A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

21st December 2013

SkyBET Championship

Brighton and Hove Albion (0) 0

Huddersfield Town (0) 0

Attendance: 27,155

League Position: 8th

"Dear Papa Noel,

I have been a good boy this year. I was promoted to a new class and the head teacher likes me. I am very popular in the playground and I have been studying hard.

For Christmas can I have the secret to beating poor teams at home? As a special reward can I have Craig Conway back?

  Los Mejores Deseos,

Oscar"

As the players emerged from the tunnel into the gloom, wind and rain of the Amex in December Ashley Barnes was seen carrying a seasonal sack. In it were a variety of misses as presents for the visiting Huddersfield team ranging from "decent half chance" to my "granny could have knocked that one in!"

As home team pressure mounted in the second half David Lopez put over the latest in a series of tempting crosses.  Barnes, unmarked, rose and met the ball powerfully with a header from deep inside the penalty area. It only had to be on target to give the Albion a richly deserved lead. The net rippled. The West Stand rose as one to celebrate. There was no celebration from the goal scorer, however,  as it became clear Barnes had missed the target entirely and the ball rolling apologetically along the back of the goal was causing the net to ripple. Barnes went into hang dog mode again.

The first time had been on 50 minutes. From another tempting David Lopez cross Agustien headed the  ball back across Smithies who somehow got his left hand to the ball and palmed it into the air towards

The Amex on a dark, wet and windy December afternoon

Barnes who was standing unmarked 5 yards out and only an empty goal to look at. The ball struck Barnes and looped agonisingly over the vacant goal.  Bad miss or did not Barnes have opportunity to adjust his body in time?

In the first half Barnes saw a fine strike from yet another David Lopez cross brilliantly blocked. From a series of yet further fine corners from David Lopez one Huddersfield defender managed to head the ball goalwards for another to hack off the line.

It is tempting to blame Barnes for the Albion's failure yet again to take all the points from limited Amex visitors but nobody else had a worthwhile strike on goal apart from the Agustien header. Ince and Agustien picked out folks sitting in the south stand with wild drives in the first half and Ulloa headed over near the end.

The truth is that if a team is going to play 4-3-3 it needs a central striker who will take the slimmest of half chances and Barnes just needs too many strikes before he can find the target. You also need midfielders who can get up in support of the lone striker and chip in with some goals. Yesterday Oscar played a midfield three who had not managed to score a goal between them all season. Whenever Bridcutt or Ince ventured forward, the more nervous they looked the nearer the penalty area they approached. Clearly having such fine defensive midfielders helps the team harvest away points, but when more creativity is required to unlock teams at home, they are found to be wanting.

No doubt Crofts was given a well deserved rest but he was badly missed. His replacement, Agustien, showed some fine touches in the first half then drifted out of the game, began to give the ball away and was eventually replaced. His best moment came with his header which Smithies palmed away. It deserved to be his opening goal for the Albion.

Without Conway the team looked unbalanced from the outset. Buckley was tried, without success, down the left but contributed little and was substituted to give Ulloa 10 minutes at the end.

Most of the creativity came down the right where Bruno and David Lopez had fine games. Their outstanding contributions deserved better support from their colleagues.

Brezovan was unoccupied for large parts of the game and in the second half could have been served his Christmas dinner without risk of disturbance.

So the Albion finish their home games for the first half of the season in roughly the same place they were last season. This is no mean achievement given the managerial changes and long injury list. 

A strike for the play offs is entirely possible but they cannot just rely on points gathered away from the Amex. The return of Ulloa is going to help and the pace of a fit CMS

Somehow seems appriopriate

would be a bonus but there appears little prospect of that in the near future. They  also need Orlandi's creativity down the left to balance what David Lopez is doing down the other side. They also need Conway back. Once he had settled in he was behind most that was good during his loan spell from Cardiff. He is more reliable that Buckley and more consistent than LuaLua.

In the end credit was due to both teams for trying to play football on a day when the wind swirled, the rain poured, often both at the same time.

So great hope for the second half of the season but fixing the home turf inconsistency is a top priority.

MANAGER WATCH: Oscar remained inscrutable at  Barnes' misses and, as usual, looked lost in own thoughts for large parts of the game. Robins shot out from the shelter of the West Stand several times, waved his arms around and retreated. This must have felt like a victory to him.

REF WATCH: Thank you, Mr. Adcock, for not giving a penalty in the first half when El-Abd appeared to bundle Vaughan over. Was likewise unimpressed when a couple of second half shots appeared to hit the arms of Huddersfield defenders. 

TREATMENT ROOM REVOLVING DOOR: Ulloa now half out and Buckley completely out but for how long?

ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: Strangely Bridcutt was given the sponsor's award but in reality Bruno and David Lopez had outstanding games. Bruno's return to form is most welcome so he gets my award.

This is my final blog of the year as I am away on holiday for the Bournemouth and Reading games. I would like to thank my readers for their encouraging comments and I remain greatly impressed by the number of different countries where it is read. 

I wish you all a Happy Christmas and a successful 2014 with perhaps the play offs as a bonus.

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

SkyBET Championship

7th December 2013

Brighton and Hove Albion (2)3
Barnes 9 and 77(pen)
Conway 28

Leicester City (0)1
King 64

Attendance: 27,497 
League Position: 10th

Harold Wilson once said a week in politics is a long time. Well, in football 4 days is a hell of a long time. Everything that was wrong about the abysmal performance against Barnsley was attended to as the Albion turned in the first half display of the season to beat the League leaders.

Ince's return made a big difference. His height, long legs and physical presence made it difficult for Leicester to cut the Albion apart down the middle in the way Barnsley had done. David Lopez's mojo returned, Bruno was outstanding and Conway was a constant menace to the visitor's

lumbering defence. To be truthful nobody had a bad game and this was truly a team victory. The exact opposite to Tuesday night.

The early omens were not good. Kusczcak was injured in the warm up and Greer limped off early on to be replaced by El-Abd. Nothing was to deter the Albion as they took the lead after 9 minutes. David Lopez collected the ball as a Leicester attack broke down and hit a fine pass across the visitor's goal to the unmarked Barnes who had the easiest task to knock the ball beyond the exposed Schmeichel. 

If that pass from David Lopez took the breath away, it was to be excelled in the 28th minute when he hit a even better pass across a greater distance to the on-rushing Conway who chested the ball down and slotted it pass the on-rushing Schmeichel.

Apart from the odd Leicester sortie, the Albion dominated the first half and were well worth the 2 goal interval lead. Leicester were not top of the League by accident and they came out for the second half looking as if they meant business. The former Albion midfielder, Dean Hammond, was replaced by Knockaert to give the visitors width on both sides of the pitch. Their pace and rapid passing in midfield impressed but the Albion dug a trench on the edge of their penalty area which the visitors rarely penetrated. 

They did get back into the game on 64 minutes when the unmarked King headed in a free kick from

Knockaert. Matters may have gotten worse a few minutes later had not Brezovan flicked over the crossbar a header from Taylor-Fletcher.

Despite this the Albion had control of the game and it was Leicester who were being forced to press up field and this proved their undoing on 77 minutes. A fine pass from Bruno put Conway away down the left, he easily evaded a tackle and put over a tempting cross to  Barnes who had found space in front of Morgan. The cental defender pushed Barnes off the ball for an obvious penalty which Barnes smashed down the centre of the goal. 

The post match Amex buzz returned. Defeat to the League's bottom team followed by victory over the top team summed up the Albion's inconsistent season. They now lie 3 points out of the play offs and with injured players returning a top 6 place remains a real possibility if they can recover last year's consistency. 

I am not sure many Albion fans realised this was Conway's final home game before his return to Cardiff. I hope his lap of honor at the end, applauding the supporters, is not the last we see of him. Over recent weeks he has been the Albion's most consistent player and more reliable then the constantly injured Buckley and the hit and miss Lua Lua.

TREATMENT ROOM REVOLVING DOOR: Greer and Kusczcak in to join Orlandi, CMS, Hoskins, Buckley and Ulloa but Andrews and LuaLua out.

MANAGER WATCH: Oscar retured to the finely cut suit with a pullover the only concession to the December weather. Nigel Pearson remained seated no doubt fearing last season's collapse in form of his expensive collection of players would be repeated.

MAGIC MOMENT: An honourable mention for Crofts 40 yard shot which nearly caught Schmeichel out but the award must go to David Lopez for the passes which set up goals for Barnes and Conway. He

was the difference between the teams when it came to creating chances.

REF WATCH: Not often the ref gets booed off after a victory but Mr. Madley's inconsistency was very frustrating. He booked Wasilewski early on for chopping down Conway and the defender committed similar offences in the second half when facing LuaLua but remained on the pitch. In contrast Crofts and LuaLua were booked for pretty mild first offences.

ALTERNATE MAN OF THE MATCH: Barnes received the stadium award for his brace but my award goes to Brezovan. He probably thought his days in goal for the Albion were over apart from the odd development squad appearance. But with Casper injured he was plunged into the limelight with only 10 minutes warning and performed very competently. His handling was without blemish and he dealt well with a range of long distance shots and pulled off fine saves from Taylor-Fletcher and King when the visitors were at their most threatening.

 

 

 

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

SkyBET Championship

3rd December 2013

Brighton and Hove Albion (0)1
Upson 63

Barnsley (1)2
McCourt 35
Mellis 50

Attendance: 25,759
League Postion: 11th

One team walked on to the pitch on the back of an unbeaten run of 6 games, just 3 points away from a play off place and seemingly full of confidence. Its manager and goalkeeper up for manager and player of the month awards. The other entered bottom of the league, without an away win all season, only 1 point from their last 8 away games and without a goal since the swallows left. A recently landed Martian would have thought Brighton were the latter and Barnsley the former on the performances on Tuesday evening. 

The first 45 minutes would have been a strong contender for the poorest Seagulls' performance since landing at the Amex and the second half, although much improved, would have made the shortlist.

The visitor's caretaker manager, Mickey Mellon, arrived with a plan and the Albion were totally clueless on how to respond. Barnsley packed the centre of midfield with 5 players against the home team's 3. They consistently crowded out the Albion's midfielders, fed the ball to the always-

I know mate, it was grim!

free Mellis and set about dribbling down the centre of the pitch. Twice Barnsley dribbled all the way to the back of Kuszczak's net. Each time he got a hand to the ball but could not stop it entering the goal. The centre of the Albion's defence took on the consistency of a marshmallow.

Forster-Caskey spent 45 mintes chasing shadows, Bridcutt (understandably) looked short of match sharpness and this coincided with Crofts' first off day of the season. The physical presence of Ince was badly missed as Barnsley won most of the 50-50 balls.

On the evening only Conway and Agustien (who replaced the disappointing David Lopez on 65 minutes) enhanced their reputations. Conway was desperately unlucky not to open the scoring on 20 minutes when a thunderous 30 yard drive was deflected on to the bar by Butland. He provided the cross at the end of Albion's move of the match which saw Butland produce another fine save, this time from Buckley. From the resulting Conway corner Upson headed Brighton back into the game. 

After that chances to equalise and possibly take the lead came and went. Barnes and Greer headed over the bar, Barnes sent an overhead kick just wide and Butland denied Buckley in a one to one. 

Just as Albion were building up a head of steam the ref apparently pulled a hamstring and limped off. The 5 minute delay took the impetus out of the play and the home side never really recovered. In the 7 added minutes the Albion could not conjure a genuine opportunity. 

So the game petered out and the final whistle was meet with booing in some sections of the ground.

Having failed to beat the bottom team the top team are now the next visitors. The Albion owe the fans, and themselves, a stirring performance and an unexpected 3 points. 

MANAGER WATCH: Each goal was met with much man hugging in the visitor's technical area. Oscar, well wrapped against the winter chill looked, for most of the time, as if he wished he could be somewhere else.

REF WATCH: Showed great speed in leaving stage left to be replaced by the fourth official when injured. Both refs wore pencils down booking 4 Barnsley players.

MAGIC MOMENT: Few contenders but Conway's solo run, shot from 30 yards and Butland's deflection on to the bar gets the award.

ATLERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: As usual the stadium award went to the goal scorer but Albion's stand out player was CONWAY. Only player who looked consistently threatening, unluckly not to score and see his cross to Buckley converted.  

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

SkyBET Championship
9th November 2013

Brighton and Hove Albion (1) 3
Barnes 35(pen) and 77
Forster-Caskey 56

Blackburn Rovers (0) 0

Attendance: 27,912

League Position: 10th

Shortly before 3pm a rainbow appeared above the Amex. Although there was no crock of gold at its end it

delivered 3 points and rich promise for the second half of the season.

This was by no means the complete performance and Blackburn will feel the score flattered the Albion but there were outstanding performances throughout the team and with the injury list appearing to abate suddenly anything seems possible.

The game was preceded by a short but moving act of Remembrance made all the more emotional by the links between the club and James Brynin. His family and girlfriend were very dignified it what must be a extremely difficult weekend for them.

Understandably the game took a little while to spring to life with Blackburn the first to show when Judge fired wide when well placed. The Albion then came more into the game and a fine break from a Blackburn corner saw an interchange of passes between Bruno and Conway who forced Kean to palm away his fierce shot. Barnes then pounced on a poor back pass from Lowe only to wastefully blast the ball into the South Stand. 

The Albion continued to press and a piece of fine penalty area trickery by the impressive Conway ended with him being upended  by Etuhu who had only just entered the fray in place of the limping Williamson.

The Amex relaxed. Soon the ball would be in the reassuring arms of David Lopez and shortly afterwards in the back of the net. But wait a moment! Barnes had grabbed the ball. There appeared to be an exchange of words between Barnes and David Lopez. A collective sigh of concern spread around the Amex as memories

flooded  back of all those Barnes' penalty misses over the last 2 seasons. We need not have worried as Barnes sent Kean the wrong way and ran for the corner flag with a great smile of relief on his face.

Blackburn suddenly changed game plan. All the delaying tactics stopped and they upped the pace of the game. They had 2 glorious opportunities to equalise before half time. Uncharacteristically Rhodes headed wide when well placed and Dann's header was brilliantly turned over the  bar by Kusczcak. The half time whistle came as something of a relief.

The second half started the way the first had ended. Blackburn playing at pace with the Albion holding a defencive line on the edge of their penalty area. This reduced the visitors to a series of long distance pots which allowed Kusczcak to show case his impressive array of dives, catches and punches. He simply looked unbeatable. 

The Seagulls' second goal owed a lot to Barnes' hard work in midfield, a lay off to Conway whose cross was headed in by Forster-Caskey as he rushed into the penalty area.

Normal service then resumed with Blackburn giving Kusczak plenty of practice and the Albion trying to hit them on the break. The third goal arrived when Kean flapped at a mishit shot from Crofts which left  Barnes with the opportunity to chip the ball over Kean for his second.

The game finished with a number of sweeping passing movements from the Albion as the visitors ran out of ideas, luck and puff.

For the Albion there were impressive performances through the team. Kusczcak, Upson who was calmness personified, Crofts - the best midfielder on the pitch, Forster-Caksey and Ince continuing to show great promise, Barnes' hard work and Conway easily matching Buckley.

On the negative side Bruno did a bad thing for every good thing and David Lopez still looks short of last season's form. Collectively the team sometimes gave the ball away unnecessarily. In fact many of Blackburn's better moments came when the home side presented them with the  ball.

So 2 wins on the trot, 6 goals, up to 10th in the table and 3 points away from the play offs plus a good win over a team who 2 seasons ago graced the Premiership and are still  benefiting from parachute payments. Onwards and upwards!

The reappearance of Bridcutt at the end seemed to sum up the hope and expectation of the departing supporters.

COMIC MOMENT: Just before the Albion scored their first Ward tried to get down the side of 2 defenders who collided and collapsed to the ground as if pole axed. The home side regained possession and continued to press but D'Urso blew the whistle for an apparent head injury (or 2). When the 2 Blackburn defenders realised they would have to leave the pitch if they received treatment they suddenly recovered and sprinted back into position. From the resulting bounce the ball was whacked down the pitch to Kusczak and all advantage was lost.

TREATMENT ROOM REPORT: Bridcutt and Agustein out but Buckley and Andew in. Oscar hopeful of more returns after the international break.

REFEREE WATCH: Given it was Andy D'Urso he had a quiet afternoon and was dead right about the penalty.

DOH!! Award: Must go the Southern Railways and Network Rail. This was the Albion's only home Saturday game in 7 weeks so it was the day chosen to close the Haywards Heath-Brighton line for maintenance work.

DOH!! Award 2: Must go to the Albion for agreeing to switch the Watford game from Friday to Monday night a month beforehand.  As a season ticket holder I could not get to the game as I had agreed to work in Birmingham early on the Tuesday after the game. I also lost the money spent on booking a hotel room on the Friday night. Sometimes taking the Sky shilling leaves a bad taste in the mouths of supporters.

MAGIC MOMENT: Kusczcak's reflex turn over the bar from Dann's short range header just before half time.

MANAGER WATCH: Oscar as well turned out as usual in immaculate suite supplemented by an equally fine pullover in response to a wet and cold English autumn day. He and his team always appear very delighted when the side win which could not always be said of Team Gus. Gary Bowyer wore an old pair of tracksuit bottoms from Woolworth's and an old Blackburn top from a charity shop. Kept warm with several pleading runs to the 4th official.

ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: The sponsor's award went to Barnes for his brace but mine goes to Kuszcask for his master class in goal keeping. If they were still playing now I doubt  Blackburn would have found a way past him.

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

SkyBET Championship

5th October 2013

Brighton and Hove Albion (1)1
Crofts 31

Nottingham Forest (0)3
Lansbury 46 and 62(pen)
Henderson 60

Attendance: 27,755

League Position: 14th

On paper this was a Championship mismatch and so, eventually, it proved to be.

In the red corner Nottingham Forest with one of biggest player budgets in the Division. How they achieved this, without a Premiership parachute payment, and within the Financial Fair Play rules and given their level of support is something of a mystery. Answers please on a postcard to the Football League.

In the blue corner the Albion, whose challenge of remaining within the FFP rules is being compounded by injuries, many of them long term, to a quarter of the first team squad. 

By the end Forest's expensively acquired team of pace

Gully seeks comfort from a pumpkin spice latte

and power laced with Premiership experience saw them safely home but until the visitors' second goal in the 62nd minute the Albion were well in this game and could count themselves slightly unfortunate not to be ahead. 

The Albion edged the first half with LuaLua a constant threat as he drew regular fouls and bookings from Forest defenders. An early cross caused panic in the penalty area and a shot flew narrowly over. When the Albion played long balls down the wings for Buckley and LuaLua the Forest defenders struggled to cope and the opening goal came via this route. A long ball to Buckley down the left, played back to Ward whose cross was knocked across the area by Barnes for Crofts to stoop low to head his third of the season. 

Forest were reduced mainly to shots from distance which Kuszczak dealt with easily enough although there were plenty of reminders of their class and experience mainly from Reid and Lansbury.

As the 2nd half got underway the Albion just about had control of the game and it was for Forest to cope with the challenges and frustrations of chasing it.  It was vital the Albion did not concede early on and that was exactly what they did. A corner, perhaps needlessly given away, was headed powerfully home by the unmarked Lansbury as he pulled away from the defenders. 

For the next 10 minutes the Albion reduced the sometimes ponderous Forest defence to panic as they pressed for a 2nd goal. Barnes again won the ball in the air and from his header a Crofts' shot was deflected on to the post by Darlow. The ball was eventually scrambled away from in front of the goal. If that had gone in this could have been a  very different game.

Almost immediatley Forest broke away down their left and from a cross Henderson

drove the ball powerfully wide of Kuszczak.  Two minutes later Forest sealed victory when a Greer tackle gave Cox the opportunity to go down too easily and Lansbury buried the spot kick.

There was no way back for the Albion as the extent of the Forest squad became apparent as they brought on substitutes and defended in depth. The home team were reduced to long range shots but two efforts from Crofts and one from David Lopez did not really bother Darlow. LuaLua could have had a penalty when he appeared to be brought down in the area.

LuaLua continued to remain a threat and Forest continued to bring him down. Something which Chelsea loanee Chalobah did once too often and was dismissed by Mr. Pawson who has plenty of experience of dismissing players at the Amex.

The game petered out as the Albion ran out of steam and ideas and the 10-man Forest declined to attack. The game was summed up by the substitute strikers - Forest brought on Greg Halford and the Albion George Barker.

Forever the optimist, this could have been a very different game if the Albion could have called on Ulloa and CMS to put pressure on a sometimes uncertain defence, Orlandi's creativity and deadball skills and Bridcutt to counter Lansbury in midfield but, of course, they watched on in various states of repair. 

Another international break could not have come early

enough as it gives opportunity for the wounded to repair further and perhaps a loan striker to be secured.

As for Forest the only threat to their march to the play offs (or better) could be a side depleted by suspensions - yesterday they picked up 5 bookings and a sending off. But given the depth of their squad it may hardly matter.

REFEREE WATCH: To Mr. Pawson's credit he defended LuaLua from the persistent fouling much to the annoyance of the Forest bench. Quick to award a penalty when Cox went down and booked Darlow as punishment for the whole Forest team's time wasting towards the end.

MANAGER WATCH: This time Oscar turned out in splendid chinos and a finely cut blazer and remained unruffled as the whole Forest bench invaded his technical area finger pointing about the number of times LuaLua was tumbled to the turf.  Davies has clearly been eating too many Nottingham pies and his Holloway style celebration with the visiting fans at the end was way over the top. Perhaps it is evidence of how much pressure he is under to succeed given all that money he has been given?

ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: LuaLua received the sponsor's award (for the second game runnning) but I shall give it to ANDREW CROFTS. Given he is playing with an injury he was one of the Albion's most influential players. He was behind most of what was good. His head went in with the flying boots for the goal and he was desperately unlucky not to add a second.  He kept going until the end and I reckon had more shots than the rest of the team put together.

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

SkyBET CHAMPIONSHIP

1st October 2013

Brighton and Hove Albion (0)1
Andrews 89

Sheffield Wednesday (1)1
Fryatt 43

Attendance: 25,725

League Position: 12th

What is it that I hear in the far distance? Could it be the beating drums of discontent?

For over three and a half seasons Albion fans have been educated in the Gus Poyet style of play. Phrases such as "taking care of the ball", "denying the opposition possession", "no 50/50 play" and "passing around the pitch" can still only be recalled accompanied by Gus's accent. What

Gully's international break travels: Gully checks out Toronto FC shirts

the Albion served up last night was a far cry from Poyet's creed although largely with the same players.

The game will be best recalled for over-hit passes, under-hit passes, intercepted passes and passes to nobody in particular. The more the game progressed the more the players resorted to the big no-no of Gus's day - the long ball. It was 90 minutes of ping pong with Wednesday joyfully joining in. Hardly the spectacle expected by those groomed in Gus's methods. It was all hustle and bustle and what little craft there was came down the wings.

In the first half the Albion fielded four of their Latin contingent so some ole play was expected but it was more oh dear than ole as poor control let down players at vital moments.

As so often at home the Albion should have been out of sight before Wednesday had their first sight of goal. A fine pass from Bruno put David Lopez clean through on Kirkland but he was unable to control the ball and, shortly after, an equally fine defence splitting pass, this time from Greer, found Ulloa with only the goalie to beat but he likewise failed to control the ball.  Elsewhere in the first half LuaLua had a good shout for a penalty waved away, Crofts tested Kirkland from distance and Greer powered a header into Kirkland's arms.

Just prior to Greer's header Wednesday took the lead with their second visit to the Albion penalty area. Kusczcak did not get his first touch until the 12th minute, he then had a routine header to save before picking the ball out of the net. A long ball down the Albion's left should have been seen out of play but Helan was allowed to put over a cross the defence was not expecting, for Fryatt to tap the ball in from close range for his first goal in a very long time.

Just prior to the goal there had been an outbreak of handbags in the Wednesday penalty area with Keith Andrews claiming he was the sinned-against party. Following a

Gully's international break travels: Gully reflects when 

 

Canadians played ice hockey in Brighton

lot of verbals from Kirkland and arm waving the referee booked Andrews and Semedo. The break in play disturbed Albion's concentration which might have been the aim in the first place.

The second half started promisingly before disaster struck with Ulloa going down in a crumpled heap. He was stretched off with a feared fractured ankle. The Albion's squad sheet shows 4 strikers but 3 now have long term injuries and the 4th, Barnes, is always more likely to get booked than score a goal.

To the team's credit they kept going although it was not always pretty. Led by Agustein, too many players were trying for the pass of the century rather than doing the simple thing. Players passed when they should have run with ball and ran with the ball when they should have passed. The sense of frustration was added to by Wednesday's blatant time wasting and back-chatting to the referee which eventually saw Kirkland booked. 

As Wednesday closed in on their first win of the season they defended more desperately and the Albion attacked likewise. The Albion had few chances to show for all the effort. An Agustein drive from distance deflected fortunately into the welcoming arms of Kirkland. Barnes should really have converted when he steered wide a pull-back from Agustein and Andrews was desperately unlucky as a LuaLua cross found its way to him on the edge of the area only for the midfielder to shave the post with Kirkland an anxious spectator.

As added time approach and the win bonus began appearing in the Wednesday players' eyes the Albion equalised. Crofts got away down the right, his centre was headed back across for the goal by Ward for Andrews to gleefully turn in off a defender. Andrews does not score often from open play so his delight was understandable. 

Waved on by Garcia the Albion had the will to go for a winner in the added 5 minutes but not the legs so a draw it finished.

The positives - the back 5 were sound and rarely troubled and Crofts and Andrews were behind most of what was good. LuaLua and Buckley threatened on occasions. The negatives - see above.

The Albion now have a major striker crisis with Ulloa out for goodness knows how long. Barnes, for all his determination, is neither

Gully's international break travels: Looking for a Blue Jays win

a regular scorer or a lone striker. Difficult though it may be, a striker on loan is a major priority. It should really be 2 but that is probably impossible.  

So now on to the daunting proposition of Nottingham Forest. Playing a team near the top may perversely aid Albion's cause rather than one desperate for a point at any cost from near the bottom. There might  be some feeling in this game given the investments Forest have been able to make despite the FFP rules.

MAGIC MOMENT: Bruno's superb defence splitting pass early on which deserved a goal rather than David Lopez's miscontrol.

REFEREE WATCH: Mr. Stroud, who has a habit of producing lots of cards, just managed to keep a lid on things when tempers became ragged but struggled at times to cope with Wednesday's time wasting.

MANAGER WATCH: As Autumn is upon us Oscar is now sporting a finely cut grey pullover to compliment his equally fine suit but still maintained the tie free look. He prowled about a lot apparently deep in meditation. In contrast Dave Jones is not a prowler. He remains seated, for the most part, on his chair rather than in it and appeared to be posing for the predatory photographers wanting the first snap of the second Championship manager to bite the dust this season.

ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: The sponsors award went to LuaLua but my nomination is KEITH ANDREWS. A case of a cool head when everybody else was losing theirs. He was behind any class that was on show and took his goal well.

 

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

SkyBET Championship

21st September 2013

Brighton and Hove Albion (0)3
Spearing 53 (og)
Calderon 55
Buckley 57

Bolton Wanderers (1)1
David Lopez 29 (og)

Attendance: 26,319

League Position: 10th


You see Gus, this is how it is done! The Albion have not celebrated a come-from-behind victory at the Amex since the stadium's opening day back on 6th August 2011. It was achieved with rare aplomb yesterday with a purple patch of 3 goals in 4 scintillating second half minutes. This monkey was well and truly removed from the Albion's back. Those 4 minutes saw a quality of football that must have had Oscar purring. 

In contrast the first half was a frustrating affair. The Albion started brightly and forced 2 corners in the opening 2 minutes. They found

it difficult to create chances with a succession of crosses being either over hit or under hit. A drive over the top from Ward and some adventurous play from LuaLua were all the Albion had to show for their efforts.

As the half wore on Bolton came more and more into the game with Lee producing a sprawling save from Kuszczak. They evenually took the lead on 29 minutes in bizarre circumstances. A short corner was played back to Eagles and his low cross appeared to be deflected by both Ince and then David Lopez resulting with the ball rolling agonisingly past the wrong footed Kuszczak. Clearly not what David Lopez had planned for Spanish Day!

The Albion's only response came from a well worked corner routine. David Lopez knocked the ball long to LuaLua who cut in and from the edge of the penalty area and unleashed a trade mark drive that crashed down off the underside of Bogdan's bar just the wrong side of the line.

The second half was a wholly different affair with Albion taking total control in 4 hectic minutes. On 53 minutes Spearing flattened Ward just outside the penalty area for which he was booked. Having witnessed a number of David Lopez set piece mishits in the first half LuaLua ushered him away and drove a superb cross into the penalty area. Barnes got in front of his marker as Spearing deflected the ball past the stranded Bogdan.

Perhaps a Poyet side would have sat back on their laurels but this Albion side went for the jugular. Calderon and Buckley combined down the right for Calderon

to drive his first of the season on his 150th appearance to the right of Bogdan on 55 minutes. 2 minutes later a similar move resulting with Calderon repaying the favour by releasing Buckley to cut in and drive the ball again low to Bogdan's right.

The Albion played the game out pretty comfortably. Kuszczak was forced into a few routine saves and the Albion might have added to the tally. The best chance fell to David Lopez from a superb Conway cross that he appeared to drive against the near post. Barnes, in the interest of personal safety, got his head out of the way of LuaLua cross-come-shot that flew narrowly wide.

Bruno came on for the final 10 minutes to undertake a play-where-you-feel role. He turned up at centre forward, left winger and right across the midfield.

As for Bolton they were a shadow of last season's team with mostly the same squad. They appeared drained of confidence and clearly have a walkabout defence. Storm clouds loom for Dougie Freedman.

Seagulls' fans can see how Oscar's side is coming together. This was a total team performance even though 8 potential first team regulars were missing due to injury and suspension etc. 

Every Albion player gave their all in a real team effort. Some of the team play was outstanding. They pass the ball around more quickly than in recent seasons and mix up the style of play. Apart from some set pieces it

was hard to fault them.

Now undefeated in 6 games and prospects are looking good for Oscar and his boys.

MAGIC MOMENT: LuaLua's control and drive against the underside of the bar from distance in the first half. Bogdan could only watch opened mouthed!

REF WATCH: Mr. Jones was responsible for the pass of the first half when he intercepted a cross field pass from Greer and played in Ngog who should have scored. It was good for blood pressure around the Amex that Ngog spared Mr. Jones' blushes. 

MANGER WATCH: Oscar was all sartorial elegance as usual but for Freedman it was a day of torment. The North Stand chanted about his job prospects throughout the second half. For long periods Freedman just sat in his chair no doubt reflecting on why he left Palace to take Bolton into the Premiership only to find Palace in the top league and Bolton bottom of the Championship. Soccer can be a cruel game!

ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: The sponsor's award went to the great prospect Rohan Ince (who would probably not even make the bench if Andrews and Bridcutt

were available) but my award goes to LuaLua in what was probably his best all round performance since joining permanently from Newcastle. He helped out in defence when needed, was always a threat when on the ball, struck the underside of the bar and took control for the game changing free kick.

 

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

SkyBET Championship

31st August 2013

Brighton and Hove Albion (0)1
Ulloa 89

Millwall (0)1
Woolford 51

Attendance: 26,804 (Amex high for season and highest in Championship on the day)

League Position: 13th

Millwall presented Oscar with a challenge not unknown to his predecessor. What to do about a team that sets out to defend in depth, foul often and early, delay all dead ball starts and generally frustrate the flow of the game?

It was a relfection of Millwall's plight that they are resorting to such tactics so early in the season. Their team of has-beens and never-will-bes look like relegation fodder. It has to be said the Albion looked pretty clueless about what to do in response to Millwall's tactics for an hour and it

was only the introduction of Orlandi and LuaLua that created the drive and urgency that eventually brought Brighton back in to the game.

A combination of the visitor's negativity and the Albion's inability to respond led to the worst first half seen so far at the Amex. A drive over the bar by Agustien and a header into the arms of Kuszczak were all the first half had to offer.

It got worse immediately after half time when the old Albion habit of nodding off which cost them dearly against Derby and nearly so at Birmingham reappeared. The visitors worked the ball down the pitch and a Chaplow cross found Woolford unmarked on the left and he calmly slotted the ball past Kusczcak.

For the final half hour it was mostly attack v defence. LuaLua's arrival for the patchy Lopez on 57 minutes sparked the Albion. Within a minute 2 LuaLua thunderbolts were deflected away. Orlandi became more and more influential and was providing the previously missing creativity. He drifted past a couple of defenders only to see his goal-bound shot spectacularly turned over by Forde. A Crofts' shot missed by a whisker and the Albion looked to have equalised when Ulloa headed in an Orlandi free kick. The ref saw a push not that obvious to anybody else and disallowed it.

But the Albion were not to be denied and on 89 minutes Ulloa turned in a LuaLua cross for his 4th goal of the season. In the 5 added minutes, some of which must have been for the timewasting, the Albion nearly won the game when Orlandi, this time down the right, turned and nearly bent the ball around the stranded Forde.

Millwall were eventually made to play for their negative tactics. Dunne had been booked in the first half for time wasting and on 75 minutes brought Orlandi down on the edge of the penalty area and was duly dismissed.  

So a draw in a game the Albion should have won but so nearly lost! 

The last 2 games have been progress and, at best, this was a marking time game. The Albion are much dependent on Ulloa for the goals and the loss of CMS until at least November is a big blow. This game cried out for his pace as Shittu must  be the most lumbering

centre back in the division. Lopez has yet to find last season's consistency and Buckley remains a worry - contributing little to this game. Ward and Agustein do not look 100% fit and it was interesting what Oscar had to say about player fitness after the game.

On the positive side it was good to see Orlandi back and in form immediately, LuaLua is creating more problems on the wing than Buckley at present and Andrew's last 20 minutes showed why we need him in the team from the outset. 

With the transfer window closing on Monday the Albion must be on the lookout for a striker. However, as a club that quite rightly takes the FFP rules seriously, I guess this is proving difficult.  I also wonder if Oscar is not looking for a defender as well. So far his Spanish connections have not produced a flow of players. Fans would not say no to couple of blokes from Barcelona!

MAGIC MOMENT: Orlandi drifting past a couple of challenges and producing a shot which Forde just managed to turn over the bar.

REF WATCH: Mr. Madley failed to clamp down early enough on the time wasting and persistent foul play. Disallowed a goal for a push which would have gone unoticed anywhere else on the pitch. Overall pretty inept. 

UNOTICED MOMENT: The Albion bench was clearly watching replays of the game on an iPad and the Spanish coach's frustrated flick of the hand after the Ulloa disallowed attempt was very Latin.

MANAGER WATCH: Oscar wore last week's lucky suit and maintained the Chelsea manager look. He has a shake of the head in response

to bad referring decisions a bit like a father censoring an errant son. Steve Lomas must have longed for his  West Ham academy of soccer days as he attempts to make a silk purse from a sow's ear.

ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: I know Ulloa gets the stadium award every week but my personal nomination is ANDREA ORLANDI. He provided the pace, penetration and creativity so desperately missing in the first half. Unlucky not to score and was behind most of what was good in the second half. 

A  VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

SKYbet Championship

24th August 2013

Brighton and Hove Albion (1) 2
Crofts 28
Ulloa 72

Burnley (0) 0

Attendance: 26,007 (day's best in League)

League Position: 10th

Three of the 4 games played this season have had the outcome determined against the Albion by poor refereeing decisions. There was nearly another yesterday following the 2 missed handballs against Leeds and Derby and the revoked sending off against Newport. As half time approached a poor back header was directed towards Tom Heaton, the Burnley goalkeeper. Buckley reached the ball first and knocked it beyond Heaton with the intent of running the ball into the unguarded net. Heaton cynically brought Buckley down just outside the area.

Heaton, with shoulders down, slunk back towards his goal to await the inevitable outcome of the trip to the early bath. The stadium went silent momentarily waiting for Mr. Sheldrake to lope his way to the penalty area to adminster the appropriate punishment. The Albion players were dumb founded,

Gully welcome Burnley with an eccles cake!

the Burnley players laughed behind their hands and the natives were outraged as the ref only produced a yellow card. 

It was one of the clearest red card offences I have ever seen. Any suggestion that Buckley was going away from the goal or that a defender could have got back to protect the line was giving Heaton a undeserved benefit of the doubt. The best punishment would have been for Lopez's resulting free kick to have found the back of the net instead of just swinging wide.

With the half time whistle Sheldrake was treated to the kind of booing from the West Stand usually preserved for Andy D'Urso. But the drama was far from over.

Shorlty after half time Heaton gathered the ball in his own area. He threw the ball forward as if he was going to clear but caught it again. Sheldrake ruled this to be unsporting behaviour, issued a second yellow and Heaton departed for the early bath anyway. 

By this time the Albion were ahead and just about deserved to be on the balance of play. On 28 minutes a poor back pass allowed  Ulloa to rob Long down the left and he galloped away from the despairing defender and his pass across the penalty area was easily converted by Crofts. Like London buses you wait a year for a Crofts goal and 2 come along in successive weeks.

Prior to this Crofts had just headed over a Lopez free kick, Ulloa had scuffed his shot following a clever pass from Ince and Calderon had driven just wide from the edge of the area.

Following the sending off the Albion controlled the game and played a lot of keep ball. They bided their time and on 72 minutes Crofts and Buckley combined well down the right and the pin point centre was expertly headed into the corner of the net by Uloa for his third of the season.

This was a very solid team performance by the Albion and built on last week's success at Birmingham. Nobody let the side down and there were outstanding contributions from

Calderon, Crofts, Ince and Ulloa. Buckley appears to be regaining form. Oscar will be pleased with successive clean sheets and the only cloud on the horizon has to be the ever lengthening injury list. Yesterday Barnes and Andrews joined Orlandi, Bruno, Bridcutt, CMS and Hoskins on the crowded treatment table. 

Burnley were tidy, energetic and well organised and were very similar to Birmingham and Derby in their set up and approach. They are probably doing the best they can within the constraints of the financial fair play rules. It is a pity the rules are not being applied in the same way across the Championship so as to produce more of an even field for all teams.

I could not let this post pass without a few words about Tony Millard. For those Albion fans that go back to the days before the Internet, websites, iPads and mobile phones, Tony's Seagull Line was the only access to quick, up to date and reliable information about the Albion. I must have spent hundreds of pounds dialing the number and listening to Tony's match reports and club updates. I recall once sneaking out of work to find a phone box in the street to get the latest news on the Archer saga. I once rang the Line from a Boston, USA

Tony Millard will be missed here.

hotel room to listen a report and wish I had not once I saw the bill! I wonder if he knew what an important part he was of fans' lives. So thank you Tony, you will be greatly missed. It would be good, subject to the agreement of his family, to have a minutes applause/silence prior to the Millwall game.

MAGIC MOMENT: The passing movement between Crofts and Buckley down the right that lead to the centre and Ulloa's goal.

REFEREE WATCH: From zero to hero in the flash of a card.

MANAGER WATCH: Following the chinos and fleece, Oscar chose the Mourinho well cut suit and loose tie look. But Sean Dyche takes the award for sartorial elegance complete with flower and pocket hankie. He managed to hold the appearance together despite all the arm waving, prowling up and down and general exhibitions of frustration.

ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: Lots of candidates this week but it goes to Calderon for his whole hearted commitment, non stop running and attacking intent.  It is difficult to believe he is our second choice right back.

 

 

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

SkyBET Championship

17th August 2013

Birmingham City (0)0

Brighton and Hove Albion (0)1
Crofts 73

Attendance: 14,885

League Position: 16th

Eat your heart out Gus Poyet! Oscar has now achieved something that eluded you - a victory over the boys from Brum. In Gus's 4 attempts to overcome City he had achieved only draws and defeats but the Albion saw them off yesterday more emphatically then the score might suggest.

This was the Albion's most complete performance of the season and was an all round team effort. Kuszczak looked sound, the defence for the most part untroubled, the midfield in control and Ulloa a right

handful up front.

Ward settled in well at left back and gave the back four a more solid feel and Andrews controlled centre midfield so well that Bridcutt was hardly missed.

More needs to be done but the team are clearly now going in the right direction. We should be converting more of the chances that are being created and for the second Saturday runnning looked off the pace at the start of the second half. But overall there was a confidence not previously seen this season which I suspect has a lot to do with the experience grafted into the team via Ward and Andrews.

The Albion could have been out of sight by half time as slick passing created several chances that were squandered. From a Buckley corner Ulloa forced Randolf into a good save low to his left, Agustein found himself free in the area but dithered over shooting and the chance went, Buckley drove straight at the keeper and, when put through by Lopez, Ulloa lost the space he was in trying to move the ball on to his right foot. 

Birmingham rarely threatened and were reduced to long range efforts that hardly bothered Kuszczak.

Concerns that the Albion might live to regret the missed chances seemed to becoming true when City came out all guns blazing for the second half. They played a more direct style, put the Albion under pressure and struck the woodwork twice with their only meaningful efforts all game. Shinnie and Novak had Kuszczcak floundering as they stuck the ball from distance.

But City flattered to deceive and could not maintain the momentum. The Albion regained control of midfield and began to create chances again. Randolf could only beat away a volley from Agustein and then on 73 minutes the Albion struck.

A fine passing movement through midfield - Forster-Caskey to Ulloa, a lay off to Agustein,

Kusczak collects a first half corner

a pass into the path of Crofts who stuck the ball sweetly beyond Randolf from just inside the area. A fine team goal.

Shortly afterwards the Albion were unlucky not to extend the lead further. A Forster-Caskey corner was headed powerfully down by Upson and Randolf somehow managed to block the ball on the line. Eventually Crofts drove the ball narrowly over the bar from the edge of the area.

Ince and Barnes came on to help defend the lead but for all City's efforts they rarely threatened to get on the score sheet. The Albion defence easily dealt with the age old tactic of getting the ball wide and lumping it to the far post.

Lee Clark was a picture in the technical area as he ran up and down, ranted at his players and looked fit to burst at any moment. In contrast Oscar was calm personified.

Oscar came over at the end to celebrate with the travelling fans - do not recall Gus ever doing that.

While the Albion remain a work in progress this game showed

City defend a second half corner

rich promise and with 2 home games coming up a chance to move up the table. 

MAGIC MOMENT: Midway through the first half the Albion completed a 20 plus passing movement down the right as they moved the ball from near their own penalty area up the pitch to eventually win a corner. It was a joy to watch.

REFEREE WATCH: Hardly noticed him which made a very pleasant change.

MAN OF MATCH: It could have been anyone of a number of players in a fine team effort but for me it goes to Keith Andrews. He marshalled the midfield, rarely gave the ball away and protected the back four.