everton has dropped them a place to tenth in the table, below Fulham on goal difference.
They face Chelsea next twice in succession at the Amex Stadium, in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday and in the league six days later.
(Michael Regan/Getty Images)
