A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

SkyBET Championship

21st April 2014

Brighton and Hove Albion (0)1
Stephens 46

Blackpool (0)1
Dobbie 50

Attendance: 27,610
League Position: 6th

Will the real Oscar Garcia please step forward!

OSCAR 1: Arrived at club too late to influence preseason training or import new players. Inherited an ageing squad from previous manager and was immediately hit by long term injuries to key players. In circumstances has done well to be in with shout of a play off place with two games to go.

OSCAR 2: Even after 44 games still has little idea how to see off lower Championship teams whilst team has a style of play which is predictable and easily nullified by the opposition particularly when playing at home. Plan B seems to be resorting to a long ball style of play much better suited to League 1. Team cannot turn chances into goals, generally lacks creativity and substitutions are often made too late to influence outcome of games.

Oscar Garcia is rapidly turning into the "Marmite" coach with both sides having their say following yesterday's frustrating draw against a team who will almost certainly be playing in League 1 next season. A mixture of mild booing and general disgruntlement with applause for players who, despite the result, had put their all into the effort to force to a win.

Not for the first time the Albion were humbled by a ghost from the past when Dobbie rifled in the Amex's goal of the season to equalise Stephens' spectacular opener on 46 minutes. Some sections of the crowd

Stephens and mates celebrate his goal

gave Dobbie a hard time but the reality is if he had been in Albion's midfield in place of the totally ineffectual March the outcome could have been very different. Dobbie found time and space in the gap behind Blackpool's striker and proved to be a right handful throughout the game.

You would have hardly known the importance of the game to both sides in a first half that had all the excitement of drying paint. From the off Blackpool pushed three players well up the pitch to stop the Albion from playing out from the back. The home side were totally clueless on how to cope with this so clearances were thumped down the pitch resulting with the ball being headed back and possession surrendered. 

An atmosphere more suited to the County Cricket Ground was beneficial to the visitors who fiddled away, wasted time and generally frustrated any sense of a free flowing game. Dobbie had a chance when Greer and Upson failed to clear on the edge of the area when he hit the ball just wide of the post. Long distance shots from Stephens and LuaLua were well handled by Gilks and the best Albion chance fell to Ulloa just before half time when he headed just over from a Stephens' corner. 

March, who had a nightmare of a first half, failed to appear after the break and was replaced by Buckley. The change immediately reaped dividends when a Ward cross was headed down by Ulloa into the path of Stephens who made space for himself and hit the ball high into the net beyond Gilks from 20 yards. The best goal seen at the Amex this season only be surpassed by Dobbie just four minutes later. A back heel took Greer out of the game and allowed Dobbie to run free into the area where from an acute angle he curled the ball beyond Kusczcak who could only clutch at thin air. It was the sort of goal the Albion's midfield has been missing this season due mainly to the long term absence of both Orlandi and Crofts.

The Albion's opportunity to take control of the game was lost in four short minutes. Instead their response was to launch a series of high balls for Ulloa and CMS to fight for.

LuaLua's final contribution to the game

Needless to say the more this tactic was used the less it looked like succeeding as the Blackpool defenders dominated in the air and thumped the ball away on every opportunity. Most League 1 teams can cope with a high ball bombardment let alone any team in the Championship.

The best chance fell to Buckley when, from a move down the right, found himself in space on the edge of the area but could not hit the target with only Gilks to beat. Buckley appeared to share the collective sigh of frustration that echoed around the Amex.

The harsh truth is that Gilks had a pretty quiet afternoon given all the Albion possession and the second half aerial bombardment and was not forced into a serious save all game.

So the Albion cling on to a play off place by their finger nails but now need the help of others having tossed away the opportunity to determine their own destiny.

The Albion have one final opportunity to see off a bottom three side at the Amex when the doomed Yeovil visit on Friday evening. If the team collectively fails again I dread how fans will react.

Meanwhile on a planet far, far away Ashley Barnes was heading the goal that took Burnley into the Premiership!

And finally a random thought...............Calderon to retire from playing and replace Nathan Jones as first team coach!!

REF WATCH: Mr. Russell was a return to the usual Championship level of mediocre reffing. From outset thought everytime LuaLua or Lingard hit the turf they were diving. This only served to encourage

Another chance passes by

defenders to push the pair over at every opportunity without fear of being penalised. He did book five Blackpool players for  various offences related to breaking up play.

TREATMENT ROOM REVOLVING DOOR: Buckley out (apparently) with treatment table season ticket passed to Orlandi. That other midfield player whose name I have forgotten as has not been seen for sometime last spotted at casino on Brighton seafront (apparently).

MANAGER WATCH: The warmer afternoons have seen Oscar don a South Railways ticket inspector uniform. Meanwhile Barry Ferguson looked on hardly believing how easy it is to a take a point away from the Amex.

ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: STEPHEN WARD - at least he was his usual dependable self and put over a couple of crosses that deserved a better fate.