A  VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

"And I repent my fault....."

Football League Championship

20th April 2013

Brighton and Hove Albion (3) 6
Buckley 8
Upson 22
Orlandi 44
Lopez 45
Barnes 75 and 89

Blackpool (0) 1
Hammond og 52

Attendance: 28,499

Does Buckley remember his 8th minute wonder strike to open the scoring? Moments before he had been flattened as his head blocked a powerfully struck free kick. He staggered around looking dazed when Barnes laid off a quick clearance leaving Will a free run on goal and from the edge of the penalty area he bent a wonderful left foot shot around Matt Gilks' despairing drive. Surely the Bend It Like Buckley movie will follow!

Any plans the visitors may have had to play it tight, defend in depth and try to hit the Albion on the break went out the window. An early goal had set the match up for a masterclass in

They will have much to write about this day

Gus play. Forced to find an equalizer and press forward allowed the home team to revel in the space and hit 2 further first half goals and another 3 in the second. It could have been 10.

Blackpool are no mugs. They have several players with Premiership experience and in Tom Ince one of the up and coming talents. They also have several physically strong defenders but they crucially lacked the pace of their Leicester City counterparts and were run ragged by Barnes, Buckley and Orlandi and David attacking from midfield.  When Buckley ran out of puff LuaLua joined in the fun.

Orlandi made the second goal and scored the third. In the 22nd minute he put over a centre from the left which Hammond headed back across the goal for Upson to steer in his first for the club. Just before half time Orlandi exchanged passes with David and advanced in the penalty area to arrow the ball past Gilks with the outside of his left foot.

Gilks spent much of the first half berating his defenders who were always in the wrong place at the wrong time for his liking.

The second half opened with the Albion attacking straight down the middle. David exchanged passes with Barnes and when the ball came across the penalty area he drove it into the roof of the net via a deflection.

After that it became the Ashley Barnes show. Having made goals for Buckley and David he was on hand to turn in a LuaLua cross from the left, followed in the last minute by doing likewise from the right, this time via an Orlandi centre.

At 4-0 Hammond decided to give Blackpool a consolation by heading past Kuszczak from a Tom Ince centre. He beat the turf in frustration as he was clearly trying to defend the ball for a corner.

Kusczak departed shortly after following a clash of heads with Blackpool substitute Gary Taylor-Fletcher who himself was substituted suffering with double vision a few minutes later.

Ankergen was rarely bothered being forced to break sweat just once when he dived on a ball bouncing in the penalty area.

Vicente's and Ulloa's attacking talents remained on the bench un-needed on a day to remember at the Amex.

In describing the goals it is easy to forget how masterful the Albion's display was. Several times this season they have threatened to take a visiting team

All is forgiven

apart and it was Blackpool's misfortune to be the victims. The Albion were equally as good against Bolton but this time the chances went in. The 90 minutes were a treasured combination of team organisation and individual talent. Nobody had an off day.

Some of us took a deep breath when we heard that Barnes was starting but his display brought a whole new meaning to the word "redemption". He kept well out of the referee's way, made 2 and scored 2 and generally gave Kirk Broadfoot an afternoon to forget.

David Lopez showed us his range of passing skills and Orlandi seems to have found a new lease of life with a goal and 2 assists.

Bridge rampaged down the wing in the first half but made way for Bruno in the second. It was good to see him back. Suddenly the Albion look very strong with plenty of cover and options on the bench.

7 games without defeat and 9 at home. The Seagulls clearly have momentum and are now just 3 points away from securing the words, like Pike, we are not allowed to mention. 

MAGIC MOMENT: LuaLua made life hell for the right of Blackpool's defence so they decided to have him marked by 3 players. As number three arrived he simply drove past them all at

Did Gus say "No pace at the back"?

great pace and tested Gilks with a low drive.

REF WATCH: Avoided contact with Barnes. Greer booking looked a bit harsh early on and Tom Ince was fortunate to escape with only a booking for a frustrated hack at Bridcutt late on. Took pity on Blackpool with only 3 minutes of added time despite 6 substitutions and a long delay when Kuszcak was injured.

ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: Quite rightly the match sponsor gave the main award to Ashley Barnes so my personal alternative goes to Matthew Upson. He has become Mr. Consistent in the back line and just 3 defeats in 16 games has much to do with him. Crucially he never wastes a ball when moving forward and avoids the pointless passing between central defenders. His is extremely calm under pressure and has been a good influence on Gordon Greer.
 

 

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

"Perish the man whose mind is backward now!"

Football League Championship

6th April 2013

Brighton and Hove Albion (0)1
LuaLua 88

Leicester City (0)1
James 73

Attendance: 28,493

It is testament to how tight the race for Championship play off places is that after just one win in seven games the Albion still lie in 6th place with a play off place still very much in their own hands.  

In many home games this season the victory the Seagulls deserved has not been delivered and a sense of injustice has prevailed. In this game they were slighty fortunate to come away with a share of the spoils. For much of the game the Albion stuggled to contain the strength and power of the Leicester players and were often simply out muscled. They struggled to gain control and too often passes went astray. Tuesday's hard game against Charlton had taken its toll of several players and it was only after Vicente came on were they able to apply some sustained second half pressure.

Although the Albion were not on the top of their game they kept going until the final whistle and LuaLua's equaliser was reward for that. Unusually Gus stayed out after the final whistle and

Leicester's Birmingham coach! 

 

 

publicy thanked his players for their efforts.

In the first half both sides looked nervous and were guilty of giving the ball away and misplacing passes. Leicester had the balance of chances and a mix up in the Albion goalmouth ended with Kuszczak somehow turning the ball on to the bar when the visitors looked certain to score.

Towards half time the Albion began to gain some degree of contol and as a result a Calderon shot was cleared off the line and the follow up shot from Bridcutt brought a fine tip over out of Schmeichel. From a  centre from the right Ulloa headed over but both sides looked relieved to hear the half time whistle and the opportunity to regroup.

The second half followed the pattern of the first with the visitors dominating for long periods but unable to convert and the Albion stuggling to contain their power but threatening from time to time.

LuaLua, who had come on for the injured Buckley after a few minutes, was his usual hit and miss self but from one of his more effective runs he played the ball superbly into Ulloa who turned the ball inches wide of Schmiechel's left hand post with the goalie a spectator. 

From the next attack Leicester scored. The Albion failed to clear a Konchesky throw in and the ball fell to Matty James who appeared to have time to bring the  ball down and thump it passed Kuszczak.

The Albion persevered with Vicente making inroads down the right and from one of his mazy runs a Hamond pile driver from the edge of the penalty

Amex refueling!

area was charged down. Leicester were now playing 5 in midfield and lined 9 players up across the 20 yard line desperate to hang on to their lead. 

For the visitors the 3 points that would have taken them above the Albion were not to be as LuaLua went on another rampaging run down the left. This time he found a bit of space on his inside and drove the ball past the diving Schmeichel from 15 yards.

And that was that! A point gained rather than 2 dropped. Neither team looked like Premiership candidates but at this point of the season it is more about courage, determination and strong minds.

As Gus has pointed out 3 wins from 5 games will do it for the Albion while the chasing Leicester and Bolton need 4 wins from 5. The Championship tendency for teams to draw with each other only plays into the Albion's hands.

Let's hope that after a week off the Albion regain their strength and composure and the long trip to Middlesbrough is rewarded.

My son, who emigrated to Canada 14 years ago, was making his first visit to the Amex and his first view of the Albion since those last desperate Goldstone games. He always

Canadians impressed by the Amex

reads my blog (or so he says) and constantly reminded me that this was his first opportunity to check how biased and blue and white blinkered I am! Well, Matt, is this blog a true reflection of the game? Incidently he was mightily impressed with the Amex.

MAGIC MOMENT: Two this week - first Vicente's mazy run down the right past several players and his centre deserved better than a charged down shot. And then LuaLua leaving Liam Moore for dead which drew the foul for which he was rightly booked.

REF WATCHED: Curried favour with the locals by booking David Nugent in the first minute for an outragous dive in the penalty area which received the deserved booking.

MY PERSONAL ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: The sponsors award went to LuaLua for the equalising goal but my nomination goes to Liam Bridcutt. Several other players were clearly off form yesterday but Liam maintained his high standards. He relished the midfield physical battle and for the second game running charged down a goal bound shot.

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

"And labour shall refresh itself with hope"

Football League Championship 

Brighton and Hove Albion (0) 0

Charlton Athletic (0) 0

Attendance: 28,043

Charlton arrived at the Amex last night in a red London double decker bus and promptly parked it across the goalmouth. For much of the game they had 9 players lined up across the edge of the penalty area and planned only to attack on the counter. Much of the second half resembled a training game of attack v defence. The Albion huffed and puffed, attacked down both wings and through the middle but just could not find a way through.

Not for the first time this season a combination of poor finishing, inspired goalkeeping and the woodwork defied the Seagulls.

The Amex bathed in freezing Spring sunshine

If a game proved the adage that it is easier to stop a goal than to score one this did. 

Charlton arrived with one thing in mind - what we have we keep. It was easy to see why they have such a good away record. They defended in depth with there no nonsense defenders showing both pace and power. 3 times they broke forward and could have scored in the space created  by the Albion forcing the game so far up the pitch. Kermorgant turned and drove narrowly over in the first half and they were defied by 2 excellent second half saves from Kuszcak the second from a 30 yard Stephens' drive which he turned over the bar.

If games were won on corners and shots this would have been no contest but sadly you just need to put the ball in the back of net. Early in the game LuaLua and Ulloa tested the outstanding Ben Hamer. He was also tested by an Upson header from a corner and it was from another corner that the best chance of the half fell to Calderon. Charlton for once were unable to clear their lines and the ball fell to Calderon 12 yards out but he drove the  ball narrowly wide with Hamer rooted to the spot.

The second half carried on where the first half left off with the Albion exercising more and more control and as the half wore on several chances were created. Vicente, who found himself often marked by 2 or 3 players was finding space and from a fine centre Buckley should have headed the Albion in front but he could not find the target from close range. Hamer saved well from Ulloa as he clawed away a header and a 15 yard drive from Vicente with the minimum of back lift was turned around the post by Hamer.

Only cruel misfortune prevented the Albion taking the lead in added time. For once Vicente found a clear path through the centre of the Charlton defence and his delightful chip looked goal bound until Hamer stuck out a hand

and turned the ball on to the cross bar and out of play. Greer got a firm head to the resulting corner for it to cannon off the post via a defender. 

So for all their labours the Albion had to settle for a point and what could have been 6 points over Easter turned out to be just 2. However, hope of a play off place remains with the Albion 2 points clear in 6th place and their destiny still very much in their own hands.

The failure to secure a back up striker in the loan market appeared to haunt the Albion the more the second half wore on. Ulloa did not have a bad game but perhaps a bit more assistance in the striker department could have made a difference in this game but there was nobody to bring on apart from the inexperienced Barker.

Saturday's game against Leicester will be billed as a play off crunch which neither team can afford to lose.

MAGIC MOMENT: It has to be Vicente's play down the left followed by the delightful cross to Buckley which cried out to be put away.

REF WATCH: Infuriatingly inconsistent. After booking Bridcutt he only waved his arms at Hughes for a foul every bit as bad a few minutes later. Twice he waved play on in Albion's favour

after fouls for Charlton only to stop the play moments later by committing another foul but no action taken. He also appeared to give several final warnings to Kermorant for several offences of differing nature.

ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH:  In company with rest of the stadium I was a bit bemused by the sponsor's award going to Buckley so my personal award goes to Vicente. He was man marked and often found himself facing 2 sometimes 3 defenders but despite this was behind the Albion's better pieces of play and was desperately unlucky not to score in added time.