Omobamidele own goal gives Brighton the win relief they need against Forest | Premier League

It is rare these days to see Brighton whittling away at the remaining injury time by hogging possession near the corner flag. Slender victories, achieved via the helping head of an opponent, can hardly be considered “on brand”. But winning ugly – as they did courtesy of Andrew Omobamidele’s own goal – is far better than not winning at all.

And so, in a week where Roberto De Zerbi’s side saw their current continental campaign almost certainly conclude, defeating Nottingham Forest brought some most welcome home comfort.

Since the locals last trudged up from Falmer Station, Brighton’s hopes of something tangible and shiny for their daring, trendy approach have been dashed. Trips to both Molineux and then Rome have proved too much. Re-qualification for Europe – now the aim for the season – will be helped by afternoon’s such as these.

At times, some question whether De Zerbi’s approach ought to incorporate a little more pragmatism. Certainly, under predecessor Graham Potter, they were much harder to break down. Whether out of choice or necessity here, there were at least signs of increased resilience. Carlos Baleba was rightly awarded man of the match for a midfield performance that offered plenty of ballast.

Forest might feel a little aggrieved to leave with nothing. They will almost certainly argue – with some merit – that Jakub Moder ought to have been dismissed for a second-half challenge on Neco Williams. But for all their bluster, they did not create enough to truly fluster Bart Verbruggen in Brighton’s goal.

By the time they head to Luton next weekend, Forest may at least have some clarity as to whether they will be deducted points for PSR breaches. Maybe that will provide the boost they need. Then again, maybe it will not.

Few could reasonably argue that Brighton were not value for the half-time lead afforded to them by Omobamidele. Forest, in fairness, seemed content enough to sit deep and cede possession.

The hosts certainly had plenty of it but found defensive gaps few and far between. Set pieces looked the likeliest source, and from one by Pascal Gross, Moder almost marked his first Premier League start in some 736 days in the ideal way. Alas, Matz Sels was equal to his glancing header.

It was from another Gross dead ball that Brighton’s goal came. As the net rippled, two huddles formed. The first was one of blue and white delight, Gross the object of much back patting for the in swinging delivery that Omobamidele turned past Sels.

“We’ve scored a goal,” came the cry from home supporters – at least mostly in jest.

The second huddle was red with rage, all Forest personnel bar Harry Toffolo and Murillo surrounding Michael Salisbury.

Forest’s roots still burn with the injustice of Paul Tierney dropping a ball to the wrong set of feet in defeat against Liverpool. Their ire here – a claim that Moder had prevented Sels from leaping – was misdirected, though.

Going behind flicked Forest’s gears from preventative to proactive. They almost levelled immediately, Divock Origi forced Verbruggen into a save with his legs. The forward had been fed by Morgan Gibbs-White, and the same pair combined soon after the break. Origi’s finish? Wayward.

Brighton grew frustrated, perhaps even a tad anxious. De Zerbi fizzed, popped and bopped around his technical area. Forest’s confidence grew visibly and, after Moder jumped into a tackle on Williams, they were certain a numerical advantage was coming.

Now, Salisbury had, until that point, judged the line between foul and caution impeccably. He had even earned a rare round of applause when, early on, he showed Omobamidele a yellow for a foul committed on Ansu Fati a few minutes earlier.

But Moder will, or at least, should, consider himself a little lucky that Var official Craig Pawson agreed with Salisbury’s initial decision to book him.

That seemed to deflate Forest. Gibbs-White threaded a pass behind Brighton’s back line, but Verbruggen repelled Chris Wood. And that was the last real chance of note, much to De Zerbi’s relief.