On 53 minutes Kovačić got it 35 yards out and ran at the gap between Stephens and Groß. Groß came. Stephens came. Eze was on his own on the edge of the box with his arm up.
"MATEO!"
Kovačić gave it to him and kept running. Eze gave it back first time, round Duffy's leg, and Kovačić hit it on the half volley with his left, thwack, low inside Ryan's near post.
1-0.
"GLAD ALL OVER. GLAD ALL OVER."
The corner came down to the front to meet him. Neves got there first and hung round his neck, screaming into his ear.
"FIRST ONE, MATEO! FIRST ONE!"
Kovačić stood with his hands flat on the advertising board and let our end pull at his shirt, and his face had gone red to the ears. Behind him the rest of the Amex had gone silent, and the old man was sat down with his flask cup in both hands, staring into it.
Then it came back, louder than before.
"COME ON BRIGHTON! COME ON BRIGHTON!"
