Brighton 0-0 Sunderland Player Ratings: Verbruggen Rated 8.5/10 as Goalkeepers Shine in 0-0 Draw

A frustrating and tense goalless draw unfolded at The American Express Community Stadium, as both Brighton & Hove Albion and Sunderland failed to find a breakthrough. This Premier League encounter was a battle of attrition. It was defined more by defensive resilience and missed opportunities than any attacking brilliance.

Sunderland arguably carved out the better opportunities throughout the match. They consistently tested the resolve of the home side's goalkeeper. However, a combination of spectacular saves and wasteful finishing kept the scores level. We noticed Brighton controlled possession for long spells, yet they struggled to convert that dominance into clear-cut chances, often finding their final ball lacking the necessary quality.

Ultimately, both teams will walk away with a point, but with a lingering sense of what might have been. For the neutral, it was a tactical chess match. For the fans, it was an afternoon of pure frustration. The goalkeepers emerged as the undisputed heroes of the day.

Here are Brighton Vs Sunderland Player Ratings

Brighton Player Ratings vs Sunderland

Here are the Brighton Player Ratings vs Sunderland

Goalkeeper

Bart Verbruggen - 8.5: An absolutely outstanding performance and our clear man of the match. He made a staggering six saves, several of which were top-class stops to deny what looked like certain goals. His save from Brian Brobbey in the first half was crucial. Without his heroics between the sticks, Brighton would have surely lost this game. He was commanding, confident, and a massive presence.

Defenders

Olivier Boscagli - 7.5: A very solid and composed display at the heart of the defence. He was excellent on the ball, boasting a 91% pass completion rate, and read the game brilliantly. Making four clearances and winning the majority of his duels, he was a calming influence when Sunderland pressed forward. A truly reliable performance.

Ferdi Kadıoğlu - 7.0: A tireless and energetic performance from the full-back. He balanced his defensive duties with attacking intent, winning all three of his attempted tackles while also delivering some dangerous crosses. He was a constant outlet on the flank and never stopped running for the cause.

Mats Wieffer - 6.5: It's a shame his afternoon was cut short by injury just before half-time. He looked steady enough during his time on the pitch, contributing defensively and helping to build play from the back. It's difficult to give him a higher rating given his limited minutes.

Diego Coppola - 7.0: A real warrior's performance. He was immense in the air, winning a remarkable seven aerial duels against Sunderland's physical forwards. He picked up a yellow card for his troubles but that shouldn't overshadow his six crucial clearances and aggressive defending. A very committed display.

Midfielders

Brajan Gruda - 7.0: One of Brighton's liveliest attackers on a frustrating day. He was always looking to make something happen, creating three chances and attempting several dribbles. His decision-making in the final third wasn't always perfect, and the yellow card was unnecessary, but his intent was positive throughout.

Jack Hinshelwood - 6.0: A quiet and largely ineffective game from the midfielder. While tidy in possession, he failed to impose himself on the match or provide any real attacking thrust. The fact he made an error that led to a shot is a significant mark against his performance. Substituted in the second half.

Yasin Ayari - 6.5: A very busy but ultimately frustrating performance. He got into great positions and had four shots, but his finishing was wayward, with three attempts flying off target. He worked hard to recover the ball but his contribution in the attacking third lacked the required quality.

Maxim De Cuyper - 6.5: He showed glimpses of his creative ability, even creating one big chance for his team. However, his overall play was a bit sloppy, losing possession too often and completing only half of his passes. He was substituted after just over an hour.

Forwards

Georginio Rutter - 6.0: A tough and thankless task for the captain leading the line. He battled hard, winning a decent number of aerial duels, but he was often isolated and struggled to get into the game. Losing possession ten times highlights his struggles to make the ball stick up front.

Substitutes

Joël Veltman - 6.0: Came on for the injured Wieffer and provided a steady presence at the back without doing anything spectacular.

Kaoru Mitoma - 6.0: Brought on to provide a spark but found it difficult to get past a well-organized Sunderland defence.

James Milner - 6.0: Added experience to the midfield but couldn't unlock the stubborn opposition defence in his time on the pitch.

Charalampos Kostoulas - 6.0: Had a late chance but couldn't convert. Offered some energy but had little time to make a real impact.

Manager

F. Hürzeler - 6.5: His team had plenty of the ball but looked bereft of ideas on how to break down Sunderland. The substitutions failed to change the course of the game, and a 0-0 draw at home will feel like two points dropped. A frustrating day at the office.

Sunderland Player Ratings vs Brighton

Here are Sunderland Player Ratings vs Brighton

Goalkeeper

Robin Roefs - 7.0: Earned his clean sheet with a solid performance. While he only had to make one official save, he commanded his box well and was a reassuring presence. His distribution could have been better, but he did his primary job effectively.

Defenders

Dan Ballard - 8.0: An absolute colossus at the back for Sunderland. What stood out to us was his dominance in the air, winning six aerial duels, and on the ground, winning 75% of his duels. He made six vital clearances and was a threat in the opposition box too, with two shots on target. A complete performance.

Omar Alderete - 7.5: Unlucky not to be the match-winner. He was a constant threat from set-pieces, even hitting the woodwork, and forced a great save. Defensively, he was just as impressive, with four clearances and two interceptions. A powerful and impactful display.

Nordi Mukiele - 6.5: A bit of a mixed performance. He was guilty of losing possession too frequently, which put his team under pressure. However, he also made four important clearances and contributed defensively when called upon. An average outing.

Trai Hume - 7.5: An excellent all-round display from the full-back. He was defensively superb, winning an impressive five tackles and seven duels overall. He also showed ambition going forward, creating a chance and offering support on the overlap. A top-tier performance.

Midfielders

Lutsharel Geertruida - 6.5: A quiet but effective game in the middle of the park. He kept possession ticking over with simple, accurate passes but didn't offer much in the way of penetration or creativity. A solid, if unspectacular, shift.

Chris Rigg - 6.5: Full of energy and running, but his final product was seriously lacking, with a pass accuracy of just 47%. He got into good areas but couldn't provide the quality needed. Substituted after an industrious but frustrating hour.

Simon Adingra - 5.5: A day to forget for the winger. From our perspective, he really struggled to get into the game, losing possession 14 times and being dribbled past on four occasions. He was substituted just after the hour mark after failing to make any impact.

Enzo Le Fée - 7.5: Sunderland's main creative force. He was the architect of almost all their best attacks, creating a brilliant five chances for his teammates. His delivery from set-pieces and open play was a constant menace. He was let down by his forwards' poor finishing.

Granit Xhaka - 7.5: The captain led by example with a commanding and intelligent midfield performance. He controlled the tempo, broke up play with key tackles, and sprayed passes around with his trademark accuracy. A very composed and professional display that anchored the team's effort.

Forwards

Brian Brobbey - 6.5: A frustrating afternoon for the striker. He was a real handful physically, winning five aerial duels, but he couldn't find his shooting boots. He had three shots, forcing one good save, but he'll be disappointed he didn't convert his chances.

Substitutes

Romaine Mundle - 6.5: Looked bright after coming on, getting a shot on target and looking to run at the defence.

Habib Diarra - 6.0: Slotted into the midfield and helped see out the draw without making a huge impact.

Wilson Isidor - 6.0: Replaced Brobbey but had little service and couldn't get into the game.

Manager

R. Le Bris - 7.0: He will be the happier of the two managers. His game plan worked perfectly, as his side frustrated Brighton and created the better chances on the counter. A well-earned away point built on a foundation of defensive solidity.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Verbruggen