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?