“We Lost Because…” – Brighton Midfielder Matt O’Riley Identifies Reason Behind Defeat to Leicester
Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Matt O’Riley has spoken candidly about his team’s shortcomings following their disappointing 2-1 loss to Leicester City at the King Power Stadium over the weekend. The Seagulls were unable to hold onto their early lead, ultimately falling to a resurgent Leicester side in a tightly contested Premier League clash.
In a post-match interview, O’Riley pinpointed a lack of composure and discipline in key moments as the critical factors behind Brighton’s failure to secure a result. “We lost because we stopped doing the basics well,” O’Riley said. “After we scored, we kind of lost our shape and invited pressure. Against a team like Leicester, that’s always going to hurt you.”
Brighton started the match brightly and took the lead in the 23rd minute through a well-worked goal finished by Joao Pedro. However, Leicester responded before halftime with a James Maddison strike, and later secured victory in the second half thanks to a clinical finish from Jamie Vardy.
O’Riley emphasized that the team’s tactical discipline waned after their opening goal. “We started to play differently once we went ahead — a bit too safe, a bit too cautious. That’s not really our style,” he explained. “We’re usually at our best when we’re pressing high, keeping the ball moving, and playing with confidence. We didn’t stick to that after going 1-0 up.”
The midfielder, who joined Brighton in January, has quickly become a key figure in Roberto De Zerbi’s setup. Known for his composure on the ball and intelligent movement, O’Riley also acknowledged the mental side of the game played a role in the outcome. “There was a bit of nervousness, maybe a fear of losing the lead. But you can’t play not to lose — you have to keep playing to win.”
He also praised Leicester for their response and intensity in the second half. “Fair play to them, they came at us really hard. We didn’t deal with that well enough, and they deserved the win in the end.”
The loss sees Brighton slip further in their bid for a European qualification spot, with upcoming fixtures against tough opponents. O’Riley, however, remains optimistic. “We’ll learn from this. We’ve got a great squad and a strong mentality. It’s about bouncing back now and showing what we’re really capable of.”
Brighton’s next test comes against Aston Villa, where De Zerbi’s men will be keen to rediscover their rhythm and prove their resilience.
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