Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford sit level on 16 points after 11 games of the Premier League season. They are level on goals scored (17), and near-identical on expected goals for and against. Both have thrived at home and struggled away, with just one road win apiece. How closely their numbers mirror each other this season is uncanny.
The Athletic has previously detailed how one of modern football’s most compelling rivalries was formed. Tony Bloom and Matthew Benham worked together at Premier Bet in the early 2000s before Benham left in 2004 and set up his own analytics firm, Smartodds. The two men have not spoken since. Two decades later, their data-driven models run two of the smartest Premier League clubs, and their approach has helped change how clubs use analytics.
But despite what some may think, fully embracing data does not mean you end up with a homogenous style of play: Brighton have built their current team around Fabian Hurzeler’s high press and fluid possession, particularly at the Amex. Brentford, under new head coach Keith Andrews, lean on directness, set pieces and physicality, especially in the tight confines of the Gtech Community Stadium.
Brighton have struggled to adjust against the growing directness and physicality of the league. Brentford thrive in chaos at home but seem to lose their edge when forced to break teams down on their travels. Here’s what’s going on.
Under Hurzeler, Brighton are anchored by an aggressive high press.
At the Amex, Bart Verbruggen and the centre-backs shape patient build-up that dictates the rhythm. Only Chelsea, Manchester City, and Arsenal complete more passes in their own halves, which underscores Brighton’s commitment to keeping and controlling the ball.
Their intensity off the ball drives results. This season, Brighton have won possession high up the pitch 56 times, the most of any Premier League side. The willingness to press and defend with a high line pays off at home, as Brighton have not lost at the Amex since April. But there is risk, and it shows in their league-high 28 yellow cards — a sign that aggression often comes at a price.
The pattern shifts away from home. Brighton have collected just one win from six away games and their goals per game rate drops to 1.17. Even with possession climbing to 53 per cent, ten percentage points higher than it is at home, and more progressive passing on the road, quality falls in the final third. Shooting accuracy dips from 42 per cent at home to 32 per cent away, and their average shot quality drops too.
Brighton like to create centrally, with half their chances coming through the middle — the highest share in the division. Away, opponents are more able force them wide, with crosses rising to 19 per match, compared to 11 at the Amex. Teams challenge Brighton’s ability to control territory, steering the game out of their preferred channels.
In home matches against Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, both possession-heavy sides, Brighton pressed with intent and pounced on opposition mistakes.
But when they travelled to Everton, Manchester United, and Bournemouth, they faced opposition who often sit deep and break quickly. Brighton’s high line gets punished, and counter-attacks turn possession into risk. In their recent draw at Crystal Palace, Hurzeler responded with a more defensive game plan, earning consecutive clean sheets for the first time since February.
At home, Hurzeler’s tactics produce aggression and control in equal measure. Away, those same strengths can become liabilities, especially in a Premier League seeing an ever-increasing amount of direct play.
Hurzeler’s decision to play more defensively at Palace was a response to Brighton’s away form this season (Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images)
Brentford’s home/away split is just as stark as Brighton’s, but for different reasons. Under Andrews, they have doubled down on direct play — and at the Gtech, that style has translated directly into points. Thirteen of their 16 league points have come at home.
Brentford lead the Premier League with 37 per cent of their passes going forward and have scored four counter-attack goals, second to Brighton’s five. Their play prioritises speed and disruption, reflected in a low passing accuracy and few fouls won.
Michael Kayode drives their set-piece threat. He has delivered 54 long throws into opposition boxes, more than any player, and Brentford win aerial duels at a 51 per cent rate (second only to Everton). The gameplan is built for contests and direct attacks.
Across all matches, Brentford’s shots-on-target rate leads the Premier League at 39 per cent. At home, they score two goals per match and convert chances at nearly double the rate of their away games — 16.2 per cent to 7.8 away from home.
Brentford thrive when matches allow them to play to their strengths. Away from home, often forced into slower buildup, the edge disappears and results suffer.
Youth also helps explain why both Brighton and Brentford look so different home and away. They rank as the sixth- and seventh-youngest sides in the Premier League this season, the product of data-driven recruitment built around resale value.
At Brighton, Hurzeler — only 32 himself and more than two years younger than Brentford’s Jordan Henderson — leans heavily on Yasin Ayari (22), Carlos Baleba (21), Yankuba Minteh (21) and Georginio Rutter (23). Their energy powers the press, but in midfield Baleba and Ayari have made costly mistakes that have been punished away from home.
Brentford’s core has a similar youthful profile, with Henderson providing the experienced voice that Andrews hopes will steady them, particularly away.
Keith Andrews has only led Brentford to one Premier League away win so far, at West Ham (Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Young lineups bring pressing intensity and sharp movement, especially at home where familiarity and the crowd help steady performances. Away from home, volatility can creep in.
Hurzeler blends youth and experience in training, with leaders like James Milner, Lewis Dunk and Jason Steele guiding the squad. Andrews is still new to the Brentford role and may adapt by adding more possession play or alternative ways to break down deep blocks. Both teams have track records of developing young talent, and as the season rolls on, their players will learn and adjust.
Long-term, the age-profiles these clubs of should mean they remain dangerous at home — the test in the immediate future is whether they can carry that conviction with them on the road.