A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

"Now set the teeth, and stretch the nostril wide"

Football League Championship

9th February 2013

Brighton and Hove Albion (0) 1
Vicente 83

Hull City (0) 0

Attedance: 25,367

Are the Seagulls now poised for an end of season run to the play offs? Well if we go by last evening's performance at the Amex they have every chance. The Albion deservedly won a tightly fought game against a hard working but limited Hull side separated by a bit of Spanish flair.

In the 83rd minute Orlandi won a free kick right on the edge of the penalty area when he was barged over. Up stepped Vicente. All 10 visiting out fielders lined up in front of him. The whistle blew and the wall jumped to block Vicente's shot but instead the ball shot along the ground and into the back of the net off an unsighted Stockdale. Did Vicente mean it? Well who cares and I doubt if he did as he galloped in joy towards the corner flag pursued by gleeful Albion players.

Hull's game plan was obvious from the outset and followed the pattern of previous promotion aspirants visiting the Amex. In the first half Hull defended in depth with Manager Bruce conducting defensive operations from the technical area. They showed little intent going forward. Suddenly in the second half they showed more and opened up the game and could have been ahead but for Kuszczak's acrobatics.  They worked the ball wide and launched it towards the far post but more often than not it ended up in the goalkeeper's arms. Bruce's frustration grew. 

Although in terms of chances Hull shaded the second half they were fortunate to be level after 45 minutes thanks to a tale of 3 penalties that were not and 2 fine saves from Stockdale.

Early on Orlandi glided through the Hull defence into the penalty area and went down. The ref waved play on. If it was not a penalty why was not Orlandi booked for diving? A few minutes later Orlandi found himself on the right and drove into the penalty area and over an outstretched foot but again no penalty. The third one looked the best shout. A fine turn and run by Ulloa took him past several lunging defenders and he eventually went down in the area but the ref was of the view the offence took place right on the line.

From the resulting free kick Orlandi hit a fierce swinging free kick goalwards which Stockdale managed to turn over the bar. Shortly before he had beaten away a tremendous drive from David Lopez. 

A fine move down the centre opened up the Hull defence but with Ulloa to his right and the goal in front of him CMS got caught in to 2 minds and shanked the ball goalwards.

Into the second half and Orlandi's South Stand goal jinx continues. A fine move down the left opened up the Hull defence and the ball rebounded to Orlandi in acres of space on the edge of the penalty area with the goal gapping before him. He miss-hit his drive over the cross bar and buried his head in his shirt. Haven't we seen him do that in front of the South Stand before?

The Albion were nearly made to pay for the missed chances but Kuszczak pulled off 3 great saves that should win him a place in the Polish national side.  A deflected shot seemed to be flying in over his head but he got up in the corner to tip the ball wide, he turned a powerful swinging drive over the bar and saved the best to last. Hull appeared to have taken the lead when Koren drove the ball through a tangle of legs towards the inviting open space on Kuszczak's right. When suddenly the goalie went down and flipped the ball around the post. Steve Bruce nearly exploded with frustration.

He really had no complaints as the Albion took control in the final quarter with the arrival of Vicente. Hull were workmanlike, well organised and had a "snatch a goal and defend" plan but the Seagulls had a touch of Spanish flair. In the end flair won the day.

So Tuesday's game in hand against Blackburn takes on great significance.  They are another well organised physical team. Will Spanish flair triumph again?

Gus has a couple of selection dilemmas beforehand.  While Ulloa was a thorn in the side of the Hull defence CMS had, by his standards, a poor game. I suspect Gus has given him the 3 games that Barnes is away to cement a place alongside Ulloa playing that central striker/wide right role. He has not scored for 11 games and some might suggest the ever willing Hoskins should be given a chance.

The other selection issue is Hammond. He again did not appear quite at the races last evening and rarely plays 2 games in a week anyway. Given that Crofts is out of favour will Dicker return or will Gus go for broke from the outset and play Vincente in midfield with only one defensive midfielder plus Orlandi and David Lopez?

Additional seats in the noth east corner nearly ready

A quick word of praise for David Lopez who played in 3 positions in the game and put in the usual full shift. He started on the right side of midfield and then went to right back when Buckley came on for Bruno followed by a further move to central midfield when Calderon came on for CMS to secure the win in the last few minutes.

Magic Moment: A wonderfully weighted pass inside the full back from Vicente to send Bridge clear for a centre. The  ball moved on to Ulloa and the movement petered out. It deserved a better fate.

Ref Watch: Oh dear! The FA should really remind officials they should quietly get on with their duties and not seek to be the centre of attention. Well into the second half Bridcutt asked to go off to have a cut seen to. He was patched up and a new shirt (numberless) planted on him but the hapless Mr. Attwell would not let him back on for no apparent reason.  Even Steve Bruce was pleading for him to be allowed to return. He also gave Gus a talking to for only wanting Hulll to take a throw in from the right place. It was something of an overreaction by the official.

My Personal Alternative Man of the Match: It surely has to be Tomasz Kuszczak. After a quite first half he pulled off three fine saves in the second, the last of which was quite breath taking. When Hull resorted to hoof ball to the far post he came and claimed the centres. A welcome return to form by the Pole in the goal.