Chapter 33: Kill the Bleeding Road

Since there was no live broadcast of the Premier League in the United States, David couldn't watch the match between Notts County and the league leaders. However, as soon as the game ended, David knew the result.

Notts County had won—and it hadn't been easy.

It was a nail-biting game, one that seemed almost out of place in the British Second Division.

Notts County quickly settled into their rhythm at home, launching a series of fierce attacks, and it was Iniesta who opened the scoring for the team.

However, Brighton didn't take long to recover. After conceding, they stabilized their play and intensified their own offensive. Just before halftime, a defensive mistake from Notts County allowed Brighton to equalize the score.

The second half was a fierce battle. Although Notts County had a slight advantage on the counterattack and posed more of a threat to Brighton's defense, neither team could break the deadlock until the 75th minute.

At that point, Notts County made a tactical change, substituting Alonso, who had been on the field for a while and was running low on energy, with Villa. This move brought an unexpected and immediate result. Villa's first touch after coming on was a powerful statement—he received a precise pass from Marcio on the wing, turned, and attempted a shot. Brighton's defender, caught off guard, fouled him from behind in the penalty box. Without hesitation, the referee pointed to the spot.

Despite protests from Brighton players, the penalty decision was clear-cut, and Villa stepped up to take it. He calmly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way and scored, putting Notts County back in the lead.

After taking the lead, Notts County shifted to a more defensive strategy, focusing on protecting their advantage as time ran out. With the clock ticking down, it seemed they would secure a crucial victory over the league leaders and extend their winning streak to four games.

But Love had underestimated Brighton's resilience.

In response, Brighton launched an all-out assault, substituting in a tall, powerful striker. They also pushed their center-backs forward, creating a towering presence in the penalty area. Brighton's approach became more direct, resorting to high balls into the box, a style commonly used by many English teams.

Although this type of play was crude and straightforward, it posed a significant threat to Notts County. The height advantage in Brighton's attack was something Notts County struggled to handle. With Lescott suspended, and Westman and Bolaruz starting, the duo's aerial defense wasn't enough to deal with the three towering attackers pressing in the box.

In response, Love made an immediate adjustment, bringing on Mertesacker, a player known for his height and aerial prowess, hoping that at least one of his defenders would be able to match Brighton's aerial assault.

However, before Mertesacker could enter, Brighton capitalized on their physical advantage, using their high balls to create chaos in Notts County's penalty area. A long cross from the wing found its target, and Brighton scored the equalizer, making it 2-2.

Love couldn't help but curse under his breath. The opponent's luck had been incredible in that moment.

Still, there was no time to dwell on it. Substitutions had to continue. It was a matter of life and death—one team had to emerge victorious. Love switched to Ribery, hoping to use his speed to outpace Brighton's defenders and create opportunities in the final third.

With just minutes left, both teams played at an intense pace. The action was relentless, and the fans were on the edge of their seats.

When the fourth official raised the board indicating three minutes of stoppage time, the players on the field didn't notice just how much the atmosphere had shifted. All attention was on the game, and the tension in the stadium was palpable.

As the clock ticked down, it seemed like the game would end in a 2-2 draw. But Villa, who had been the hero earlier, stepped up once again.

Brighton's full-back, attempting to control the ball in his own half, hesitated for just a moment. Villa, ever-alert, pounced on the opportunity. Instead of clearing the ball out of play, the Brighton defender tried to pass it back to the goalkeeper. But the goalkeeper, caught off guard by the pass, misjudged the ball, sending it too far ahead.

Villa, who had been sprinting forward, seized the opportunity. He intercepted the loose ball just outside the penalty box and, in one fluid motion, calmly slotted it past the stranded goalkeeper, securing the win for Notts County.

Who could have imagined that a substitute forward would score twice in such a dramatic fashion, becoming the team's savior?

The final moments were a whirlwind of joy. Meadow Lane Stadium erupted in celebration as the players poured onto the field to congratulate Villa. Fans in the stands went wild, their cheers echoing throughout the stadium. Brighton's players, on the other hand, stood stunned, unable to comprehend the events that had just unfolded.

Brighton's goalkeeper collapsed to the ground, his face a picture of despair as the weight of his mistake became clear. The loss was devastating.

With this key victory, Notts County proved their strength. Beating Brighton, one of the top two teams in the league, had carved a bloody path to the top. No one would now underestimate the historic club.

Despite the win, Notts County still trailed Brighton by three points. But with this victory, they had quietly moved into third place in the standings.

Major bookmakers had taken notice. Notts County's odds to win the league had significantly dropped, now only slightly higher than Brighton's, with Mansfield in second place. The title race was heating up.