A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

"KING HENRY: "I know not if the day be ours or no;"
MOUNTJOY:  "The day is yours"

Football League Championship

17th March 2013

Brighton and Hove Albion (2)3
Ulloa 42 and 49
David Lopez 45

Crystal Palace (0)0

Attendance: 28,499 (Amex record)

In the film "Shakespeare in Love" the character played by Geoffrey Rush, when asked a question, would answer "It's a mystery!" Even after watching the Albion for 55 years I am still find football something of a mystery. 

The boys in blue have the taxis ready.

The first half of this match was somewhat similar to Bolton last Saturday. The away team dominant and creating chances but the home team scores with its first on target attempt and then to rub it in scores again within 3 minutes.

Although it hurts to say so Palace were the better team for most of the first half and it will certainly be a mystery to Ian Holloway why they did not score. After some early possession play by the Seagulls, Palace began to control the game with the Albion struggling to create clear cut opportunities. Kuszczak saved well after a rare Upson mistake and then saved a more comfortable Murray header. 

The Albion were to often surrendering possession and several passes went straight into touch.

Mr. Pawson checks last season's sending off positions.

It appeared the Albion could not wait for the half time whistle so they could review their on field strategy when out of nothing Buckley broke down the right and put over a fine centre for Ulloa to bundle in at the far post with a bit of help from the woodwork.  Suddenly the Albion were lifted and surged forward, Palace looked shaken and Dikgacoi committed a clumsy foul 20 yards out for which he was booked. Orlandi and David Lopez eyed up the opportunity but it was David Lopez who curled the ball around the left hand side of wall, past Speroni's despairing flap and into the goal via the post.

In 3 minutes the Albion had gone from hanging out for a half time chat to being nearly out of sight. Perhaps it was just reward for Gus's most adventurous team selection of the season with all his offensive players (with the exception of Vicente) on the pitch and only one defensive 
 midfielder.

The East Stand on record attendance day

Holloway replaced a midfielder with an extra attacker and at that moment gave control of the game to the Albion. Bridcutt could no longer be manmarked and he and David Lopez enjoyed a degree of space denied them in the first half. The Palace's plan was to deny the Albion's passing game space and to hit on the break but when you are 2 down that goes out of the window and clearly Palace's plan B was get the ball wide and lump it towards Murray and the newly arrived Phillips. Even Wilbraham arrived to help the numbers ganging up in the penalty area for a Zaha cross.   This might have worked had Palace had any decent possession but with David Lopez and Bricutt bossing the midfield and LuaLua a constant meanace down the left Palace hardly had a look in during the second half. The Albion really are a difficult team to contain once they are ahead as they revelled in the space offered  by Palace's need to press forward.

Within minutes of the restart LuaLua broke down the left and centered to Orlandi who drove the ball into Speroni's arms. The Albion were not to be denied and on 49 minutes Buckley again broke down the right, put over a centre which Orlandi headed  back across the goal to the unmarked Ulloa who gleefully passed the ball into the back of the net. 

And likewise the North Stand

Palace huffed and puffed a bit but showed no threat with the Albion picking them off on the break. They should really have had a fourth when Ulloa broke away down the middle only for Speroni to parry his shot and likewise Buckley's follow up. 

The second half highlight was surely LuaLua giving Richards a torrid time as Kazenga teased him before pushing the ball down the wing and beating him for pace time after time. Where has he been all season?

In the closing moments Calderon joined in pushing the ball beyond defenders and beating them for pace. 

So from a shaky start the Albion grew to totally dominate the game. Ulloa looked a class act with Murray hardly making a contribution. Every Albion player did their bit and Barnes' grumpiness and El-Abd's bullying of attackers not missed at all. After settling down as a partnership Greer and Upson were kings of the penalty area. LuaLua's and Buckley's wing play could not be contained, Bridcutt was calm and controlled and David Lopez was perpetual motion. Bridge put the clamps on Zaha who grew more and more frustrated.

The Albion are beginning to make the Amex somewhat of a fortress with 5 League wins and a draw in 2013. A few weeks ago Gus said the Albion needed 6 wins to make the play offs so that means winning the remaining 4 home games and getting at least one of the road from 4 games. 

We appear to have recovered from a difficult 3 game road trip and let's hope today's victory can give us the impetus to push on to the play offs. Crystal Palace in the Wembley play off final anybody?

The unhappy bunnies from Croydon

REF WATCH: Craig Pawson's appointment was met with some aprehension by Albion fans and Gus alike given his Burnley performance last season. There were fears 2 Albion players would be in the bath before those in the corporate seats had worked out which side was which. Pawson even grinned as he was roundly booed during his pre game jog. We need not have worrried as he controlled the game rather well. He kept a lid on things but rarely did the fevered atmosphere on the terraces make its way on to the pitch which was of credit to the players. He was firm with Palace's habit of stealing a few yards at free kicks and throw ins but did indulge their constant moaning every time he gave a free kick against them. Mr. Pawson you can return!

MAGIC MOMENT: Must be the several times LuaLua put his foot on the ball inviting Richards to come and get it before he flicked it down the wing and beat him for pace. 

David Lopez and Crofts celebrate at the final whistle

ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: It has to be LuaLua. He gave the team so much more up front. His hold up play gave the defenders and midfielders a breather and his constant threat stopped Richards getting forward to help in attach. He did his bit to help out the defence. On the day he made more impact than Zaha.

And finally...... no more lamenting Murray's departure as we have Ulloa to worship now.