Joao Pedro was fortunate not to get sent off after he tried to elbow Yehor Yarmoliuk in the face but failed to make contact as Brighton’s December pain went on in a goalless draw against Brentford.
On the pitch, referee Andy Madley deemed there was no violent conduct and after a lengthy stoppage to check for a possible red card, Chris Kavanagh on VAR duty deemed that Madley’s call was not a clear and obvious error despite replays clearly showing Pedro lashing out at the Brentford midfielder.
With 15 minutes to go, Yarmoliuk dragged back Pedro to stop a Brighton attack but the forward’s frustrations boiled over as he attempted to elbow him in response.
Yarmoliuk was booked for the foul but Pedro didn’t even get a yellow card for his actions, with Kavanagh determining there was no violent conduct as Pedro didn’t make contact.
The Premier League were quick to release a statement regarding the incident via X which read: ‘The referee’s call of no red card to João Pedro for violent conduct was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed the referee’s call was not clearly and obviously wrong.’
Brighton’s December pain went on as they wasted an array of chances in a goalless draw against Brentford, that made it six games without a win for Fabian Hurzeler’s side.
Joao Pedro was fortunate not to get sent off after he tried to elbow Yehor Yarmoliuk
Referee Andy Madley deemed there was no violent conduct after Yarmoliuk dragged back Pedro to stop a Brighton attack
Pedro didn’t even get a yellow card for his actions whilst Yarmoliuk was booked for dragging him back
Since their last victory on November 23, the Seagulls have plummeted from second to mid-table and week by week, the absence of Danny Welbeck – out with an ankle injury – is proving crucial.
This should have been the ideal game for Brighton against a Brentford side that went into this clash on the south coast with just one point on the road all season.
Brighton were wasteful from the outset with Julio Enciso having eight attempts on goal in the first half alone – the last Premier League player to do that was Luis Suarez in 2013.
In the 4th minute, Enciso hit the post after Brighton’s high press caught Mark Flekken out and minutes later, the Dutch keeper was forced to make a diving stop to deny Carlos Baleba.
Enciso then blew another golden opportunity heading straight into Flekken’s hands but two minutes later, Brentford had the ball in the net after a ruthless counter.
Yoane Wissa showed Enciso how to finish with a superb strike that beat Bart Verbruggen and had the away dugout out of their seats but VAR showed he was marginally offside.
It was a warning for Brighton, who came close again with Flekken saving from Brajan Grada, Enciso and Matt O’Riley.
Yoane Wissa thought he scored the game opener but it was ruled out for offside
In the 36th minute, Flekken was forced off with a hamstring injury after keeping out Mitoma’s cross with his right foot, and replaced by Hakon Valdimarsson, who made his Premier League debut.
Flekken made six saves in a busy first-half and Brighton looked to test his Icelandic replacement’s confidence early on with O’Riley and Kaoru Mitoma both having a go from distance while Enciso’s evening was summed up by a shot that almost went out for a throw-in.
The 20-year-old’s last goal – which won Premier League goal of the season – came in May 2023,
Despite Brighton having 15 attempts to Brentford’s two in an opening 45 which the home side dominated, it was goalless at the break.
Enciso continued to get in dangerous positions in the second-half though lacked composure in front of goal and with Brighton failing to make their dominance count, Hurzeler’s frustration grew on the touchline.
He made a triple change in the 66th minute before replacing Enciso with Georginio Rutter in the 78th minute.
At the other end, Thomas Frank’s side looked to nick the three points but Verbruggen saved comfortably from Wissa on the counter, before keeping out Mikkel Damsgaard’s strike.
Enciso continued to get in dangerous positions in the second-half for The Seagulls though lacked composure in front of goal
There was time late on for Yasin Ayari to blaze over on a frustrating night for the home fans, where their lack of a finisher – with Joao Pedro having a tough evening and Evan Ferguson out due to injury – cost them three points.
Hurzeler turned to Solly March, who came on in the dying stages for the first time since rupturing his cruciate ligament in October 2023 and the 30-year-old got the biggest reception of the night but there was no time for a festive miracle, as his last gasp effort flew over.
For the travelling Brentford fans however, it was a late Christmas present in the form of a rare point on the road.
