A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

"But that the scrambling and unquiet time"

Brighton and Hove Albion (0) 1
Lopez (pen) 65

Watford (0) 3
Deeney 54
Vydra 68 and 69  

Attendance: 26,727


Just as the Albion appeared to be pulling themselves back in the game a cruel deflection took it away again and eventually they were well beaten by a fine Watford side.

An excited Albion gnome checks out the weather on the motorway

If ever Gus Poyet or Tony Bloom needed a lesson on how to put an effective team together on limited resources then visiting manager Gianfranco Zola provided it last night at the Amex. Watford enjoy few of the advantages available to the Albion in terms of support and stadium facilities but without spending vast fortunes appear to have  put together a team that may well take them to promotion this season. Watford were possibly the best team to visit the Amex this season but were helped  by a pretty inept performance by the home side.

Gus appeared to have fielded the wrong side in 2 successive home games. Bruno, Orlandi and Crofts did not look fit and whatever David Lopez's best position is it is not wide on the right. He spent most of the first half either falling over or giving the ball away. It was a pity after such a commanding performance against Millwall. He redeemed himself somewhat with a finely struck penalty on 65 minutes.

Gus's game plan is clearly score early; put the emphasis on the other team to change their tactics; take control then pick them off. This works if you can score but the familiar scourge of missing takeable chances returned. This time it was Andrew Crofts' turn to hang his head in embarrassment as, after fine work down the left by LuaLua, he failed to find the target from 12 yards and instead mishit the ball over the bar when unmarked.

LuaLua, who had an outstanding first half, stung Almunia hands with a fierce drive and Orlandi hit a 25 yard free kick just the wrong side of the post. The Albion were unfortunate when after more fine work down the left a defender deflected the ball away for a corner with Lopez waiting to tap the ball in.

If only we could pass like this in the game!

However, as half time approached Watford came more into the game. A full back got clear in the penalty area only to head the corner over the bar. Kuszczak saved well diving to his left and Vydra missed a simple header from close range.

The Albion could not contain Watford's speed on the breakaway or break up their close control in midfield. From a pretty soft free kick in their own penalty area Watford broke quickly and after some fine interpassing Deeney drove the ball past Kuszczak after 54 minutes.

The Albion pressed for an equaliser without creating much until the 65th minute when LuaLua's pressure following a pass back won him a penalty after he was unended. At least the penalty gips are behind us Lopez (as long as he is on the field) gave Almunia no chance from the spot. 

The joy was short lived as 3 minutes later a Vydra shot took a wicked deflection off El-Abd and gently looped over the helpless Kuszczak. It got worse. Within minutes Vydra outpaced a cumbersome Albion defence from the half way line, went clear and steered the ball past an exposed keeper. 

The Seagulls were just unable to find a way back into the game even though they had plenty of time. They simply had no plan B!. There was lots of passing across the field but as soon as they pressed forward they lost possession in the usual tangle of legs on the edge of the penalty area. The aimless passing around just gave Watford time to bring everybody behind the ball which then became the set up to hit us on the break.

The players appeared to be expecting somebody else to provide the spark and drive that might put Waford under pressure. After the game my wife and I tried to find words to describe what we had seen and the best we came up with were "languid" and "pedestrian".

From my seat in the West Stand I felt the Watford defence could be fragile if it were put under pressure - after all they had lost their main central defender, Fitz Hall, to injury in the first time. But the Albion's slow build up mitigated against that. Personally I felt we needed the drive and pace that Hoskins and Calderon could have provided and indeed Hoskins did show one or two nice touches but was not on long enough to make a real impact. 

Sometimes it is better to watch the Moon rise over the Amex

Despite all the second half possession the Albion created little. Apart from the penalty I recall a header by El-Abd and a shot by Hoskins. 

Before the game all the talk was about the striker Gus wants to bring in to ignite a play off push. This game was a reality check big time. Even Van Persie would have struggled with the poor service the Albion provided yesterday up front. 

4 homes wins in 13 games is more like relegation form and indeed following 4 successive victories in September the the Albion have only won 3 times 17 games.

My fear is that other Championship teams have worked us out. They load the side of field our one winger plays on (LuaLua often faced 3 defenders yesterday) and push up on Bridcutt to block the outlet ball from the back.

If the season is not to descend into the quiet back waters of the lower reaches of the Championship it is not just a change of personnel the Albion need now that the transfer window is just about to open but more flexible tactics.

Given that the Nottingham Forest manager was sacked after winning 4-2 and sitting handily for the play offs I wonder how Gus felt this morning?

MY PERSONAL ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: Kazanga LuaLua LIAN BRIDCUTT quite rightly received the Stadium award. He looked the only player capable of changing the course of this game and applied himself in a way that was an example to some of his colleagues. However, until the general malaise that over took most of the team reached him in the last quarter LuaLua was a constant thorn in the visitors side. One, if not 2 of his fine crosses in the first half, should have been converted and it was his persistence that won the penalty.

 

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

"We are but warriors for the working day"

Brighton and Hove Albion (0) 2
LuaLua 61
David (pen) 88

Millwall (1) 2
Wood 25 and 57

Attendance:  24,773

What happens when organisation, brawn and cunning meet style, flair and unpredictability? Well, of course, you end up with a drawn match. If Millwall and Brighton each had a bit of what the other possessed then each team would be real challengers in the Championship. The Albion would have greatly benefited from the power and strength of Liam Trotter and Chris Wood and likewise Millwall would have been improved by what LuaLua and David brought to the game.

We must give credit to Kenny Jackett for he has made much of limited resources at Millwall. They have made no big name signings but he has created a successful combination of organisation, power, running and no little cunning. Perhaps predictably they ran out of steam as Albion swarmed all over them in the last quarter.

Some in the crowd must have wondered if Millwall have added a priest to their match day squad to administer the last rites! By some strange coincidence nearly every time the Albion went close or began building up pressure a Millwall player crashed to the ground as if the target of a sniper lurking in the Amex superstructure. As the player lay motionless the ref had to stop the game with the ball half a pitch away forcing the poor soul to sprint across the turf to inspect for any remaining signs of life before signalling on either the trainer or the priest. This happened several times much to the annoyance of the home crowd. Dare I suggest this was a ploy to break up play, irritate the opposition and frustrate the crowd? Surely not Kenny!

This was definitely a game of 2 halves or more likely three-quarters and a quarter! The Albion were all over the place for most of the first half. Gus seems unable to resist the temptation to fiddle with team selection before every match. His task was not helped by having injuries to three of his four full backs forcing El-Abd out wide with Dunk returning to the centre. We had three holding midfielders plus David leaving CMS more or less on his own up front with Buckley drifting from wing to wing trying to get into the game. The players could not work it out with the consequence that the ball being given away and a total lack of cohesion was apparent.

It came as no surprise when the much more lively Millwall team took the lead through Chris Wood midway through the half when he expertly turned a cross into the far corner. This was after Trotter had been left totally unmarked in the penalty area early on only to head over the bar. It was an action replay of the Hoskins' miss at the same end against Nottingham Forest.

The Albion were creating the occasional chance and Greer was unlucky when he got his head to a David free kick only to see the ball bounce down off the bar. This incident lead to Danny Shittu having a near death experience as he lay prostrate on the ground. Fortunately for all he made a miraculous recovery as soon as he spied the white line. Shortly afterwards he had a recurrence but when the ref pointed out he was already lying off the pitch if he needed attention he again recovered with great speed and was in position for the following corner. 

To his credit Gus could see things were not working for his team. Apart from injuries he rarely makes substitutions in the first half but he took the bold step of withdrawing Dunk who had done little wrong and bringing on LuaLua, moving David to right back. The Albion reverted to a much more familiar 4-3-3 from a confusing 3-5-2 (or something like that!)

This galvanised the Seagulls as LuaLua went on to have his best game this season (and perhaps last) and David shone down the right as he rampaged forward with no winger to worry about marking.

As soon as LuaLua appeared he ran Millwalll ragged down the left and put a perfect cross on a plate for CMS who contrived to shot and clear the ball at the same time.  His left foot shot appeared to be going in only to bounce out of play off his standing right leg! 

Chris Wood was a total handful for Greer and El-Abd and added a spectacular second as the hour approached. CMS, who was not having the best of games, came deep to collect the ball only to give it away on the edge of the penalty area leaving Wood to smash a wonder goal in from some 25 yards. 3 Kuszczaks would not have got a hand to it.

As it is the season of goodwill I will not mention that 2 of our League 1 winning strikers (Murray and Wood) and have now scored 5 against us this season.

To their credit the Albion did not collapse and fought back immediately via a spectacular goal of their own from LuaLua. He picked the ball up some 20 yards out and within a flash it was in Forde's net.

Scenting they could get something out of the game as Millwall tired and the visitors' bookings mounted the Albion swarmed forward. LuaLua drove another pile driver just over the bar and David was desperately unlucky when a fine curling 25 yard free kick thumped against Forde's left hand post with the goalie a spectator. The Albion thought they had scored as Greer and El-Abd headers were hacked off the line in quick succession. 

CMS made amends for his wayward evening winning a penalty when he was bundled over by a clumsy challenge in the penalty area. For a few dreadful seconds I thought Barnes (who had come on a substitute) had picked the ball up but soon realised that it was in the reassuring arms of David Lopez. He proceeded to give Barnes and CMS a masterclass on how to convert a penalty.

As the game went into added time only one team was likely to win with the final chance falling to Barnes but he found Forde's arms from 20 yards. 

In the end a draw was a fair result on the balance of play with the Albion struggling to cope with the physical presence of many of the Millwall players and, in turn, the visitors being unable to contain the unpredictability and class of LuaLua and David. 

Millwall's prospects in the second half of the season depend on whether they can secure Wood permanently and the Albion's on whether they can find a way to convert the mountain of the chances they create in most games into goals. 

My Personal Alternative Man of the Match: DAVID LOPEZ LuaLua won the Stadium award but Lopez had his best game for the Seagulls. Moving him to right back was inspired as he became a growing influence on the game and was desperately unlucky to see a free kick strike the woodwork.

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

"Tell him my fury shall abate!"

Brighton and Hove Albion (0) 0

Nottingham Forest (0) 0

Attendance: 26,684 (Amex record)



"Papa Noel,

I be good boy this year but it difficult. My strikers they play like un burro. All I want for Christmas is striker who find back of net. It not much to ask.

Feliz Navidad,

Gus"

I am contemplating not writing a fresh blog after each Albion game. After all each game is more or less the same so a bit of cut and paste and name changes to protect the innocent should do.

Yours truly meets Santa Gully!

True to form this game was like so many this season with the Albion dominating for long periods and creating chances galore but unable to convert because of the usual mixture of appalling finishing, bad luck and inspired goal keeping. A new award should be introduced for the week's striker who misses the most chances. Ashley  Barnes would have walked away with it against Bolton, Stephen Dobbie against Charlton and yesterday the reluctant recipient would have been Will Hoskins.

Not that Will had a bad game. His link play was outstanding, he never gave the ball away and looked very effective in the left side winger/striker role but when he arrived in the penalty area a red mist seemed to arrive with him. Sadly he failed to hit the target once with 4 very presentable chances. He could have had a first half hat trick and if the Albion had been 6-2 ahead at the interval it would not have  been an injustice. 

So here goes with Will's catalogue. His first chance arrived after good work from Bridge down the left but from his centre he steered the  ball agonisingly the wrong side of Camp's left hand post. Chance 2 - further good wing work this time from Buckley down the right saw Will get on the end of cross completely unmarked in the centre of the penalty area only to misdirect his header over the bar. The next chance was arguably the best when the ball came to him again unmarked in the penalty area but he seemed unable to work out whether to head or kick the ball and ended up screwing it over the  bar. His fourth and final chance arrived early in the second half when a free kick from the outstanding Lopez found him unmarked beyond the far post but the ball bounced off his foot and tamely behind for a goal kick. As his shoulders slumped in disappointment so did those of 24,000 Albion fans.

The bad luck award would go to Inigo Calderon who was an outstanding deputy for the injured Bruno. He found time to keep Andy Reid pretty quiet and join the attack at every opportunity. He saw a left foot shot clip Camp's left hand post and shortly afterwards he forced Camp to tip over a drive heading for the roof of the net.

Two further first half chances fell to CMS following good running but both went wide of the target.

Forest could have punished Albion for their wastefulness as half time approached as first Reid drove a good chance over the bar and then Sharp clipped a Cohen centre against the bar with Kuszczak a spectator. The goalie's only meaningful first half action could have been picking the ball out of his net. 

Is there a striker under this tres?

The second half was badly affected by driving rain. It was a credit to both sides that they managed to keep both their feet and the ball in such testing conditions. Forest came more into the game and El-Abd cleared from a dangerous situation early on. Kuszczak was forced into a save but for all their increased possession Forest were held at bay.

The rain made playing increasingly difficult. The ball either skidded away on the damp surface or slowed in the developing puddles particularly down the Albion's right. 

Two more chances came and went. LuaLua who replaced Hopskins forced Camp to tip the ball round the post from a low shot and then as injury time approached Halford lost possession to Buckley who immediately bore down on goal. Could this be a repeat of last season's last gasp win? Buckley's firm drive appeared to  be heading in only for Camp to turn over the bar. Buckley's frustration was all too apparent. 

The odd thing about this was that the Albion played really well. Nobody had a bad game (if you exclude finishing). Lopez revelled in a more central midfield role spraying the ball out to the wings and picking up anything loose as part of a dominating Albion midfield. We rarely looked in trouble at the back and coped well defensively with the conditions. Bridge and Calderon rampaged down the wings at every opportunity and general team play was outstanding until it came to you know what.

Gully's Girls final appearance?

A word about Will Buckley as Forest had a plan for keeping him quiet. It simply involved fouling him at every opportunity with the full indulgence of the referee. Like so many refs in the Championship Mr. Salisbury does not believe in protecting skilful players. The first time Buckley ran at the hapless Harding he just shoulder charged him over. In the Premiership that would have merited a booking but by not doing so Mr. Salisbury encouraged more of the same. This duly arrived a few minutes later with a late tackle from Reid who was belatedly booked. Fearing for his future on the pitch Harding was replaced for the second half by Greg Halford. He persistently fouled Buckley and was lucky not to be sent off when he appeared to raise his hands.

So what does Gus do about the inability to turn possession and chances into goals? The risk is that the inability to convert a tight defence and creative midfield into victories could just undermine the whole team and lead to a second half of the season struggle. For the time being I suggest Gus sticks with what he has and hope that against Millwall Hoskins gets the goals the rest of his play merited. Given the Albion were without both Vicente and Orlandi they still created plenty of opportunities. I am not convinced that a lot of chopping and changing will improve matters much.

The big challenge for Gus will come when the transfer window opens. Will he be able to hold on to assets like Buckley, CMS and Bridcutt while finding that all important reliable striker? I recall well how Zamora and Ward won us games we hardly deserved because they could convert the few chances that came their way.

My Personal Alternative Man of the Match: DAVID LOPEZ: Andrew Crofts may have received the Stadium award but for me Lopez was outstanding. He picked up lots of spare balls and kept the Albion moving forward. He was part of a very dominant midfield trio. He rarely gets to start but who would have known until he began to tire towards the end. The conditions were very un-Spanish but he appeared to revel in them.  

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

"O noble English, that could entertain"

Charlton Athletic (1) 2
Wilson 7
Pritchard 70

Brighton and Hove Albion (1) 2
Mackail-Smith 28
LuaLua 75

Attendance: 19,018

Gus names an attacking line up

Eat your heart out Louis Smith! When it comes to somersaults Kazenga LuaLua is your man. On 75 minutes Kazenga eyed up one of his explosive shots from a free kick 20 yards out. He struck the ball cleanly and powerfully. It took a deflection and flew into the bottom left hand corner of Ben Hamer's goal. Within seconds LuaLua was running towards the corner flag to celebrate in the way only he can for the first time this season.

Who says Bruno and El-Abd aren't brothers?

The 3,000 plus travelling support celebrated gleefully no doubt hoping that LuaLua has put behind him his problems this season and this was the beginning of a purple patch. There is little doubt that when he is on the pitch, fit and in form he poses big problems for opposing defences.

As for the game as a whole, after a shaky period early on and being slightly fortunate to be level at half time, the Seagulls dominated for long periods and created enough chances to have been well clear before Charlton took the lead for the second time during one of their rare second half raids on the Albion goal. 

In the cold light of day this game will go down, with several others this season, as a draw that should have been a victory with more clinical finishing. However, it would have been harsh to have come away with all three points on the day Charlton celebrated the 20th anniversary of their return to The Valley following exile at Crystal Palace.

Charlton took the lead in front of the travelling supporters on 9 minutes when, for the second game running, the Albion conceded from a corner. Charlton played a short corner routine and the ball was played in hard and low and somehow evaded everybody to end up in the corner of Kuszczak's net. The big Pole was not amused and showed his frustration. He was quite right as a ball played in like that should be cleared.

Early on the Albion were having great difficulty coping with the home side's power and pace. Rob Hulse is a man mountain and knows all about unsettling defences. Kuszczak acrobatically turned over a Hulse header and a comedy own goal was prevented when a sliced clearance flew towards the goal only to be deflected away by another defender. At times the Seagulls were their own worst enemies as they over-elaborated at the back and lost possession.

The Albion equalised in circumstances quite alien to their usual way of playing. A long clearance was misheaded by Michael Morrison straight up in the air. CMS was first to the bouncing ball and steered it calmly past Hamer. Sometimes route one works!

Before this Greer had missed a splendid opportunity when he blazed over when well placed 6 yards out.

LuaLua's bullit shot heads for the net

The second half was mostly one way traffic. Corners mounted up as did chances which went begging. Hamer palmed away a close range drive from Buckley and Dobbie miss hit 2 chances from the edge of the penalty area. Buckley in particular was finding space in the Charlton defence and from one of his crosses from the left Dobbie missed the best chance of all, deflecting the ball over the bar from about 8 yards out.  CMS looked to have scored his second as a powerful volley took a slight deflection and flew inches the wrong side of Hamer's post.

Somewhat against the run of play Charlton retook the lead when Pritchard turned in a cross which many felt should have been cut out. 

Gus rang the changes - LuaLua on for Hoskins whose pace had caused problems to the home defence and Barnes on for the flagging Dobbie who seemed strangely out of salts. Today he played just behind CMS but had difficulty with the speed of the game and getting on the same wavelength as his fellow players.

One of Albion's many 2nd half attacks

LuaLua's moment of magic ensured a draw in what was a very exciting game. The Albion played in a more direct style, particularly in the second half and were better for it. Everybody battled and apart from Dobbie the Albion players came back well from last week's mauling. 

Bridcutt was the visitor's man of the match but a honourable mention for Hammond who is settling into the team well and fullfilling his role in "Gus Play".

At the end I was left with the feeling that the Albion are just one clinical finisher away from being side to be reckoned with in a very competitive league.

My Personal Alternative Man of the Match: Dean Hammond He is now beginning to settle down in his new surroundings allbeit for the second time. He has picked up how to play his role in Gus's 4-3-3 team pattern geared to getting and maintaining control of game. He was always available to receive a pass in midfield and covered acres of space. Is developing a very effective holding midfield partnership with Bridcutt.