The spotlight was on Jose Sa’s performance against Brighton, with much speculation surrounding his starting position after an impressive display against Manchester City. Despite Gary O’Neil’s comments causing some annoyance among fans, journalists Liam Keen and Nathan Judah predicted that Sa would indeed start, as Sam Johnstone was not fully fit to play.
Sa’s outing against Brighton saw a mix of highs and lows, with a stellar save from a Carlos Baleba shot followed by a crucial error that led to a goal for Danny Welbeck. Despite this mistake, O’Neil remained positive about Sa’s overall performance, praising his response and commitment to the team.
Although Sa received criticism from some fans for his display, O’Neil’s satisfaction with his progress in training suggests a close competition between him and Johnstone for the starting goalkeeper spot. With Johnstone potentially returning against Crystal Palace, the decision on who will start will be intriguing, with Sa’s mistake possibly making the choice a more difficult one for O’Neil. However, his positive assessment of Sa’s attitude and improvement makes him a slight favorite for the upcoming match.
