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.