A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

SkyBET Championship

11th March 2014

Brighton and Hove Albion (0)2
Ulloa 77
Ward 86

Queen's Park Rangers (0)0

Attendance: 28,019
League Position: 7th 

Just imagine for a moment that you are an account manager for a major bank and one of your clients reports a loss of £65.4million in its' last trading year bringing the level of debt to £177m. What's more the company spending on wages  alone is higher than it's turnover. What would you do? I know - I would do the same! Welcome to the Monopoly money world of football and hello QPR. 

The Rangers pack of Premier League wage earners rolled into the Amex last night for the first time. Nearly every team name was familiar with a good sprinkling of internationals. Green had stood between the posts for England and Jenas had appeared in its' midfield. For years Dunne held the Villa defence together plus we had Barton to play pantomine villain.

This bloggers trip to the Amex starts here

For all their glitter and attractive approach play QPR were undone by an Albion determined to defend to the last man and take their chances when they came.  

It was not always pretty and some of the defending was bordering on panic and the ball was sometimes given away unnecessarily but Oscar's boys are nothing if not relentless and determined. It was the never say die spirit that eventually brought Albion the points after Rangers had tried everything they could but were just unable to get passed the home team's defence or goalkeeper. Usually a body part blocked Rangers' shots and headers but when they did get passed the back four they found Kuszczak in inspired form, producing 2 outstanding saves from Morrison and Traore.

QPR shaded the first half but for all their attractive approach play created few clear cut chances. Opportunities for the Albion were even more rationed and the half time whistle was in the ref's mouth before Ulloa hit over the best chance of the half from a Forster-Caskey free kick.

The second half followed a similar pattern with QPR attacking and the Albion defending in depth but rarely seriously troubled. The game began to turn from the 75th minute when LuaLua replaced Forster-Caskey. With width on both sides the Rangers' full backs could not afford to venture too far forward and LuaLua's reputation obviously went before him. As soon as he received the ball he was encircled by

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3 defenders. When you are having to look after LuaLua you cannot be up the other end running at Albion's defence. Rangers appeared to be stuck between stick or twist and while they were working out whether to hold what they had or go for a win the Albion struck. 

Andrews and Bruno combined brilliantly down the right and Bruno's fierce low cross was blasted home by Ulloa from point blank range. 13 minutes of defence v attack was anticipated as the visitor's superstars attempted to get back in the game. But it was not to be as the Albion grew in confidence and gradually took control of the game. Hearts were firmly removed from mouths on 86 minutes when Ward deftly turned home LuaLua's corner. The Amex erupted in joy as the Premier League pretenders were put to the sword. Sometimes it is not always about the money.

On the way down on the train I got talking to a couple of Rangers's fans and, with some hesitation, I raised their teams level of debt and Financial Fair Play. "Will not happen, Mate. Restraint of trade!" We will see but at this moment I would rather be a Albion fan than a Rangers's one.

REF WATCH: Got on wrong side of fans early on as seemed to favour Rangers and clearly had it in for Ulloa. Realised after 44 minutes that he could give free kicks to both sides and eventually awarded Albion their first free

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kick of the game. This brought the biggest cheer of the 45 minutes. 

TREATMENT ROOM REVOLVING DOOR: Stephens just about out and Buckley left pitch without limping!

MAGIC MOMENT: interpassing between Burno and Andrews that lead to first goal plus a run from Morrison that left the Albion midfield for dead.

MANAGER WATCH: Oscar was his usual calm self while Harry stood manfully to take chants from crowd asking him to remind us of the score!

ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: step forward LEWIS DUNK who has not

started a League game since goodness knows when. A rock at the heart of Albion's defence with head and boot and showed distribution better than Greer's on many occasions. 








to here!