Hurzeler tells Brighton to stay humble after 'special' Coventry win

Fabian Hurzeler called on his Brighton side to remain humble after the "special" 5-0 battering of Coventry City.

The Seagulls steamrollered past Frank Lampard's side at the Coventry Building Society Arena, with Charalampos Kostoulas, Malick Yalcouye, Pascal Gross, Lewis Dunk, and Yasin Asari all on target.

Coventry's situation was hindered by a red card shown to Taiwo Awoniyi in the 53rd minute, with Brighton scoring three times after that.

Brighton have now won seven of their last 10 Premier League games against newly promoted opposition (D2 L1), with each victory during that time coming alongside a clean sheet.

The Seagulls have netted 13 goals across their opening four Premier League matches this season, their most at this stage of any of their 14 top-flight campaigns in club history.

Brighton boss Hurzeler was thrilled with the victory, but urged his side to remain grounded.

"Every win away is something special in the Premier League. The red card helps us. Coventry were always dangerous from set pieces," he told BBC Sport.

"We kept a clean sheet, that is the most important so good overall performance. We didn't score in the first minutes but we kept it simple.

"We will always be the team who are very humble and don't take things for granted. We have to be humble in these moments, of course enjoy it together. We have good depth in the squad. We will always come with our togetherness."

Dunk's goal was an absolute stunner, the centre-back picking out the top-left corner with a long-range effort.

It was just his second goal from outside the penalty area, after also scoring one against Liverpool in November 2019. It was also the first of his 18 competition goals to come from open play.

Hurzeler added: "We always know that he has a great technique with his right foot and we know that he has the courage so I'm happy that he gets his rewards."

Lampard suffered the joint-heaviest defeat of his managerial career, after losing 5-0 to Tottenham with Everton in the Premier League back in March 2022.

Coventry became just the fifth side in English top-flight history to lose each of their opening four matches of a campaign while also failing to score a goal, after Derby County in 1899-1900, Stoke City in 1906-07, Preston in 1924-25 and Crystal Palace in 2017-18.

Lampard told Sky Sports: "We have to be realistic in this league. They are a good team. We started well, the most disappointing goal is the second one and it was a mistake that you can't make at this level.

"If you reflect until the red card, we has good moments but down to 10 men it was a different game against a team with a lot of quality. 

"The players gave everything until the end but it doesn't feel nice. We have to take some responsibility and understand they are the levels we need to raise to.

"We just continue to work. We are four games into the season when we have played the two most difficult fixtures [Arsenal and Manchester City away]. You always have to continue to work and the feeling is different in the Premier League.

"It is more pressure and a lot of players have not been near that. We're not feeling sorry for ourselves and they have to keep working and working. 

"I've been in this situation many, many times. I was more disappointed with Hull than today. It was a Brighton team that were very clinical."