- LISTEN NOW: It's all starting! New line-up, some new faces, but optimism has faded at Old Trafford
Joao Pedro was lucky not to be sent off after attempting to elbow Yehor Yarmoliuk in the face but failed to make contact as Brighton's December pain continued in a goalless draw against Brentford.
Referee Andy Madley ruled there was no violent conduct after Yarmoliuk dragged Pedro back to stop a Brighton attack, but the striker attempted to elbow him in response on a night when Fabian Hurzeler's side wasted a series of opportunities and has already gone six games without winning. .
Brighton's December woe continued as they squandered a number of chances in a goalless draw against Brentford, which left Fabian Hurzeler's side six games without a win.
Since their last win on November 23, the Seagulls have fallen from second place to mid-table and week after week, the absence of Danny Welbeck, out with an ankle injury, is proving crucial.
This should have been the ideal match for Brighton against a Brentford team who came into this clash on the south coast with just one point away from home all season.
Brighton splashed out from the start, with Julio Enciso making eight attempts on goal in the first half alone; the last Premier League player to do so was Luis Suárez in 2013.
Joao Pedro was lucky not to be sent off after trying to elbow Yehor Yarmoliuk
Referee Andy Madley ruled there was no violent conduct after Yarmoliuk dragged Pedro back to stop a Brighton attack.
In the 4th minute, Enciso hit the post after Brighton's high press caught Mark Flekken by surprise and minutes later the Dutch goalkeeper was forced to make a diving save to deny Carlos Baleba a goal.
Enciso then squandered another golden opportunity heading straight into Flekken's hands, but two minutes later Brentford had the ball in the net after a ruthless counter-attack.
Yoane Wissa showed Enciso how to finish with a magnificent shot that beat Bart Verbruggen and took the visiting bench out of their seats, but the VAR showed he was slightly offside.
It was a warning for Brighton, who came close again with Flekken saving Brajan Grada, Enciso and Matt O'Riley.
In the 36th minute, Flekken was forced to leave the match with a hamstring injury after rejecting a Mitoma cross with his right foot, and was replaced by Hakon Valdimarsson, who was making his Premier League debut.
Flekken made six saves in a busy first half and Brighton looked to test the confidence of their Icelandic substitute early on with O'Riley and Kaoru Mitoma both firing in from long range, while Enciso's night was summed up with a shot that He almost went outside. -in.
The 20-year-old's last goal, which earned him Premier League goal of the season, came in May 2023.
Although Brighton had 15 attempts to Brentford's two in an opening 45 minutes that the home team dominated, there were no goals at half-time.
Yoane Wissa thought he had scored the first goal of the game but it was disallowed for offside.
Enciso continued to put himself in dangerous positions in the second half, although he lacked composure in front of goal and as Brighton failed to assert their dominance, Hurzeler's frustration grew on the touchline.
He made a triple change in the 66th minute before replacing Enciso with Georginio Rutter in the 78th minute.
At the other end, Thomas Frank's team tried to get the three points, but Verbruggen comfortably saved Wissa on the counterattack, before preventing Mikkel Damsgaard's shot.
Yasin Ayari had time to shine on a frustrating night for the home fans, where the lack of a finisher (with Joao Pedro having a difficult night and Evan Ferguson out through injury) cost them three points.
Hurzeler turned to Solly March, who entered the brink of death for the first time since rupturing his cruciate ligament in October 2023 and the 30-year-old got the biggest reception of the night, but there was no time for a festive miracle, as his last gasping effort flew away.
For Brentford's traveling fans, however, it was a late Christmas present in the form of a rare spot on the road.