A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

SkyBET Championship

8th March 2014

Brighton and Hove Albion (1)1
Gunter 16(og)


Reading (0)1
Drenthe 64

Attendance: 27,523

League Position: 8th

A passing fly reliably informed me the following conversation took place in the Reading dressing room at half time:

"Look lads we are one nil down to the team with the best defensive record in the Championship. Frankly we are not good enough to beat them without a bit of help so we need to get one of their blokes sent off. So it's time for Plan B!"

"Sorry gaffer but what's Plan B?"

"You remember! I reminded you on Friday. We work on the ref to get a fellow sent off. I know! I know! It didn't work last week but what else can we do?"

This game had controversity written all over it once it became clear Mr. Graham had been at the pies and struggled to keep up with

his linesmen during the prematch warm up.

Overall this was a typical Championship game - tense, nervous, tight with nobody wanting to give anything away. What could have been a fascinating second half was ruined by Greer's sending off on 51 minutes following the latest in a series of award winning dives by Le Fondre.

Greer had been booked in the first half after he had given the ball away and Le Fondre had turned a tussle for the ball into a foul and a yellow card for Greer. On 51 minutes the ball found its way to Le Fondre wide on the right. He pushed the ball past Greer as he challenged for the ball and Le Fondre hurled himself at Greer and collapsed on the floor as if snipered from the Amex roofing. The ref blew his whistle for what looked like a pretty marginal foul which might have warranted a final warning for Greer. Immediately he found himself surrounded by 4 angry Reading players with the bench joining in with a berating of the fourth official. His 5 minutes of fame had arrived and off went Greer. 

That changed the game entirely and it was to the Albion's credit they held out for a draw and could have even won the game. Adkins may feel he won the battle but for two weeks running his team of Premiership players have failed to beat under strength opposition and never really looked liked doing so on this occasion with Kusczcak brilliantly blocking McAnuff when clean through.  

Comic capers dominated the first half when, following delightful interplay down the Albion's right involving five players, Lopez crossed towards the advancing Lingard. Gunter reached the ball first and headed the ball back towards his goalkeeper. However, McCarthy had advanced to collect the ball and could only watch helplessly as

it bounced slowly but surely over the line. That was about it for the first half with both teams mostly reduced to hopeful pot shots from outside the area.

Following Greer's sending off the Albion were pinned back for long periods. The visitor's plan was to go down the wings and put over as many crosses as possible. They usually found a Brighton head or foot or the reliable Kuzczak's gloves. The back five were outstanding. 

10 minutes after Greer's departure Reading equalised when Drenthe drove the ball through Forster-Caskey's legs and passed the unsighted Kusczcak.

Despite Reading's 26 shots (most of which flew high, wide and handsome) the Albion had the best clear cut chances despite being down to 10 men. Ulloa did not get anywhere near the protection the ref offered Le Fondre and despite being outnumbered, often 3 to 1, was involved in the  best chances. Along with Lingard he managed to barge his way through the centre of the Reading defence but slipped as an open goal beckoned. Despite being pulled back by Pearce he put Buckley through and he drove just wide of McCarthy's left hand post perhaps when he could have done better. Shortly afterwards Buckley produced from McCarthy a save equally as good as Kuszczak's from McAnuff. In added time March drove a corner from the left against the post nearly catching McCarthy out.

So a draw it ended up. A win on Tuesday now looks pretty necessary and that will be difficult agains spend, spend, spend QPR. The  play offs still look a possibility but the Albion need to show more consistency and find someway to score more than once in a game.

TREATMENT ROOM REVOLVING DOOR: Buckley out (I think) but Stephens and Orlandi in. Hoskins getting nearer the door but CMS still buried in bandages and linament. 

DISAPPEARING PLAYERS: 2 members of the Albion's first team squad have disappeared and it is so long since we saw them I forget their names!

REF WATCH: Unfit, poor and easily influenced.

Should have clamped down on the diving early on. Not helped by a poor West Stand assistant who appeared not to understand the rules of the game.

MANAGER WATCH: Oscar sported a new haircut while Adkins turned from orange to deep red when bated by the North Stand. 

MOMENT OF CONFUSION: Deep into injury time March drove a corner into McCarthy's post. The helpless goalkeeper could only watch as the bounced away and back to March who instinctively controlled the ball. You could hear the pages of the game's rule book turning in the ref's head before he blew for an indirect free kick.

ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: It could have been any of the back four once Greer had departed so take a bow Bruno, Upson, Dunk and Ward.