Dutch striker Brian Brobbey has become the sixth player in Premier League history to score a hat-trick in a losing cause. He achieved this feat during Sunderland's 5-3 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on September 20, 2026. Brobbey's goals came in the 12th, 33rd, and 59th minutes, but Manchester City secured the win with Erling Haaland's late goal. According to Opta Analyst and BBC reports, Brobbey is only the fifth different player to achieve this feat.
Brobbey's treble was the first instance in 19 years of a player scoring a Premier League hat-trick and still finishing on the losing side. The previous occasion was in December 2007, when Blackburn Rovers' Roque Santa Cruz scored three times against Wigan Athletic, but his team lost 5-3. This rare achievement has only been accomplished by five different players, with Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier being the first to do it twice.
Matt Le Tissier, a Southampton legend, holds the record for being the first player to score a Premier League hat-trick in a losing cause. He achieved this feat on May 8, 1993, during Southampton's 4-3 defeat to Oldham Athletic. Le Tissier scored three goals, but his team could not secure the win. Two years later, he repeated the feat in a 4-3 loss to Nottingham Forest on August 19, 1995.
Other players who have achieved this feat include Dion Dublin, who scored three times for Coventry City in their 4-3 loss to Sheffield Wednesday on December 4, 1995. Aston Villa's Dwight Yorke also scored a hat-trick in a 4-3 defeat to Newcastle United on September 30, 1996. These players have joined an exclusive list of players who have scored hat-tricks in losing causes in the Premier League.
The list of players who have scored hat-tricks in losing causes in the Premier League is as follows: 1. Matt Le Tissier — Oldham Athletic 4-3 Southampton, May 8, 1993 2. Matt Le Tissier — Southampton 3-4 Nottingham Forest, August 19, 1995 3. Dion Dublin — Sheffield Wednesday 4-3 Coventry City, December 4, 1995 4. Dwight Yorke — Newcastle United 4-3 Aston Villa, September 30, 1996 5. Roque Santa Cruz — Wigan Athletic 5-3 Blackburn Rovers, December 15, 2007 6. Brian Brobbey — Manchester City 5-3 Sunderland, September 20, 2026
Brian Brobbey's achievement has garnered attention from football fans and analysts. According to Tosin Oyediran, a journalist at Punch Newspapers, Brobbey's feat is a notable accomplishment, especially considering the rarity of hat-tricks in losing causes. Brobbey's performance in the match against Manchester City showcased his skills and ability to score crucial goals.
Brobbey's hat-trick has also raised questions about his team's performance and the Premier League's competitiveness. Sunderland's loss to Manchester City highlighted the challenges faced by teams in the Premier League. Despite Brobbey's impressive performance, Sunderland was unable to secure the win. The match demonstrated the high-scoring nature of the Premier League and the competitive spirit of teams.
Key points
- Brian Brobbey joins an exclusive list of players who have scored hat-tricks in losing causes in the Premier League.
- Matt Le Tissier is the only player to have achieved this feat twice.
- Brobbey's achievement is the first instance in 19 years of a player scoring a Premier League hat-trick and still finishing on the losing side.
