The Guardian
A red haze descended on the Amex Stadium as tempers boiled over in a fractious finale to this lopsided tie, which saw Morgan Gibbs-White and both managers sent off. Nottingham Forest midfielder Gibbs-White received a second yellow card for a late challenge on substitute Joao Pedro, while Nuno EspÃrito Santo and Fabian Hürzeler were sent off for their violent reactions on the sidelines.
Chris Wood’s early penalty raised hopes of a fifth straight win for Forest, a run which stretches back to the end of last season. Brighton’s two late first-half goals – teenager Jack Hinshelwood’s magnificent header and Danny Welbeck’s stunning free-kick – turned the contest on its head. The visitors made changes in the second half and were rewarded with an equalizer from substitute Ramón Sosa, keeping both teams unbeaten.
The Times
What do you get when the team with the Premier League’s toughest offside trap meets the top counter-attacking experts? Much more than anyone expected, that’s for sure. A scintillating encounter between Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest ended with four goals shared, ten yellow cards, three reds as both teams maintained their impressive unbeaten start to the Premier League.
But not for the first time this season, unfortunately the game ended with the spotlight shining most on the match referees after Morgan Gibbs-White was sent off in the 83rd minute for a challenge on Brighton’s João Pedro. Gibbs-White’s attack was reckless – the kind of scissors challenge that would have barely raised an eyebrow a decade ago, but now leaves it up to the referee to decide.
At first, though, referee Rob Jones didn’t seem to think the tackle warranted even a foul, instead pointing to Gibbs-White winning the ball. Thirty seconds later, his opinion changed and Forest no. The 10 – who had been cautioned for an earlier foul – received a second yellow card, prompting a furious outburst on the touchline.
Telegraph
Nottingham Forest are furious with the refereeing process in the 2-2 draw with Brighton and believe it is in direct conflict with the guidelines they were given before the season.
The game exploded seven minutes from time when Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White received a second yellow card for a challenge on Joao Pedro in Brighton.
Referee Rob Jones appeared to signal that Gibbs-White had received the ball, but Forest believe he was overruled by fourth official Anthony Taylor, who instructed the referee to show a second yellow, his reaction to which saw him sent off also Forest’s manager Nuno Espirito Santo decision. as well as Brighton coach Fabian Hurzeler for his role going forward.
Forest are believed to be particularly upset by the decision, having been told by Professional Game Match Officials Ltd before the start of the season that the referees’ announcements on the pitch would be overturned – not overturned, as was the case here. The protocol was referred to as “the referee’s call” in meetings between officials and managers before the start of the season and it is believed that Forest believe today’s decision is against the order and undermines the referee on the pitch.
Nottingham Forest assistant manager Rui Silva felt referee Robert Jones should have stood by his original decision not to send off Morgan Gibbs-Whitt following the chaotic end to the 2-2 draw with Brighton.
Gibbs-White’s defiant challenge on Albion substitute Joao Pedro sparked angry scenes at the Amex Stadium, where Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo and Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler were also sent off.
Jones initially shaped the ball to mark a clean tackle before showing Forest captain Gibbs-White a second yellow card, with fourth official Anthony Taylor possibly influencing the final decision.
Four goals, three red cards and barely a moment to catch your breath. But there’s only one place to start the story of this action-packed draw.
It was late in the second half, with the goal line already locked at two, when Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White struggled to stop Joao Pedro, who had sparked a Brighton counter-attack with a header.
A strong challenge, no doubt. One that was on the side of recklessness but sat in a difficult gray area when Gibbs-White looked to have won the ball. Not least in the eyes of the man who mattered most, referee Robert Jones, who even indicated that he believed Forester had won the ball by making a circular shape with his hands in the air.
a mirror
Brighton’s Premier League match against Nottingham Forest descended into chaos in the closing stages following a tackle by Morgan Gibbs-White.
Gibbs-White received a second yellow card in the 83rd minute after tackling Brighton forward Joao Pedro as he tried to clear the ball. Referee Robert Jones initially indicated that Gibbs-White had won the ball but eventually showed him a second yellow card for a challenge from behind.
This sparked fury on the touchline and Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo and Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler were sent off, while Forest assistant Rui Pedro Silva was also booked after the crowd surrounded Jones.
The sun
Danny Welbeck is proof that even old dogs can learn new tricks.
But Brighton’s 33-year-old pedigree pup didn’t have the last laugh as Nottingham Forest hit back before things turned ugly on the south coast with THREE red cards.
Welbeck scored his 70th Prem goal – and his FIRST direct free-kick – just before the break to complete the Seagulls’ turnaround after Jack Hinshelwood’s 42nd-minute equaliser.
Forest went ahead after Chris Wood’s penalty in the 13th minute but looked down and out until super-sub Ramon Sosa came through with a timely equalizer in the 70th minute.
The teams – who both remain unbeaten in Prem this campaign – then ended up without their managers on the touchline after Morgan Gibbs-White’s 83rd minute sending off.