A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

"And labour shall refresh itself with hope"

FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

23rd February 2013

Brighton and Hove Albion (1) 1
David Lopez 20

Burnley (0)0

Attendance: 25,836

Gus does not make "winning ugly" but if he did it would look like this game. The victory over Burnley was achieved on the back of outstanding goalkeeping, solid defence and a dash of Latin flair. Seagull fans will gain quiet satisfaction from this season's double over Burnley given the trials and tribulations of last year's encounters.

At least they kept warm

The game was played in a subdued atmosphere as most fans concentrated on keeping warm on the Amex's coldest afternoon to date. Most of the excitement came in the first half with both sides coming close on several occasions. 

Burnley showed first with Kuszczak turning a cross come shot over the bar. The Albion began to open up Burnley down the left with Vicente and Orandi combining several times to put Bridge away to deliver tempting crosses. From one of these Orlandi back headed the ball deep into the Burnley area to the unmarked David Lopez who dispatched the ball wide of Lee Grant for his fifth goal of the season.

More crosses followed with Vicente missing a header by a whisker and the same player could not quite get hold of a shot and keep the ball down. Just before half time the hard working Ulloa was guilty of a terrible miss as he somehow put another Bridge cross over the bar from inside the 6 yard box.   

For their part Burnley were denied by yet another Kuszczak world class save as he somehow clawed a Shackell shot from behind him off the line. Shortly after he had reason to be grateful to Dicker for shanking another Shackell shot off the line. 

So a close fought first half ended with the Albion narrowly ahead. They clearly missed Bridcutt and some players were understandably a bit leggy after the tough midweek tussle at Cardiff. While Hammond effortlessly slipped into the holding midfield role Dicker was guilty of giving the ball away on several occasions. Uncharacteristically captain for the day Bruno was likewise guilty of surrendering possession easily. Vicente, although not quite at his best, showed us some several touches of Spanish magic.

The installation of these seats means the Amex now has no gaps

To be honest the second half was a bit of non event. Burnley saw the ball bounce just wide of Kuszczak's left hand post following a goal mouth scramble, Austin headed over and a Vicente free kick was deflected away for a corner.

Poyet's intent was pretty clear on the hour mark when he introduced  Barnes for Orlandi who played more or less as a second left back. Bridge rarely ventured forward in the second half. The Albion packed their midfield and invited Burnley to play in front of them and they duly obliged. In the end the visitors brought on former Albion loanee Vokes and resorted to lumping the ball to the far post. This no longer scares the Albion as it once did with the Stoke City trained Upson in the back line to head the ball away all day.

The fourth official found 4 added minutes and this is usually panic time for an Albion side when narrowly ahead but not today. They spent most of that time down in the right hand corner with CMS and David Lopez winning a succession of corners and throw ins as they successfully kept possession.   

CMS was a bundle of energy when he came on for the exhausted Ulloa and again opened up the intriguing prospect of them playing together.

The North Stand keeps warm on a bitter day

David Lopez was worthy of special note. Some doubted his worth when he first arrived last August but now he has settled into English football he has become indispensable to the side as he can occupy any position down the right and clearly score goals.

So the day's hard labour saw the Seagulls back in a play off place for the first time since the beginning of October and opened fresh hope of a place in the Play Off Final.

MAGIC MOMENT: Has to  be Kuszczak's save from Shackell. The shot appeared to have beaten him until the goalie somehow arched backwards and clawed the ball off the line. 

REF WATCH: Better than in recent weeks as both sides played in the right spirit for the most part. Had a habit of warning players before booking them if they offended again. Did not have any major decisions to make. Harsh on Ulloa given the  battering he received but that is par for the Championship. 

ALTERNATE MAN OF THE MATCH: The stadium award went to Vicente but for me it was ADAM EL-ABD although Upson ran him close. He was constantly heading away dangerous crosses and was usually first to the ball on the ground. With Greer fit Gus now has an embarrassment of riches at centre back.