Nottingham Forest were hammered 5-0 last week at Bournemouth, what they really needed was a wide-open, gung-ho, disastrous opponent to settle their nerves – step forward Fabian Hurzeler's Brighton.
The Albion head coach, still smarting from last week's 1-0 home loss to Everton, fielded five attackers with a barely-fit midfielder Jack Hinshelwood offering scant protection in front of a wildly exposed back four.
Kaoru Mitoma, perhaps thinking Saudi wouldn't be so bad after all, was joined in attack by Joao Pedro, Danny Welbeck, Georginio Rutter and Yankuba Minteh.
Hurzeler's hand may have been forced somewhat as regular midfielders Carlos Baleba and Yasin Ayari had "small muscular issues" but this formation appeared brave/foolish from the outset – especially as midfielders Matt O'Rielly and Diego Gomez were benched.
"Let's go for it and people can tell me I'm wrong afterwards," said Hurzeler to TNT Sports ahead of the match.
Forest have lost just twice at the City Ground this term and have conceded 10 – only Liverpool and Arsenal have shipped fewer at home with nine.
Nuno Espírito Santo probably couldn't believe his luck and after just 12 minutes captain Lewis Dunk turned the ball into his own net from Morgan Gibbs-White's cross.
Gibbs-White then made it two as he headed home unmarked from a corner and Chris Wood scored the third – and his 10th against Brighton across his career.
It could have been worse as Neco Williams hit the post for Forest, while Danny Welbeck almost pulled one back for Brighton as his effort thumped down from the underside of the cross bar.
Unsurprisingly, O’Riley and Gomez replaced Hinshelwood and Pedro after the break and Simon Adingra came on for Mitoma. It made the little difference, the damage was done and Wood added a fourth just after the hour and scored his hat-trick from the spot five minutes later after Lamptey collided with Gibbs-White.
Six arrived on 89 minutes as Williams bundled home and the famous old City Ground roared for a seventh time as Jota smashed under Verbruggen. Ouch!
Brighton have enjoyed some excellent away days this season, this was just painful… Here’s how they rated:
9. Yankuba Minteh - 5
Arrived on time and was back in the starting XI on the right flank. Provided fleeting moments of danger but mostly shackled by the Forest rearguard. To his credit, he continued his defensive duties until the end. Photo: OLI SCARFF
10. Danny Welbeck - 5
Booked early for a foul on Gibbs-White and cracked the underside of the bar with an effort from the edge of the box just before halftime. Replaced by Ferguson on 73 minutes. Photo: OLI SCARFF
11. Kaoru Mitoma - 3
The Japan international was subject to a huge Saudi bid prior to the match. It's easy to say his mind was elsewhere... but his mind looked elsewhere. Hooked at halftime for Adingra. Photo: OLI SCARFF
12. Diego Gomez - 4
Replaced Pedro for the second half and added some midfield solidity but the team just didn't function around him. Hard to make an impact in those circumstances. Photo: Dan Istitene