"Now set the teeth, and stretch the nostril wide"

Brighton and Hove Albion (1) 2
Mackail-Smith 16 (pen) and 48

Leeds United (1) 2
Diof (pen) 36
Becchio 66

Attendance: 26,402

I glanced up to the Amex roof. Surely we must have a sniper in the superstructure as why else would Luke Varney have crashed so dramatically to the ground? But worry not it turned out to be a prize winning piece of simulation generously rewarded by a penalty from Mr. Mason. 

It was evidence that despite the advancing years Neil Warnock has lost little when it comes to the dark arts of acquring Championship points. Immediately after we saw another example as Leeds took an absolute age to celebrate the penalty conversation and line up for the restart. I guess this was done to frustrate the crowd and wind up the Brighton players hoping they may do something rash. Clearly the Brighton players pleas to the ref to restart the game as Leeds dawdled around fell on deaf ears. 

With El-Hadji Diouf and Michael Brown in the ref's ear from the kick off it was no wonder that at the end Warnock said you gain points in this League via "blood and guts". Sometimes who can argue with him as Leeds became the fourth team in a row to leave the Amex with something, after minimal determined efforts to score. Leeds had 3 shots on target - a penalty, a deflected shot and a hit into Kuszczak arms that barely qualified for the description shot.

In contrast the Albion had 9 attempts on target and a further 8 off target for just the same return. As in previous weeks we were denied by a combination of bad finishing, bad luck and inspired goalkeeping.

While Orlandi's return added much needed craft he missed an absolute sitter when a fine cross from Bruno found him unmarked with only Kenny to beat but somehow he hit the ball into the ground and it bounced over the bar with the goalkeeper watching helplessly. Orlandi buried his head in his shirt afterwards!

Another sublime cross from Bridge was steered just the wrong side of the post by Barnes and just after his penalty CMS saw a shot turned on to the post by Kenny.

A fierce cross shot from Barnes could have gone anywhere but flew off an unknowing Leeds boot and away for a corner.

The turning point may have come midway through the second half when Brown should have been sent off for a foul worse than the orginal one he was booked for. By this time Brown and Mason had had so many conversations they must have felt like old friends and the ref could not find it in his heart to send him off. From a Brighton point of view it meant Brown was on the pitch to equalise for the second time via a deflected shot a few minutes later. 

Bruno saw a fine free kick fly inches over and then we missed another penalty - this time CMS was the culprit. I recall a famous manager once saying the same player should not take more than one penalty in a game. The following day Glen Murray did the same for Crystal Palace.

In the final push Dobbie drove a shot just over the bar but try as they might the Seagulls could not conjure up a winner. The final chance fell to Crofts when from 10 yards out Kenny turned his shot brilliantly around the post. 

It was no wonder Warnock and Kenny looked so pleased with themselves as they left the pitch together. 

Sadly not for the first time this season the Albion had enough chances to bury Leeds. If we had scored five or six it would not been an injustice. But all Leeds needed was a bit of co-operation from the ref and to pounce on Buckley giving the ball away in midfield and that was a point for them thank you very much.

On the positives we played with far more urgency than in recent homes games and started each half at pace. The ball was played forward more quickly to CMS and Orlandi offered some much needed creativity - his pass in the build up to CMS's second goal was a joy to behold.

Having checked a number of Leeds' Blogs over the weekend I was amused that they were universally critical of their team and disbelieving of how they acquired a point on Friday night. I bet Warnock's Manual of the Dark Arts knows!

Finally, a shout out to my season ticket seat buddy who had a nasty accident at home recently. I hope you are feeling better soon and a win over Peterborough speeds the recovery.