A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

"That haunted us in our familiar paths"

12th February 2013

Football League Chanpionship

Brighton and Hove Albion (0) 1
Vicente 57(pen)

Blackburn Rovers (1) 1
Dann 23

Attendance: 24,759

Three questions about last night's game will remain unanswered until the end of eternity. How did Brighton not win? Why was Danny Murphy still on the pitch at the end of the game? Why were the sprinklers turned on before kick off?

The day the Albion filled the away end at Villa Park

Blackburn turned up at the Amex like many teams before them, and no doubt like many more to come, with a very limited game plan - defend in depth, try to hit on the break and hope for a bit of fortune at a set piece. In there more bolder moments Blackburn managed to mount some serious pressure on the half way line!

Since Appleton's arrival Rovers have climbed the table on the back of a succession of 1-0 wins. They score rarely and concede even less often. I once saw the Blackburn of Douglas, Dougan, Dobing and Clayton play and they would have buried their heads in their hands at this negative and defensive display.  

If this is the best that one of countries up and coming managers can do no wonder the national team is in such poor shape long term. This style of play may frustrate other teams but will not get Rovers back in the Premiership.

Some may call Gus naive but at least his sides try and play football and if last night proved anything it was that it is easier to defend a goal than it is to score one. Perhaps the FA should change the rules and award a discretionary point to the team showing the most determined effort to win a game. With a shot count of 16 to 6 it was pretty clear who would have won the point last night.

Some Blackburn fans on Twitter last night were telling me soccer is a results game. Well I disagree! It's part of the entertainment industry and they may wish to reflect on that next time they are staring at the empty seats at Ewood Park.

Taking the field for the cup tie at Stoke City

The result was a travesty; an injustice as the Albion totally dominated particularly in the first half but just could not find the back of the net. Kean pulled off 3 stunning saves and saw the ball whistle past his woodwork on several occasions. The Albion did not miss easy chances but just could not find the back of net. 

The chances were to numerous to describe here but suffice to say, with Vicente's prompting, Ulloa, Hammond and Vicente himself drove narrowly wide early on. Played in by Vicente Buckley stabbed the ball goal wards for Kean, running back , to scoop the ball off the line. A powerful header from Hammond seemed destined for the net but for Kean to stick out an arm and deflect the ball over the ball. A Ulloa header appeared to strike a hand before being cleared.

From an Albion corner Rovers broke away and were stopped by an Upson trip for which he was rightly booked. From the free kick a corner was awarded. Dann lost his marker and headed in at the near post. This was a sickening blow following perhaps the Albion's best opening 20 minutes of the season which could have seen then 5-0 up.

Things got worse shortly after when Hoskins went down in a clash with Kean going for a Ulloa centre. After a lengthy delay for treatment he was carried off. This was his big chance to show he could play with Ulloa so let's hope the injury is not to serious and that he is back soon. 

The restart gave us one of the game's less sporting moments. When the ref blew for Hoskins' treatment the ball was with Ulloa out on the right mid way inside the Blackburn half - a promising position. On the restart the ref ordered the Blackburn defender to give the ball back to Brighton but instead the ball was hit out for a throw in half way inside Brighton's half. The advantage the Albion had was lost, the crowd booed and the ref did nothing!

The pressure was maintained at the start of the second half with Vicente at the centre of everything. The pressure mounted, Rovers became more and more rattled, more of them were finding their name noted by the ref and from a Vicente centre the assistant linesman spotted a handball and Vicente cooly converted from the spot. This lead to time wasting by Kean and more bookings. The ref took 5 Rovers names so his pencil must have been pretty blunt by the end. 

The Cup tie at Watford

How Danny Murphy, once of Liverpool, remained on the pitch is a bit of mystery. He fouled persistently and was eventually booked for a nasty tackle on Bridcutt for which he was lucky not to see red. He celebrated by fouling LuaLua not long after but without further punishment.

Albion strove for a winner to the last with LuaLua driving inches wide just before the end. 

The victory Albion's play deserved just would not come. 

So the Seagulls were frustrated by a visiting team yet again with a familiar game plan. If they keep playing this way and assuming Vicente can hold his fitness and form surely the play off push can be maintained.

MAGIC MOMENT: a mazy dribble by Vicente into the penalty area past several defenders and then used his strength to find space to get a shot away.

REF WATCH: not firm enough on the time wasting and pretty easy going with Murphy give that he booked LuaLua for his first some what innocuous foul. He only allowed 3 added minutes for Hoskins' injury which was totally bizzarre. He needs a new watch.

MY PERSONAL ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: Dean Hammond - not quite at the races last Saturday but this was probably his best performance back in an Albion shirt. Unlucky not to score and kept the ball moving.