A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

SkyBET Championship

25th April 2014

Brighton and Hove Albion (0)2
LuaLua 78
Lingard 90

Yeovil (0)0

Attendance: 26,901
League Position: 6th

A sometimes nervy but ultimately routine victory over relegation bound Yeovil showed glimpses of what might have been this season if Buckley and Orlandi had both bit fit and on the pitch together more often.

For one of only a few times this campaign Brighton's most creative duo started together and both showed what the team had been missing

Down side of changing trains at Reading

particularly in the first half. Whenever Buckley gets a chance to run down the wing he usually causes problems and Orlandi was the most creative midfield influence. He rarely gives the ball away and keeps it moving at pace around the pitch. A less rusty Orlandi would have converted one of the two gilt edged chances that came his way in the first half but that should not detract from his overall contribution. Without these two the Albion are solid and workmanlike but they bring a creative flair which might have turned many of this season's draws (particularly at home) into victories. Orlandi is the best set piece player and does not suffer from the over and/or under hit disease which affects other players. 

Both sides had opportunities to go in ahead in a pretty even first half. Palazuelos rattled the Albion cross bar with Kuszczak beaten but he recovered to grab the ball before it bounced down and over the line. From a free kick Kuszczak came flying out to punch the ball, missed it entirely but was grateful to a calm Dunk standing on the line who controlled and cleared the ball.

At the other end Orlandi should have converted from near the penalty spot but instead steered

"Hands up those who want me to stay!"

the ball wide of Stech's left hand post and shortly afterwards headed tamely wide from a cross from the left. A good run and shot from Buckley saw Stech collect the ball low to his left.

The Albion slowly but surely gained territorial advantage in the second half and all the chasing and closing down was beginning to take its toll on the Yeovil defenders. Time for LuaLua to come on and do what LuaLua does best. The tiring defenders had difficulty containing him and after 78 minutes he curled in a centre from wide on the left which Ulloa could not reach but did enough to distract Stech who could only watch as the ball arced into the left hand corner of the net. Cue LuaLua's trademark somersaulting celebration.

With March on to use his pace against a flagging defence he went clear in added on time and crossed for Lingard to drive high into the net from near the penalty spot for his third Albion goal.

Yeovil were not the poorest team to visit the Amex this season and much of their approach play was attractive and they defended resolutely but a lack of a goal scorer showed why they have spent most of the

"Gully: what the hell are we going to do for the next 4 months?"

season near the foot of the table.  In a soccer world where the money calls the shots we need more Yeovils so perhaps they will be back soon.

Talking about money it looks like Gus Poyet's fears that FFP deniers and parachute payment rich relegated teams would dominate prize giving this year are coming to pass. The three relegated teams are all now in play off positions and of the three Championship teams that did not sign up to FFP I wonder how many of them lie above the Albion. Diplomatically Paul Barber did not name them in his programme article. It would be good for the Albion to make the play offs on the final day if only to leave either Reading or Wigan to worry about next season's finances with a reduced relegation bonus to play with. 

So that is it! No more regular season games at the Amex with only nails left to bite in the land of Robin Hood next Saturday lunch time. Perhaps the Albion can rob the rich and give to the poor!

REF WATCH: Mr. Madley improved as the game progressed. Low point was refusing to give a free kick when Buckley was fouled but did not go down and then lost possession. High point was booking Davis after letting play go on after the game's only bad foul which led to Stephens limping off.

MAGIC MOMENT: A raking 60 yard pass from Dunk to Buckley standing on the wing. Dunk showed

enough in this game to indicate he may be a first choice central defender next season. Back to form of two years ago when he showed so much promise.

TREATMENT ROOM REVOLVING DOOR: Orlandi did not have a season ticket after all but Crofts must be rather lonely in there now.

MANAGER WATCH: Oscar has worked out the vagaries of an English Spring and dressed accordingly. Gary Johnson had his usual pub bar suit on but he and his team deserved the warm applause from the West Stand many of whom may well have been recalling that the Albion were a Yeovil not many seasons ago.

ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: LEWIS DUNK for that 60 yard pass, clearance off the line and showing rich promise for 2014/15. 

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

SkyBET Championship

21st April 2014

Brighton and Hove Albion (0)1
Stephens 46

Blackpool (0)1
Dobbie 50

Attendance: 27,610
League Position: 6th

Will the real Oscar Garcia please step forward!

OSCAR 1: Arrived at club too late to influence preseason training or import new players. Inherited an ageing squad from previous manager and was immediately hit by long term injuries to key players. In circumstances has done well to be in with shout of a play off place with two games to go.

OSCAR 2: Even after 44 games still has little idea how to see off lower Championship teams whilst team has a style of play which is predictable and easily nullified by the opposition particularly when playing at home. Plan B seems to be resorting to a long ball style of play much better suited to League 1. Team cannot turn chances into goals, generally lacks creativity and substitutions are often made too late to influence outcome of games.

Oscar Garcia is rapidly turning into the "Marmite" coach with both sides having their say following yesterday's frustrating draw against a team who will almost certainly be playing in League 1 next season. A mixture of mild booing and general disgruntlement with applause for players who, despite the result, had put their all into the effort to force to a win.

Not for the first time the Albion were humbled by a ghost from the past when Dobbie rifled in the Amex's goal of the season to equalise Stephens' spectacular opener on 46 minutes. Some sections of the crowd

Stephens and mates celebrate his goal

gave Dobbie a hard time but the reality is if he had been in Albion's midfield in place of the totally ineffectual March the outcome could have been very different. Dobbie found time and space in the gap behind Blackpool's striker and proved to be a right handful throughout the game.

You would have hardly known the importance of the game to both sides in a first half that had all the excitement of drying paint. From the off Blackpool pushed three players well up the pitch to stop the Albion from playing out from the back. The home side were totally clueless on how to cope with this so clearances were thumped down the pitch resulting with the ball being headed back and possession surrendered. 

An atmosphere more suited to the County Cricket Ground was beneficial to the visitors who fiddled away, wasted time and generally frustrated any sense of a free flowing game. Dobbie had a chance when Greer and Upson failed to clear on the edge of the area when he hit the ball just wide of the post. Long distance shots from Stephens and LuaLua were well handled by Gilks and the best Albion chance fell to Ulloa just before half time when he headed just over from a Stephens' corner. 

March, who had a nightmare of a first half, failed to appear after the break and was replaced by Buckley. The change immediately reaped dividends when a Ward cross was headed down by Ulloa into the path of Stephens who made space for himself and hit the ball high into the net beyond Gilks from 20 yards. The best goal seen at the Amex this season only be surpassed by Dobbie just four minutes later. A back heel took Greer out of the game and allowed Dobbie to run free into the area where from an acute angle he curled the ball beyond Kusczcak who could only clutch at thin air. It was the sort of goal the Albion's midfield has been missing this season due mainly to the long term absence of both Orlandi and Crofts.

The Albion's opportunity to take control of the game was lost in four short minutes. Instead their response was to launch a series of high balls for Ulloa and CMS to fight for.

LuaLua's final contribution to the game

Needless to say the more this tactic was used the less it looked like succeeding as the Blackpool defenders dominated in the air and thumped the ball away on every opportunity. Most League 1 teams can cope with a high ball bombardment let alone any team in the Championship.

The best chance fell to Buckley when, from a move down the right, found himself in space on the edge of the area but could not hit the target with only Gilks to beat. Buckley appeared to share the collective sigh of frustration that echoed around the Amex.

The harsh truth is that Gilks had a pretty quiet afternoon given all the Albion possession and the second half aerial bombardment and was not forced into a serious save all game.

So the Albion cling on to a play off place by their finger nails but now need the help of others having tossed away the opportunity to determine their own destiny.

The Albion have one final opportunity to see off a bottom three side at the Amex when the doomed Yeovil visit on Friday evening. If the team collectively fails again I dread how fans will react.

Meanwhile on a planet far, far away Ashley Barnes was heading the goal that took Burnley into the Premiership!

And finally a random thought...............Calderon to retire from playing and replace Nathan Jones as first team coach!!

REF WATCH: Mr. Russell was a return to the usual Championship level of mediocre reffing. From outset thought everytime LuaLua or Lingard hit the turf they were diving. This only served to encourage

Another chance passes by

defenders to push the pair over at every opportunity without fear of being penalised. He did book five Blackpool players for  various offences related to breaking up play.

TREATMENT ROOM REVOLVING DOOR: Buckley out (apparently) with treatment table season ticket passed to Orlandi. That other midfield player whose name I have forgotten as has not been seen for sometime last spotted at casino on Brighton seafront (apparently).

MANAGER WATCH: The warmer afternoons have seen Oscar don a South Railways ticket inspector uniform. Meanwhile Barry Ferguson looked on hardly believing how easy it is to a take a point away from the Amex.

ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: STEPHEN WARD - at least he was his usual dependable self and put over a couple of crosses that deserved a better fate.

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

SkyBET Championship

12th April 2014

Brighton and Hove Albion (2)3
Lingard 11
Ulloa 43
Forster-Caskey 90

Charlton Athletic (0)0

Attendance: 28,770
League Position: 6th

The Albion have struggled to see off the Championship's lower teams at the Amex this season but not yesterday as a confident display saw the Seagulls into a play off spot and left Charlton still worrying about relegation. 

With Lingard and LuaLua playing in the front three the Albion have the much needed attacking pace that has been lacking this season.

Charlton defend a free kick

The pair terrorised the visitor's defence in the first half with both goals coming as a result of their speed and direct approach. 

After 11 minutes LuaLua dispossessed Poyet, Lingard picked up the loose ball, ran straight at the Charlton defence and showed great skill to steer the ball wide of Hamer. Shortly afterwards LuaLua nearly scored his first of the season as the visitor's defence retreated in front of him but the shot was well saved by Hamer.

The game went beyond Charlton in the few seconds just before half time. On one of few visits to the Albion penalty area a Sordell shot took a massive deflection off Greer and a bemused Ankergren could only turn and watch the ball rattle the cross bar. Upson thumped the ball down the pitch where it found its way to Lingard who drifted past a couple of challenges, fed Ulloa who drove the ball beyond Hamer. 

Ulloa chose substitute Calderon to celebrate the goal with. Was that perhaps a hint about a new contract next season for the popular Spaniard? He could count himself unlucky to be the only player dropped after the midweek victory at Leicester.

Given Oscar's Spanish credentials the Albion were never going to go for high scoring glory in the second half. There was a lot of possession play leaving the Charlton players to huff and puff to no particular effect. The best chance fell to Lingard whose pace once again took him beyond the defence but he placed the  ball over the bar when clean through on goal. He brought a fine diving save from Hamer at a free

Remember me?

kick and from the resulting corner March had Hamer back peddling to flip the ball over the bar. 

There was ironic cheering from the visiting supporters when Charlton managed to force a corner and again when a passing movement from deep in Brighton's half ended up back with Hamer. 

As always there is still room for improvement as the Albion sometimes gave the ball away when not under pressure which would have been punished  by more proficient opponents. March struggled to pick up his game twice in a week but that will come with time. 

The final goal came deep into added time when Rodriguez played the ball back to Ward and his pass forward was headed back to Forster-Caskey who advanced to the edge of the penalty area where he placed the ball wide of the diving Hamer at his near post. 

The cherry on the cake would have a little cameo from CMS. He ran up and down the line a lot to remind Oscar but it was not to be as it was Spanish Rod who got final sub nod.

Ankergen, on what might have been his final Amex appearance, could not have asked for a quieter afternoon only slightly blotting his

Buckley gets performance of the month

copybook once with a spilled cross which was cleared by the defence. 

Overall the back four were outstanding, although rarely placed under pressure, and Stephens and Andrews dominated midfield and the pace of Lingard and LuaLua complementing Ulloa upfront. 

So the Albion are into the play off positions and, if Leicester can maintain their record of gifts to the Albion at Reading on Monday night, the Seagulls' place in the post season lottery will, for the first time this season, be in their own hands. 

After 42 games last season the Albion were 5th with 65 points and this year they are 6th with 64 points. Not bad considering the pre-season turmoil and the long injury list.

TREATMENT ROOM REVOLVING DOOR: Buckley and Orlandi now with full non-time limited membership, Crofts long term but time limited membership but otherwise room appears to have been cleared apart from the bug struck Kuszczak.

MAGIC MOMENT: Almost any time Lingard got the ball.

REF WATCH: Did we have one today? The best type.

MANAGER WATCH: An aggressive flick of the wrist by Oscar every time a player's technical ability let him down. They may not have much of a team but Charlton's manager had a finely cut grey suit which made Oscar look positively scruffy.

ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: Has to be Lingard with a goal and an assist and being at the heart of much of what was good about

the Albion going forward. An honourable mention for Stephens - is he the new Brian Horton?

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

SkyBET Championship

29th March 2014

Brighton and Hove Albion (0)0

Middlesbrough (0)2
Adomah 65
Graham 86


Attendance: 27,486
League Position: 9th 

Cut and paste was invented for days like today! All I need to do is transfer last week's report and substitute "Middlesbrough" for "Ipswich Town". This game was definitely a case of the same old same old. The visitors came to stop the Albion playing by filling midfield, they hit the home team with pacey breaks straight down the middle of the pitch and waited until the Albion defence gifted them goals. Last week Buckley and Kuszczak were at fault, in midweek it was Bruno and yesterday afternoon Gordon Greer gave away two goals with local park quality defending. Even the goals came at similar times to Ipswich's. And, of course, by the time the first arrived the Albion had already missed enough chances to have sealed the game up. The only difference this week is that the Albion threw a penalty miss into the pot.

The first half was pretty unnoticeable with Kuszcsak having to deal with a couple of local range pots but having more trouble with back passes that bobbled in the goal mouth. At the other end the Albion missed gilt edged chances at either end of the half. Early on a good break down the right and a cross from Buckley found Ulloa free in the area and he forced Konstantopoulos

Another fruitless attach

to tip the ball at full length around the post. As half time approached Lingard and Forster-Caskey found themselves clean through on the goalkeeper, got in each other's way and J-F-C hacked the ball over the bar with the open goal in front of him. 

When the management are trying to sell as many season tickets for 2014/15 as possible it is not a good time to hear your team booed off at half time by certain sections of the crowd.

The second half had a feeling of inevitability about it. The Albion huffed and puffed and passed the ball sideways a lot but lacked the creativity to create a clear opening. The best chance fell to Ulloa when he forced narrowly wide a cross from LuaLua. Almost immediately Boro struck when Greer had his pocket picked by Graham who had the simplest task to pick out Adomah who had an even easier task in steering the ball wide of Kuszczak.  

Immediately afterwards the Albion did manage to build a period of pressure and when the Boro goalkeeper was forced to palm away a Lingard shot March was tripped in trying to get to the  ball. The Albion's go-to man for penalties had already been substituted so Ulloa took the responsibility and responded with the worse penalty seen in the Amex so far as the ball sailed high into the north stand. 

Boro hardly needed it so inept were the Albion but Greer sealed victory for them on 86 minutes failing to clear a cross properly and and gifting the ball straight to Graham who advanced on the unprotected Kuszczak. Last week Murphy had given Greer a torrid time and this week it was Graham's turn.

For the Albion this was truly a bad day at the office. They lacked penetration, cohesion and spirit. There was too much passing sideways giving Boro time to get everyone back behind the ball. Ulloa, as usually, received little support and found himself surrounded by two or three defenders whenever the ball came his way. He looked increasingly hapless the more the game wore on. LuaLua was similar surrounded and the midfield lacked pace and creativity. The defence was nervy and slow. The true test of the Albion's performance would be to identify how many Albion players would have made the Boro team on this performance. Lingard and Ince perhaps; Ward at a push but few more.

Visiting teams are now well versed in countering Albion's rigid 4-3-3 formation and come confident of picking the home side's pockets.

The hapless couple look on!

There are no game changers in the team and some look as if the close season cannot come quickly enough. 

Bizarrely the Albion are still only four points outside the play offs and winning the game in hand at Blackburn would put them right back in contention. In reality the post season party feels like a million miles away. 

There are mitigating circumstances of course. Crofts' goals and support from midfield are badly missed as is Stephens' industry. Orlandi, arguably the Albion's most creative player, has been badly missed all season. Letting Barnes go without a replacement lined up is looking like a fatal error.

It is part of a football fan's make up to travel hopefully, and perhaps victory in the game in hand, the return of some of the sick and injured, will see a return to form and a renewed push for the play offs. Indeed I so hope but will not be staking the house on it!

MANAGER WATCH: As each game goes by Oscar's shoulders sink lower and lower. Boro manager kept checking watch to see whether it was Christmas Day!

REF WATCH: Apart from tolerating the visitor's time wasting and play acting in the second half Mr. Scott was one of the better refs to have graced the Amex this season and did all he could to help Albion back in the game. 

TREATMENT ROOM: Not only full of the injured but the plague is circulating around the club. Buckley again fighting for treatment

"How long before the hamstring goes, Buckers?"

table space along with CM-S, Hoskins, Crofts and Orlandi and the sick Stephens. 

MAGIC MOMENT: The final whistle!

ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: Lingard received the sponsor's nomination for at least having a few shots so if I am forced to select someone it would be Ince but that is not saying a lot.
  

  

 

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

SkyBET Championship
22nd March 2014

Brighton and Hove Albion (0) 0

Ipswich Town (0) 2
Smith 60
Murphy 80

Attendance: 29,093 (highest home gate of season)

League Position: 8th

Whisper it but I have a bit of soft spot for Ipswich Town. My best friend is a tractor boy and they and the Albion face similar challenges. Both are struggling to get out of the Championship without the benefit of parachute payments and within the tight reigns of the FFP rules. Both have to get by with somewhat limited resources and compete by making the best use of team tactics

and organisation. Neither has the cheque book to buy in flair players.

When it came to tactics and organisation Mick McCarthy taught Oscar a lesson at the Amex yesterday and not for the first time this season.

McCarthy's match plan was simple - but the most effective ones usually are. A competent goalkeeper behind a no nonsense back four. When it came to the Albion playing hopeful balls down the pitch an Ipswich defender was usually first to the ball and then smashed it as hard and as far away from danger as possible. The back up tactic was to commit fouls to break up play near the half way line where the ref was unlikely to get his book out. In front of the back four was a hard working midfield five who chased everything down and allowed the Albion players little time on the ball. The crowd booed Williams for his Palace connections but the Albion could have done with his industry and ground coverage in their midfield. Upfront for Ipswich, Murphy gave Greer a difficult afternoon and clearly they know how to take chances when they come along. Ipswich only made about 3 or 4 serious visits to Brighton's penalty area and scored twice. The tractor boys have scored 16 goals this season from set pieces - remind me how many have the Albion scored?

In contrast the Albion managed to turn 65% possession and 23 shots into a clean sheet. 

The way Ipswich played was no surprise but the Albion were pretty clueless in response. What little emotion Oscar showed was frustration usually when a final pass went astray or JF-C wasted another set piece. In front of the largest Amex crowd of the season several Albion players had their worst games of season and some did not show up at all.

It could have been a different story if the Albion had taken their chances. In the first half Lingard could have had a penalty early on when he appeared to be pushed over by Berra but Mr. Drysdale was unimpressed. Shortly afterwards Lingard was

Congratulations! League winners: Albion's reserve womens team

put clean through following a delightful pass from Bruno but with only Gerken to beat he scuffed his shot straight at the goalkeeper. As half time approached delightful play from Buckley found Lingard in space just inside the penalty area but with the goal gaping he steered his shot the wrong side of Gerken's left hand post. Early in the second half Lingard brought the save of the game from Gerken when he was forced to palm the ball away from a fierce shot low down to his left. 

On 60 minutes disaster struck for the Albion when the nervy looking defence failed to deal with a corner. The corner was headed back across goal where Smith managed to out jump Kuszczak and head the ball home from close range. Kuszcak should have done better. The Albion almost equalised immediately when a Lingard cross was headed narrowly wide by Ulloa. This was the fate of several Ulloa headers in the game as flicks to the corners of the net flew wide.

The Albion were finished off on 80 minutes when Murphy headed home from close range after good work down the left had opened up the home team's defence. The game then died on its feet and vast open spaces opened up in the stands.

The root of Albion's defeat lay in its midfield which was ponderous, predictable and capable of creating little going forward. Crofts, Orlandi and Stephens were badly missed. Stephens spent the game sitting on the bench and many fans wondered why. If he was injured why was he on the bench? Ince, Andrews and JF-C was mostly overrun by the visitor's midfield five. I am never sure why Ince and Andrews play together, particularly at home, as both are essentially central midfield players. For all his promise JF-C had a poor game failing to deliver a quality ball from any the set pieces he took. When it comes to this David Lopez and Orlandi were badly missed. JF-C's worst moment

I wondered what he thought of it?

came just before half time when the Albion were awarded a free kick just outside the left hand side of visitor's penalty area. JF-C in trying to find a player on the edge of the area in a more central position succeeded in only playing the ball straight along the ground to a grateful defender who blasted the ball down the pitch into the Albion's half. The look on Oscar's face was a picture!

Let's hope this was just a poor day at the office and with Orlandi and Stephens returning shortly (we hope) normal service will be resumed. In this game there was to much graft and not enough flair. When your right back is your most inventive player something must be wrong somewhere. By gifting three points to Ipswich the Albion have put unnecessary pressure on themselves over the two games coming up this week.

REF WATCH: Mr. Drysdale is in keeping with the Championship's consistently inconsistent model of refereeing. He booked Bruno early on under the "two fouls and you are in my book, mate, rule" but failed to apply the same rule to Hunt who committed several fouls all over the pitch and argued consistently with the ref. In the first half Berra kicked the ball away half the length of the pitch after committing a foul. The ref called him over to offer congratulations!

MANAGER WATCH: McCarthy quietly conducted his team to a deserved victory for tactics, organisation and chance taking. Oscar scowled and looked frustrated turning several times to his coaches as passes went astray, set pieces were mucked up and crosses were under or over hit. I wondered if he pondered that Dunk did not deserve to be dropped and that Stephens could have made a difference in midfield?

MAGIC MOMENT: The speed with which the east stand emptied after the second goal on 80 minutes!

TREATMENT ROOM REVOLVING DOOR: Is Buckley really out? We need to get Orlandi out really sharp and is Stephens in, out or half in and half out? Hoskins appears to be out but will Oscar give him a chance? CM-S likewise.

ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: The best players on the pitch came from Ipswich and I think Cresswell and Williams were outstanding.  For the Albion Bruno rightly received the sponsor's award for his creative efforts and the only other player I would excuse from the general malaise was WARD.

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

SkyBET Championship

11th March 2014

Brighton and Hove Albion (0)2
Ulloa 77
Ward 86

Queen's Park Rangers (0)0

Attendance: 28,019
League Position: 7th 

Just imagine for a moment that you are an account manager for a major bank and one of your clients reports a loss of £65.4million in its' last trading year bringing the level of debt to £177m. What's more the company spending on wages  alone is higher than it's turnover. What would you do? I know - I would do the same! Welcome to the Monopoly money world of football and hello QPR. 

The Rangers pack of Premier League wage earners rolled into the Amex last night for the first time. Nearly every team name was familiar with a good sprinkling of internationals. Green had stood between the posts for England and Jenas had appeared in its' midfield. For years Dunne held the Villa defence together plus we had Barton to play pantomine villain.

This bloggers trip to the Amex starts here

For all their glitter and attractive approach play QPR were undone by an Albion determined to defend to the last man and take their chances when they came.  

It was not always pretty and some of the defending was bordering on panic and the ball was sometimes given away unnecessarily but Oscar's boys are nothing if not relentless and determined. It was the never say die spirit that eventually brought Albion the points after Rangers had tried everything they could but were just unable to get passed the home team's defence or goalkeeper. Usually a body part blocked Rangers' shots and headers but when they did get passed the back four they found Kuszczak in inspired form, producing 2 outstanding saves from Morrison and Traore.

QPR shaded the first half but for all their attractive approach play created few clear cut chances. Opportunities for the Albion were even more rationed and the half time whistle was in the ref's mouth before Ulloa hit over the best chance of the half from a Forster-Caskey free kick.

The second half followed a similar pattern with QPR attacking and the Albion defending in depth but rarely seriously troubled. The game began to turn from the 75th minute when LuaLua replaced Forster-Caskey. With width on both sides the Rangers' full backs could not afford to venture too far forward and LuaLua's reputation obviously went before him. As soon as he received the ball he was encircled by

via here

3 defenders. When you are having to look after LuaLua you cannot be up the other end running at Albion's defence. Rangers appeared to be stuck between stick or twist and while they were working out whether to hold what they had or go for a win the Albion struck. 

Andrews and Bruno combined brilliantly down the right and Bruno's fierce low cross was blasted home by Ulloa from point blank range. 13 minutes of defence v attack was anticipated as the visitor's superstars attempted to get back in the game. But it was not to be as the Albion grew in confidence and gradually took control of the game. Hearts were firmly removed from mouths on 86 minutes when Ward deftly turned home LuaLua's corner. The Amex erupted in joy as the Premier League pretenders were put to the sword. Sometimes it is not always about the money.

On the way down on the train I got talking to a couple of Rangers's fans and, with some hesitation, I raised their teams level of debt and Financial Fair Play. "Will not happen, Mate. Restraint of trade!" We will see but at this moment I would rather be a Albion fan than a Rangers's one.

REF WATCH: Got on wrong side of fans early on as seemed to favour Rangers and clearly had it in for Ulloa. Realised after 44 minutes that he could give free kicks to both sides and eventually awarded Albion their first free

and here

kick of the game. This brought the biggest cheer of the 45 minutes. 

TREATMENT ROOM REVOLVING DOOR: Stephens just about out and Buckley left pitch without limping!

MAGIC MOMENT: interpassing between Burno and Andrews that lead to first goal plus a run from Morrison that left the Albion midfield for dead.

MANAGER WATCH: Oscar was his usual calm self while Harry stood manfully to take chants from crowd asking him to remind us of the score!

ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: step forward LEWIS DUNK who has not

started a League game since goodness knows when. A rock at the heart of Albion's defence with head and boot and showed distribution better than Greer's on many occasions. 








to here!

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

SkyBET Championship

8th March 2014

Brighton and Hove Albion (1)1
Gunter 16(og)


Reading (0)1
Drenthe 64

Attendance: 27,523

League Position: 8th

A passing fly reliably informed me the following conversation took place in the Reading dressing room at half time:

"Look lads we are one nil down to the team with the best defensive record in the Championship. Frankly we are not good enough to beat them without a bit of help so we need to get one of their blokes sent off. So it's time for Plan B!"

"Sorry gaffer but what's Plan B?"

"You remember! I reminded you on Friday. We work on the ref to get a fellow sent off. I know! I know! It didn't work last week but what else can we do?"

This game had controversity written all over it once it became clear Mr. Graham had been at the pies and struggled to keep up with

his linesmen during the prematch warm up.

Overall this was a typical Championship game - tense, nervous, tight with nobody wanting to give anything away. What could have been a fascinating second half was ruined by Greer's sending off on 51 minutes following the latest in a series of award winning dives by Le Fondre.

Greer had been booked in the first half after he had given the ball away and Le Fondre had turned a tussle for the ball into a foul and a yellow card for Greer. On 51 minutes the ball found its way to Le Fondre wide on the right. He pushed the ball past Greer as he challenged for the ball and Le Fondre hurled himself at Greer and collapsed on the floor as if snipered from the Amex roofing. The ref blew his whistle for what looked like a pretty marginal foul which might have warranted a final warning for Greer. Immediately he found himself surrounded by 4 angry Reading players with the bench joining in with a berating of the fourth official. His 5 minutes of fame had arrived and off went Greer. 

That changed the game entirely and it was to the Albion's credit they held out for a draw and could have even won the game. Adkins may feel he won the battle but for two weeks running his team of Premiership players have failed to beat under strength opposition and never really looked liked doing so on this occasion with Kusczcak brilliantly blocking McAnuff when clean through.  

Comic capers dominated the first half when, following delightful interplay down the Albion's right involving five players, Lopez crossed towards the advancing Lingard. Gunter reached the ball first and headed the ball back towards his goalkeeper. However, McCarthy had advanced to collect the ball and could only watch helplessly as

it bounced slowly but surely over the line. That was about it for the first half with both teams mostly reduced to hopeful pot shots from outside the area.

Following Greer's sending off the Albion were pinned back for long periods. The visitor's plan was to go down the wings and put over as many crosses as possible. They usually found a Brighton head or foot or the reliable Kuzczak's gloves. The back five were outstanding. 

10 minutes after Greer's departure Reading equalised when Drenthe drove the ball through Forster-Caskey's legs and passed the unsighted Kusczcak.

Despite Reading's 26 shots (most of which flew high, wide and handsome) the Albion had the best clear cut chances despite being down to 10 men. Ulloa did not get anywhere near the protection the ref offered Le Fondre and despite being outnumbered, often 3 to 1, was involved in the  best chances. Along with Lingard he managed to barge his way through the centre of the Reading defence but slipped as an open goal beckoned. Despite being pulled back by Pearce he put Buckley through and he drove just wide of McCarthy's left hand post perhaps when he could have done better. Shortly afterwards Buckley produced from McCarthy a save equally as good as Kuszczak's from McAnuff. In added time March drove a corner from the left against the post nearly catching McCarthy out.

So a draw it ended up. A win on Tuesday now looks pretty necessary and that will be difficult agains spend, spend, spend QPR. The  play offs still look a possibility but the Albion need to show more consistency and find someway to score more than once in a game.

TREATMENT ROOM REVOLVING DOOR: Buckley out (I think) but Stephens and Orlandi in. Hoskins getting nearer the door but CMS still buried in bandages and linament. 

DISAPPEARING PLAYERS: 2 members of the Albion's first team squad have disappeared and it is so long since we saw them I forget their names!

REF WATCH: Unfit, poor and easily influenced.

Should have clamped down on the diving early on. Not helped by a poor West Stand assistant who appeared not to understand the rules of the game.

MANAGER WATCH: Oscar sported a new haircut while Adkins turned from orange to deep red when bated by the North Stand. 

MOMENT OF CONFUSION: Deep into injury time March drove a corner into McCarthy's post. The helpless goalkeeper could only watch as the bounced away and back to March who instinctively controlled the ball. You could hear the pages of the game's rule book turning in the ref's head before he blew for an indirect free kick.

ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: It could have been any of the back four once Greer had departed so take a bow Bruno, Upson, Dunk and Ward.