Two of the Fantasy Premier League’s (FPL) in-form strikers scored again on Saturday as Brighton and Hove Albion defeated Brentford.
For Igor Thiago (£6.5m), but a missed stoppage time turned a potential 13-point haul into just four.
Here are our final Scout Notes from the weekend of the Amex.
THIAGO’S MIXED AFTERNOON FROM THE SITE
Thiago had already converted from the spot on Saturday to score his ninth goal of 2025/26. Dango Ouattara (£6.0 million) had been cut for this purpose.
The Brazilian then had the chance to reach double figures Kevin Damage (£7.0 million) was wrestled to the ground in second-half stoppage time.
Bart Verbruggen (£4.4m) met the test so far, although not before a ‘housery’ from the Brighton keeper had earned the Dutchman a booking. Considering the end result, it was worth it.
That was Thiago’s first miss from the spot this season; he had been successful with the other four attempts.
Unsurprisingly, given the striker’s form and record from 12 yards, Keith Andrews was fully supportive.
‘I haven’t talked to him much [but] he’ll be just fine. He’s in a good place. He scored a lot of goals. He plays very, very well. He scored again today.
“I think it’s difficult now for penalty takers in general, from the moment the penalty is given to the moment they actually take it. The time it takes, the way the game has gone, with [VAR] checks, the players coming towards each other, coming towards the referee, the antics of their goalkeeper.
“So he will definitely be fine, without Thiago taking any blame for that punishment.” – Keith Andrews on Igor Thiago
Brentford have conceded at least twice as many penalties as any other Premier League club this season.
Ouattara has won three; no other top player has made more than one mistake.
A LITTLE MAGIC FROM ASSIST KING MINTEH
Thiago and Danny Welbeck (£6.6m) maintained their excellent recent form. Both are on a run of seven goals in as many Premier League games.
Welbeck had spurned a great chance about fifteen minutes before leveling Brighton and finishing well from a cross. Both chances were created by Yankuba Minteh (£6.1 million).
Minteh was indeed the source of the lack of acumen on display on Saturday. There was some frustration during the afternoon – without the injured Kauro Mitoma (£6.1m) to worry about, opposition defenses are finding it easier to double the Gambian winger – but most of the Seagulls’ better chances came with Minteh at the heart of them.
An early ringing run and backheel from the wide-man formation Mats Wieffer (£4.9 million). A corner kick from Minteh was narrowly headed over George Rutte (£5.7 million). Then there were Welbeck’s two chances, with both Minteh sides snaking through to test Ciaomhin Kelleher (£4.5 million). Ultimately, the Gambian international claimed the assist for Brighton’s winner when his blocked shot went into the substitution Jack Hinshelwood (£5.1 million).
Minteh now leads the way for FPL assists this season:
A game-high four chances created took him to 21 for the season. He ranks well within the top 10 FPL assets for that metric.
WHY DUNK WAS BENCHED + WIEFFER DELIVERS MORE DEFCON
After successive clean sheets it was a surprise to see Lewis Dunk (£4.5m) in the bank on Saturday. However, it turns out to be true illness had disrupted his training week.
Dunk came in as a replacement Olivier Boscagli (£4.3m) at half-time and was very good indeed, with his long ball helping to set up Welbeck’s goal. Expect him back in the starting lineup next weekend.
Another member of the Brighton backline, Wieffer (who is listed as an FPL midfielder), made further defensive contribution points (DefCon).
He has now done that in six of his eight starts. In the remaining two games he finished with 10 and 11 contributions!
Above: Mats Wieffer leads the Premier League in defensive contributions per 90 minutes (min. 500 minutes played)
Sepp van den Berg (£4.5m) also earned the Bees DefCon points for the sixth time this season.
DEFENSE AT THE TOP DESPITE NO CLEAN BLADE
Although there were no clean sheets, the two defenses made a big impression.
Brighton recklessly gave away two penalties, but had no other problems. Indeed, the two penalties accounted for around 75% of Brentford’s xG count above that.
As for the Bees, they coped admirably with the Seagulls’ attack, until that one piece of top quality from Minteh and Welbeck. That goal was Brighton’s only ‘big chance’ of the match.
“I think we were very, very good in large parts without the ball. We limited them to very little.” –Keith Andrews
Both clubs will certainly appreciate their chances of a handful of shut-outs in the coming Gameweeks, especially on home soil. These two sides have lost just one home game this season and are both in the top six of the Premier League results at home.
THE REST OF OUR GAMEWEEK 12 SCOUT NOTES
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