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.