Brighton leading the line for goals from substitutes this season

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has made what some would describe as questionable substitutions this season, but his clever changes are paying off. The Albion are currently the top scorers for goals from substitutes, with eight. The goals have proved vital too, with seven of the eight resulting in victory. With Sunderland trailing in second with…

INMR

December 2, 2025

4–5 minutes

brajan gruda, Brighton, Brighton and Hove Albion, Charalampos Kostoulas, Danny Welbeck, Fabian Hurzeler, FEATURES, football, Jack Hinshelwood, James Milner, Maxim De Cuyper, Nottingham Forest, Nottingham Forest vs Brighton, PL, Premier League, Premier League 2025/26, Stefanos Tzimas

The goals have proved vital too, with seven of the eight resulting in victory. With Sunderland trailing in second with five goals, it appears that the bench is providing the Albion with a cutting edge in the Premier League this season.

Embed from Getty Images

It all started back in August when, in the 60th minute, Hurzeler made a bold quadruple change. He brought off Diego Gomez and Carlos Baleba for an unproven Brajan Gruda and veteran James Milner. Many slated this decision at the time, especially accusing the German manager of focusing on Milner’s journey to reaching the most Premier League appearances rather than winning the match.

What happened instead proved to be a masterstroke. Gruda changed the game with his speed and directness, and in the 89th minute, he scored the all-important winner. The equaliser came courtesy of Milner, as he scored his first goal for Brighton from 12 yards. From 1-0 down to 2-1 up and three points gained.

Embed from Getty Images

Four weeks later, the Seagulls had done it again, securing their first away win of the league campaign. They visited Stamford Bridge and were trailing 1-0 against 10 men. In the 67th minute, Hurzeler made a double change. This change included bringing Danny Welbeck into the fold for Kaoru Mitoma.

10 minutes later and Welbeck had equalised. In the 85th minute, another double change from Hurzeler saw new boy Maxim De Cuyper introduced for Gomez. The Belgian full-back filled in on the left wing and also made an instant impact. In the 92nd minute, De Cuyper scored the winner and – to put the cherry on the cake – Welbeck got another in the 10th minute of additional time. From 1-0 down to 3-1 up and another three points gained.

Embed from Getty Images

The only game where a sub score and Brighton didn’t win was against Manchester United in October. The Red Devils were 3-1 up when Charalampos Kostoulas was brought on for his second Premier League appearance. The Greek forward headed in Brighton’s second to make it 3-2, but a quick response from Casemiro meant the final score was 4-2.

However, it was positive to see a glimpse of what 18-year-old Kostoulas was capable of and the firepower to expect up top post-Welbeck.

Embed from Getty Images

In late November, the Seagulls faced Brentford at the Amex, with the hopes of making it 10 games unbeaten at home. That hope was quickly dampened when Igor Thiago put the Bees in front from the spot after Baleba fouled Dango Ouattara in the penalty area.

Welbeck leveled the score in the 71st minute, and Brighton were then chasing the winner. Jack Hinshelwood returned in that game after 10 weeks out with an ankle injury. He came back with a bang, scoring the winner in the 84th minute with a long-range half-volley. From 1-0 down to 2-1 up, again. And of course, another three points in the bag.

Jack’s back – but what does that mean for Carlos Baleba?

Although this final goal didn’t change the result, it secured a huge victory for Brighton away at the City Ground. After losing 7-0 to Nottingham Forest in February, Hurzeler’s side had a point to prove this time. De Cuyper put Brighton ahead on the stroke of half-time, a well-deserved lead considering the pressure they put on Forest.

In the second half, Forest tried to find a way back into the game. Brighton’s defence held firm and there were chances for a second. In the 65th minute, Stefanos Tzimas replaced Welbeck up top. The Greek forward had 25 minutes to help see the game out, a big responsibility.

Tzimas did more than see the game out; he put it to bed, scoring his first Premier League goal and ensuring all three points returned to the South Coast. And again, a nice reminder of what’s to come from Brighton’s other Greek wonderkid.

Embed from Getty Images

Brighton’s substitutes have not just provided those eight goals but also nine points. Without the goals from Gruda and Milner against City, De Cuyper and Welbeck against Chelsea, and Hinshelwood against Brentford, Brighton would be 15th with just 13 points after 13 games.

Since Hurzeler’s appointment last summer, he has put up with a fair amount of stick from Brighton fans, suggesting he is too young and not ready for the Premier League. However, just lately, it seems those fans are at last realising he’s not so bad after all.

The German keeps getting it right, no matter how unconventional or questionable his decisions initially seem. For that, he deserves a lot of praise. With a busy Christmas period approaching, the depth on the bench will surely prove crucial in Brighton’s hunt for a return to European football.