A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

"All things are ready, if our minds be so"

26th January 2013

FA Cup 4th Round

Brighton and Hove Albion (1) 2
Barnes 33
Ulloa 62

Arsenal (1) 3
Giroud 16 and 56
Walcott 85

Attendance: 27,113 (an Amex record)

This was the much anticipated clash between the genuine Arsenal of the Premiership and the wannabe Gunners of the Championship. Although Arsenal edged the match it was to the Albion's great credit that several of their players would not have looked out of place in the Arsenal side - Liam Bridcutt foremost among them.

A packed North Stand for the Amex's record attendance

It was also to Albion's credit that Wenger was forced to bring on the big guns of Walcott and Wilshere to avoid the extra unwanted game of a replay. I feel sure he would have wished to have held them back for greater battles ahead in Europe. 

The fates conspired against the Albion somewhat with hamstring injuries forcing off Greer and Buckley which le,d to rearrangements in formations plus at times it appeared Arsenal had brought their own referee with them as he gave a  number of favourable decisions to players that he is familiar with and spent a lot of the game chatting to. How Santos remained out of the book for his comic combination of fouls on Buckley and play acting only Mr. Oliver knows. He was not so generous to Davd Lopez and Barnes who were both booked for their first fouls of the game. 

The Albion were at their best in the first half with Hammond, Bridcutt and Davd Lopez winning the midfield battle and Buckley, Calderon and David Lopez giving Santos a torrid time down Arsenal left. It was no surprise that both Albion goals came from this source.

Indeed the Albion could have been ahead before Arsenal opened their account. After a confident start, a Buckley centre was knocked in from close range by Ulloa only to be ruled out for offside. Shortly after Barnes could not get a proper connection on a Ulloa flick which allowed Szczesny to turn the ball away for a corner. 

The corner was easily dealt with and within moments the ball was in the back of the Albion net - the first piece of Premiership class from the Gunners. A pass from the otherwise very quiet Podolski found its way to the seemingly surrounded Giroud but with the minimum of back lift he thumped the ball beyond Ankergren from 20 yards.

Fears that Arsenal would now take control were quickly dispelled as the Albion fought back and an equaliser arrived in quite an unusual manner for the home team. A centre from David Lopez on the right was met in the box by Barnes who had managed to get in front of the Arsenal centre backs and goalkeeper to head the ball powerfully into the back of the net.

4,000 Arsenal fans biting their nails

So the first of 2 football cliches on the day had been found to be true. Ulloa was bought to play alongside Mackail-Smith and not replace him so Barnes must be the one earmarked to miss out - so he scores. 

The second half opened with Podolski hitting the bar with a free kick from 20 yards before Arsenal regained the lead. A Diaby pass found Giroud free in the penalty area and his strength shrugged off a challenge from El-Abd as hit the ball powerfully beyond Ankergren.

The second football cliche came to pass in the 62nd minute - expensive strikers score on their debut (unless you are Torres of course). Again a goal very untypical of the Seagulls. A pacy run down the wing from Barnes followed by a sumptuous low swinging centre which Ulloa stooped low to head in.

The replay the Albion and their enthusiastic supporters fully deserved was denied them in the 85th minute by a combination of a goalkeeping error and a deflected shot with an element of fortune.

Ankergren chose to punch away a Wilshere corner but could only find Walcott lurking in his "Sweden" position on the edge of the penalty area. His powerful shot took a big deflection off El-Abd and flew wide of Ankergen. Not for the first time this season the Albion became victims of a deflection.

CMS came on for the tiring Ulloa and a fine centre from LuaLua flew between him and Barnes when a mere touch might have sent the ball into the back of the net.

At end the Albion players must have had a feeling of joy over how well they had played and disappointed not have got the replay they deserved. 

Wenger in his lizard outfit

Ulloa grew into the game on debut and, although he has yet to face the more agricultural defending of the Championship, very much looked the part. His early contributions were adding much needed height when defending set pieces as twice he headed away corners. He held the ball up well, had the usual Latin touch with the ball at his feet and took his goal really well. When was the last time the Albion scored twice in a game from headers?

So are things ready for a push on the Championship play off places? Is Ulloa the missing piece in the jigsaw and will the Albion now be able to score that extra goal they always appear to need to put a game to bed?

Gus is clearly spoilt for choice in midfield and up front but at the back things look a little threadbare. If Greer is going to be out for some weeks with a hamstring injury and with Dunk otherwise occupied the Albion might be vulnerable to the Championship's lump it tendency.  Perhaps before Thursday defensive reinforcements will arrive.

And finally it would not surprise me if Ryan Harley does not have a wry smile on his face. There is no place for him in the Seagulls nest but yesterday he scored one of the goals in MK Dons' fantastic win at QPR and marches proudly into the 5th round.

Moment of the match: A cheeky back heel from Ulloa which completely wrong footed the Arsenal defence.

My personal alternative man of the match: El-Abd got the stadium award but given that his place is under threat my award goes to Ashley Barnes. He took his goal well and set up the second. He was Mr. Everywhere Man - upfront as a striker, helping out in defence and sprinting down the wing. So if Ulloa has been signed to play alongside CMS who misses out?

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

"For now sits expectation in the air"

12th January 2013

Football League Championship

Brighton and Hove Albion (2) 2
Barnes 2
Orlandi 25

Derby County (0) 1
Hendrick 70

In many ways this game summed up the first part of Albion's season. We totally dominated the first half and at times our play was exquisite. The team crafted two outstanding goals that were clinically finished. In the first 20 minutes of the second we created more opportunities to score than in the whole of the first and failed to convert. Derby scrambled a goal which led to a nervy last 15 minutes as Albion held on in a game in which they should have been 3 or 4 goals clear. 

Let's play "The Spot Vicente" game

The first half was played in appalling conditions as the rain poured down and the cold wind from the east blew. I just hope somebody assured the prospective striker sitting in the Director's Box that the weather in Sussex is usually better than this!

The Seagulls got off to a dream start with a goal after just 2 minutes made in Spain and finished in England. Calderon and David Lopez created space for a centre from the right which Barnes swept in from close range for his first Amex goal since September. The Albion then played the ball around with supreme confidence with Derby hardly able to get a touch until the 25th  minute when the second richly deserved goal arrived. This time it was made and finished in Spain. Again Calderon and David Lopez combined down the right and from the centre Orlandi got in front on his marker to power a header into the roof of the net. 

Orlandi clearly likes the south end goal as that is his third strike and second goal in two games.

The Albion started the second half with clear intent to add more goals but the old bugbear of failing to finish returned. Derby pressed up and often just played three at the back playing into Albion's hands on the break.

Chances came and went with Buckley, Barnes, Calderon and Orlandi missing opportunities to bury the visitors. Buckley got away down the left but with only Legzdins to beat drove the ball into the goalie's legs. He got away again in similar circumstances and played the ball across to  Barnes but a defender deflected it away for a corner. Barnes got completely clear of the defence but instead of laying the ball off, turned into the mass of retreating Derby defenders, was bundled off the ball and beat the turf with frustration. Orlandi found Calderon in space from a well struck corner but the defender did not connect properly and the ball flew over the bar. The best opportunity fell to Orlandi who saw Legzdins pulll off a fine save from close range, the rebound fell to him and he tapped the ball towards the welcoming goal line only to see Keogh come from nowhere to sweep the ball away.

With the Albion failing to finish Derby off with a third the visitors saw a chance to get back into the game and a goal duly arrived in the 70th minute when from a Ward free kick struck low into the penalty area Hendrick deflected the ball home. Derby then huffed and puffed with the able assistance of a referee who gave them plenty of dubious free kicks but the nearest they came to scoring was when a deflected header from El-Abd was grabbed under the bar by the ever reassuring Kuszcak.

The Albion hung on comfortably enough for 4 added minutes which grew into 6 for reasons only known to the ref.

A side show at the game was the hapless performance by the officials. Mr. Williamson seemed to be convinced that the Albion were a team of divers while at the same time chopping Derby players down all over the pitch. The free kick from which Derby scored looked dubious but the best comic capers came just after when Orlandi gave away a very soft free kick out on Derby's right wing. It hardly warranted the description foul although technically it was. The linesman waved his flag as if he had just witnessed a mugging and Mr. W sprinted over and booked Orlandi. For this the ref was treated to deserved rousing chorus of "you don't know what you're doing!"

However, LuaLua was clearly balked when going clear but the ref waved away protests.

Mr. W was very excitable, stopped play when he should not and allowed it to run when he should have stopped it. He gave free kicks that were not and ignored incidents that were. He constantly told players to take throw ins from the right spot but they just ignored him and encroached up the field. Some players knew he was weak and tried to take full advantage.

The Mrs. meets Sally Gully

The fourth official could only see the need for 4 added minutes after 45 minutes play. In those 4 the ref found the need to add 2 more. Bridge was booked in the 6th added minute. Some fans saw a parallel with the Bolton game with a ref applying the "play until the visitors score" rule. 

In the end it turned out all right for the Albion and expectation of a play off place is clearly back on. This was our first home win this season against a top 10 team. We created plenty of chances in open play with David Lopez's passing skills behind many of the better moves. The prospect of Ulloa arriving from Spain to add some cutting edge to the attack and Vicente on the bench bodes well for the coming months.

MY PERSONAL ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: Ashley Barnes. Ash gets this for his display over the first hour in the lone striker role. Scoring so early on clearly gave him confidence and he brought the ball down well and played colleagues into space. He survived quite a battering from the Derby defence and gave as good as he got. He was unlucky not to add a second early in the second half. 

 






 

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

"This story shall the good man teach his son;"



5th January 2013
FA Cup - 3rd Round

Brighton and Hove Albion (1) 2
Orlandi 33
Hoskins 87

Newcastle United (0) 0

Attendance: 21,740

The gentle classical music from the alarm clock drifted across the room. It was 7.30am and still dark. Why was the alarm sounding on a Saturday morning? In a haze I recalled it was a 12.30pm kick off at the Amex and a 2 hour motorway drive lay ahead. Fleetingly I thought "why not stay here and enjoy the game on the telly in comfort and warmth?"

Smile please

Boy! Am I glad I resisted that temptation. I have followed the Albion for over 54 years and yesterday's performance at the Amex I would place in the top 6. It ranked alongside those famous 1980's Cup victories over Liverpool and the brave display against Spurs, again in the Cup, a few years ago.

Make no mistake this was Gus play at its grandest. The 63% possession figure does not lie as Hammond, Bridcutt and Dicker gained an early dominance of midfield which they never relinquished. This released the creative skills of Bridge, David and Orlandi in wide areas. 

With the media's obssession with the Premiership it was envitable the national press and TV would mostly focus on Alan Pardew's plight. Yes, the Toon had lost Ba in acrimonious circumstances and other key players through injury but a Prem team should have enough depth to see off a midtable Championship side that has only won 4 of its last 18 games and failed to win at home on a Saturday for nearly 4 months. This was Newcastle's last chance for a bit of glory this season through a run in the FA Cup but all the Tyneside fans have to look forward to now is a struggle against relegation. The ever cruel world of soccer treated Pardew to a rendition of "You Are Getting Sacked in the Morning" sang tunefullly by the North Stand Choir in full voice.

My Grandson in Canada already for the game at 7.30am

The Seagulls could have taken the lead before they actually did. Hammond drove over early on from the edge of penalty area and a long cross from the right found Dicker's head and his looped attempt was cleared off the line by Perch. David almost fooled Elliot when he drove the ball goalwards when a centre was expected forcing the goalkeeper into a hasty save. 

Then in the 33rd minute Greer drove a long high pass towards Bridge wide on the left. Bridge had much to do as he had to use all his pace and skill to stop the ball going out for a goal kick. He controlled the ball deep in the corner and sent a cross over towards Orlandi who had moved towards the centre of the goal as Greer's pass came over. Orlandi, with his back to the goal, controlled the ball with his right foot and with the outside of his left flicked the ball wide of Elliot into the goal. It was a goal of great skill and momentarily stunned the Amex into silence. A passing movement between a Scotsman, an Englishman and a Spaniard supervised by a Uruguayan and finished in sublime manner had "Made by the Modern Brighton and Hove Albion" stamped all over it.  

Newcastle threatened little in the first half and most of their possession in Brighton's half came on the few occasions the midfield over elaborated and gave the ball away.  Ankergren palmed away one stinging drive but otherwise was rarely troubled.

The second half followed the pattern of the first with Newcastle ringing the changes but to little effect. Ameobi committed 2 silly fouls and found himself in the early bath. In fact the Toon's best period came just after Ameobi tramped off. Ankergren treated to us to one of his trademark flaps at a cross but made amends when a shot from the remaining Ameobi came off Greer's knee and appeared to be heading goalwards until Casper put out a big left hand and diverted fhe ball away.

Unlike Newcastle's the Albion's substitutions did have an impact on the game. LuaLua came on for Orlandi and reminded the visitors of what they had lost when he drove a shot just wide of Elliot's right hand post. Crofts came on for Hammond and immediately won three crunching tackles in midfield in quick succession. Hoskins came on for CMS and in the 87th minute was played into space by an exquisite pass from David which Hoskins gleefully drove through the goalie's legs into the back of the net. 

For Hoskins there was extra joy in the crowd's applause. It was his first goal for the Albion since their visit to Cardiff in August of last season. Let's hope the striker has now found his range and this will be the first of many goals for the Seagulls.

The sponsor's man of the match was Wayne Bridge. In truth the Albion had 14 men of the match. Nobody let the side down and everybody put in a shift. The game plan worked to perfection and Newcastle had no answer and little appetite.  The Albion played with control and pace. The ball was moved around the pitch quickly and the side was driven forward by the energetic midfield trio. David, Bridge and Orlandi were outstanding in the wide areas and space created by the midfield. 

Hoskins and Dicker take the applause at the end

Will the return to form and fitness of key players and possible return to the squad of Vicente plus the striker from Spain be a launching pad for a second half of the season push for the play offs? Only time will tell but the tea leaves look good.

The coaches from Newcastle left at 2am and the train at 4.45am. Can you imagine what a long miserable day it must have been for the visitor's supporters? That is at least the fourth time the Albion have knocked Newcastle out of the Cup - they must hope they never draw the Albion again. 

 MY PERSONAL ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: It must again go the David Lopez. Our penalty king was again asked to play out of position with Bruno and Calderon injured. He never looked out of place in the  back four and he rarely wasted a ball. He has great ability to find colleagues with passes - no big boot down the field for him. His pass for Hoskins' goal was sheer delight. When they are all fit how will Gus deploy his Spanish delights in the team?