Bart Verbruggen was the hero for Brighton after his stoppage-time penalty save from Igor Thiago earned a dramatic 2-1 home victory over Brentford.
The Seagulls had looked like tasting defeat in Fabian Hürzeler’s 50th match in charge after Thiago’s ice-cool first-half spot-kick had the visitors in front. Danny Welbeck’s 71st-minute leveller sparked a grandstand finish for Brighton and substitute Jack Hinshelwood completed the turnaround with six minutes left.
Further drama was to follow in stoppage time as Maxim De Cuyper was penalised for holding on to Kevin Schade by referee Chris Kavanagh, but Thiago was unable to earn Brentford a share of the spoils.
The casual penalty technique of Thiago came back to bite the Brazil forward as Verbruggen declined to dive until the last moment and saved the spot-kick to spark wild celebrations at the Amex Stadium.
Hürzeler was forced to sit in the stands having picked up three yellow cards this season, and watched Brighton fashion the first chance after eight minutes when Yankuba Minteh turned Kristoffer Ajer, but Mats Wieffer fired straight at Caoimhín Kelleher.
