De Cuyper's Composure Punishes Forest's Wastefulness

À Éviter Score Futmetrix: 37/100. Brighton converted their chances with ruthless efficiency while Nottingham Forest squandered a dominant first-half display into thin air.

When Volume Meets Precision

Forest dominated the opening 45 minutes with relentless pressure—19 total shots, 9 corners, 51% possession. Yet Intensity without clinical finishing is just noise. Maxim De Cuyper punished that wastefulness at the stroke of halftime, slotting home to hand Brighton a 1-0 lead they barely deserved on the balance of play.

The second half saw the Balance shift decisively. Brighton's substitutions—particularly Elliot Anderson's introduction at the break for Forest—failed to spark the required momentum. Instead, Brighton tightened their grip. With 23 minutes remaining, substitute S. Tzimas entered at minute 65 and delivered the killer blow in minute 88, extending Brighton's lead to 2-0 and sealing three points that felt inevitable despite Forest's territorial dominance.

The Stakes were suffocating for Forest. Languishing in 16th place with a -9 goal difference, they needed a result. Brighton, sitting fifth with European ambitions, needed to prove their credentials against a side fighting for survival. Forest showed fight—Bart Verbruggen made three crucial saves—but lacked the cutting edge when it mattered. A combined 36 shots across both teams, yet only two found the net. That's the story: Forest created opportunities; Brighton executed them.

The Upset never materialized. Brighton's xG of 1.53 versus Forest's 0.71 told the real tale. Forest's 83% pass accuracy and 460 total passes proved possession without purpose. When you have 19 shots and only 3 on target, you're not unlucky—you're imprecise. Brighton's efficiency, by contrast, was chilling. Two goals from 17 shots and an xG that underperformed their conversion rate. That's a team that knows how to hurt you.