Nottingham Forest 0-2 Brighton & Hove Albion: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Ladbrokes’ post-match review of Nottingham Forest 0-2 Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Sunday, 30 November 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

The first half saw Nottingham Forest edge possession but fail to convert it into goals, with Brighton picking up a yellow card for M. Wieffer in the 44th minute. Just before the break, M. De Cuyper broke the deadlock for the visitors in the 45+1st minute, giving Brighton a 1-0 lead at half-time. Nottingham Forest made two changes at the interval, with O. Hutchinson replacing D. Ndoye and C. Hudson-Odoi coming on for N. Dominguez.

The second half continued with Forest pushing forward, but Brighton’s substitutions proved effective as G. Rutter made way for J. Hinshelwood in the 56th minute and S. Tzimas replaced D. Welbeck in the 65th. Forest introduced R. Yates for I. Sangare in the 74th and A. Kalimuendo for Igor Jesus a minute later, followed by J. McAtee coming on for M. Gibbs-White in the 85th. Brighton sealed the win late on with S. Tzimas scoring in the 88th minute, while making a triple change in the 84th with B. Gruda replacing Y. Minteh, J. Veltman coming on for D. Gomez, and C. Baleba substituting for M. De Cuyper.

Nottingham Forest held a slight edge in possession at 52% compared to Brighton’s 48%, and they dominated corners with 9 to Brighton’s 2, alongside far more successful dribbles at 59 against 33, suggesting they controlled much of the play but lacked clinical finishing. Brighton picked up the only yellow card of the match, with no reds for either side, and both teams used all five substitutions, which helped the visitors maintain energy and ultimately secure the goals. Without recorded assists, penalties, or specific injury-time goals beyond the timeline, Forest’s statistical superiority didn’t translate to the scoreboard, highlighting Brighton’s efficiency in key moments.

The match’s turning points came late in each half, starting with M. Wieffer’s yellow card in the 44th minute for Brighton, quickly followed by M. De Cuyper’s goal in the 45+1st minute to open the scoring. Forest’s double substitution at half-time aimed to inject fresh legs, but it was Brighton’s change in the 65th minute—S. Tzimas replacing D. Welbeck—that proved decisive, as Tzimas netted the second goal in the 88th minute to wrap up the 2-0 victory. Brighton’s triple substitution in the 84th minute helped them see out the game comfortably.

Nottingham Forest set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, relying on a solid midfield base to control the game, with players like M. Gibbs-White providing creativity before his late substitution. The setup allowed for attacking width, but partnerships in the final third struggled to break down Brighton’s defence.

Brighton & Hove Albion also deployed a 4-2-3-1 shape, focusing on compact defending and quick transitions, with M. De Cuyper making an impact in attack before being substituted. The formation supported effective midfield partnerships that absorbed Forest’s pressure and enabled late exploitation of spaces.

M. De Cuyper earns Man of the Match for his crucial goal in first-half stoppage time that set Brighton on their way to victory, combining well in build-up play and showing composure under pressure before coming off in the 84th minute.

Recent Premier League matches:

• Loss: 0-2 vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H)
• Win: 3-0 vs Liverpool (A)
• Win: 3-1 vs Leeds United (H)
• Draw: 2-2 vs Manchester United (H)
• Loss: 0-2 vs AFC Bournemouth (A)

Recent Premier League matches:

• Win: 2-0 vs Nottingham Forest (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs Brentford (H)
• Draw: 0-0 vs Crystal Palace (A)
• Win: 3-0 vs Leeds United (H)
• Loss: 2-4 vs Manchester United (A)

After this 2-0 home defeat, Nottingham Forest find themselves needing to address their finishing issues, having dominated stats but failed to score. They’ll look to regroup for their next fixture, aiming to turn possession into points against upcoming opposition.

Brighton & Hove Albion will take confidence from this efficient 2-0 away win, making the most of limited chances to secure three points. Their next fixture offers a chance to build momentum, with fresh legs from substitutions proving key in maintaining form.

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.