DANNY WELBECK is proof that even old dogs can learn new tricks.
But Brighton’s 33-year-old pedigree pup did not have the last laugh as Nottingham Forest clawed their way back before it all turned ugly on the south coast with THREE red cards.
But then Welbeck scored a beauty from a dead ball just before the break
Morgan Gibbs-White was later sent off after a nasty challenge on Pedro
Nuno Espirito Santo was also sent off for finding fault with his captain’s red card
Before Fabian Hurzeler was shown red for his reaction to Gibbs-White’s foul just moments later
Welbeck netted his 70th Prem goal – and his FIRST direct free-kick – just before the break to complete a Seagulls’ turnaround after Jack Hinshelwood’s 42nd minute leveller.
Forest had gone ahead through Chris Wood’s 13th minute penalty but looked down and out until super-sub Ramon Sosa popped up with a timely 70th minute equaliser.
The two teams – who both remain unbeaten in the Prem this campaign – then ended without their managers on the touchline following Morgan Gibbs-White’s 83rd minute sending off.
It was a nasty scissor-tackle on Joao Pedro that earned Gibbs-White a second yellow from referee Robert Jones, one that led to both Fabian Hurzeler and Nuno Espirito Santo receiving straight reds for their reactions.
Jones had initially not blown for a foul, signalling that Gibbs-White had won the ball, but quickly changed his mind amid the chaos.
The Forest star could also find himself in further hot water after angrily approaching fourth official Anthony Taylor.
After their first win at Liverpool since 1969, and looking for a first league goal at the Amex for nine years, the normally cautious Espirito Santo changed tact with an attacking line-up that included Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga.
Hurzeler also shook things up through a first start since April for Pervis Estupinan and benching Yankuba Minteh for Simon Adingra.
The distance from Welbeck’s free-kick
Chris Woods’ tucked his penalty away to put Forest ahead in the 13th minute
Before Jack Hinshelwood levelled the score three minutes before Welbeck’s strike
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Ivory Coast winger Adingra was in impressive form with three goals and one assist in all competitions, coming close to another contribution inside the first 10 minutes.
But Forest stuck to their gameplan – one that bamboozled Arne Slot’s Liverpool and was wreaking havoc on the south coast as Hudson-Odoi threatened in behind, high on confidence from his Anfield winner, and was involved again here in the 11th minute.
Gibbs-White sparked an attack from a quick throw-in as Hudson-Odoi took over in the box and invited a tangling of legs between himself and Baleba, leaving ref Jones no choice.
Kiwi international Wood slotted into the bottom left corner for his third goal of the campaign.
The hosts were rattled, even more so as Wood slipped in again seven minutes later with a glaring miss that was saved by a late offside flag.
Brighton’s frustrations were brought on by Forest’s tenacity off the ball, Gibbs-White the catalyst with some channelled aggression high up the pitch.
The half was petering out as Wood was clattered in the box by Bart Verbruggen, waved away amid protests, but soon Brighton were level against the run of play.
Ramon Sosa and Morgan Gibbs-White were delighted to level the score
Jan Paul van Hecke curled in a beautiful cross with Hinshelwood rising highest.
Espirito Santo slumped back to his seat wondering how the teenager was left unmarked.
And three minutes later, the turnaround was complete via an unlikely source: Welbeck standing over a free-kick.
Even he looked surprised as it whipped into the far corner from 25 yards as Matz Sels, bizarrely, was rooted to the spot.
It was only Brighton’s fourth goal direct from a free-kick in 271 Prem outings.
Forest had every right to feel hard done by after their late lapse, but Espirto Santo swung the axe swiftly at half time with three changes: Yates, Neco Williams and Jota Silva.
The Portuguese manager was praised for his subs on Merseyside, hoping for the same here, but instead watched Brighton stamp their authority on the game.
Welbeck should have added a second with a silky run through the Forest back four and narrowly poking an effort into the legs of Sels.
Espirito Santo rolled another dice with the introduction of Ramon Sosa in the 59th minute, and 11 minutes later he tapped in the leveller as Jota sprung Brighton’s high line for the simplest of assists.
With both Espirito Santo and Hurzeler down the tunnel and Forest down to 10 men, the visitors should have won it in the dying seconds but for Sosa’s overhit cross for Hudson-Odoi.