"Follow your spirit....."

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

Football League Championship

4th May 2013

Brighton and Hove Albion (2) 2
LuaLua 4 and 38

Wolverhampton Wanders (0) 0

Attendance: 30,003 (a new Amex record)

To their great credit Albion supporters resisted the opportunity to gloat over Wolves' misfortune - some club's supporters would not have been so kind (no names!). Perhaps too many home supporters have vivid memories of their team's years of struggle and our own double dip relegation. Albion fans have learnt the hard way to treat triumph and disaster as the imposters they really are.

Wolves looked and played like a team destined for relegation despite the millions of pounds of talent on show - substitute Sigurdarson cost £2.5million alone. 4 managers in a little over a year, selling the best players and replacing with inferior imports is a recipe for disaster and so it proved. Fans feel really hurt when they

Gus saves top players for the Play Offs

resort to booing their own players with Jamie O'Hara a particular target. He went straight off at the final whistle with no salute to the long suffering fans. I cannot recall Albion fans doing that since the distant days of Robert Codner.

The visitors looked neat and tidy in their approach play, had more than their fair share of possession and forced 9 corners but created few real chances and their defence looked fragile when LuaLua ran at them.

As always with relegated teams when the chances come along they go begging. Kuszczak pawed a first half corner away from under the cross bar and Wolves failed to bundle the ball in after a miscued clearance from David Lopez. This was after Sako had clipped the outside of the post. In the second half a dangerous inswinging centre from the right was headed down by Roger Johnson into the ground and over the cross bar.

In between these chances LuaLua had won the game almost single handedly. In the 4th and 38th minutes he seized on passes from the impressive Crofts, ran straight at the terrified defenders and thumped the ball past De Vries. The first with his right foot and the second with the left. Each was a class goal. The first a curling shot into the top corner as LuaLua cut in and for the second a lighting turn of speed and step over that left Gorkss flounding and the ball in the back of De Vries' net. LuaLua celebrated with a trade mark somersault.

Gorkss, as a Reading player last season, had played like an impenetrable man mountain but in the Amex Spring drizzle looked slow and isolated. 

LuaLua had ended the game as a contest and the second half was a bit of a non-event.

A touch of Spain on the terraces

The Albion played in second and third gear and decided to settle for what they had and save their energy for bigger battles to come. 

A mazy dribble from Vicente, a shot over from Ulloa and pile driver from Barnes well saved by De Vries were the only times they really broke sweat after the break.

The crowd (except the south east corner) were in party mood with lots of touches of Spain to be seen (pity the weather did not oblige) and a well observed Mexican wave. On 70 minutes a spine chilling chant for the Albion rang around the stadium. Everybody celebrated the record Amex attendance (the Albion's highest home attendance since the old Division 2 days in 1979) and gave the long suffering visiting supporters a hearty round of applause. 

The sudden arrival of an army of stewards and police in front of the Wolves' supporters seemed an over reaction but possibly the consequence of social media rumours.

While wishing Wolves a speedy return to the Championship (the Prem League parachute payment should help), for the Albion the whole season now boils down to 2 nerve racking encounters with Crystal Palace. On form the Albion should win through but Palace have history and tradition of their side. The play offs are a lottery and a team's whole season can turn on one mistake, missed opportunity or missed penalty. 

Whatever happens the Albion have laid down a marker - we are back as a challenging club. 4th in the regular season is the the seventh best finish in the Club's history.

MAGIC MOMENT: Vicente's mazy second half dribble past several defenders before he turned the ball over the ball.

REF WATCH: Mr. Hooper was quite tolerant and clearly did not want to inflame the day

Spanish happy families

by over using his cards. Wolves had a good shout for a foul before LuaLua's first goal but Hooper waved play on. Had little option than to book Johnson near the end for bringing down El-Abd.

ALTERNATIVE MAN OF MAN OF THE MATCH: My personal award goes to ANDREW CROFTS who had his most effective game since his return from Norwich. Combative in the midfield battle, his passing and covering was outstanding and laid on both goals for LuaLua.

A  VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

"And I repent my fault....."

Football League Championship

20th April 2013

Brighton and Hove Albion (3) 6
Buckley 8
Upson 22
Orlandi 44
Lopez 45
Barnes 75 and 89

Blackpool (0) 1
Hammond og 52

Attendance: 28,499

Does Buckley remember his 8th minute wonder strike to open the scoring? Moments before he had been flattened as his head blocked a powerfully struck free kick. He staggered around looking dazed when Barnes laid off a quick clearance leaving Will a free run on goal and from the edge of the penalty area he bent a wonderful left foot shot around Matt Gilks' despairing drive. Surely the Bend It Like Buckley movie will follow!

Any plans the visitors may have had to play it tight, defend in depth and try to hit the Albion on the break went out the window. An early goal had set the match up for a masterclass in

They will have much to write about this day

Gus play. Forced to find an equalizer and press forward allowed the home team to revel in the space and hit 2 further first half goals and another 3 in the second. It could have been 10.

Blackpool are no mugs. They have several players with Premiership experience and in Tom Ince one of the up and coming talents. They also have several physically strong defenders but they crucially lacked the pace of their Leicester City counterparts and were run ragged by Barnes, Buckley and Orlandi and David attacking from midfield.  When Buckley ran out of puff LuaLua joined in the fun.

Orlandi made the second goal and scored the third. In the 22nd minute he put over a centre from the left which Hammond headed back across the goal for Upson to steer in his first for the club. Just before half time Orlandi exchanged passes with David and advanced in the penalty area to arrow the ball past Gilks with the outside of his left foot.

Gilks spent much of the first half berating his defenders who were always in the wrong place at the wrong time for his liking.

The second half opened with the Albion attacking straight down the middle. David exchanged passes with Barnes and when the ball came across the penalty area he drove it into the roof of the net via a deflection.

After that it became the Ashley Barnes show. Having made goals for Buckley and David he was on hand to turn in a LuaLua cross from the left, followed in the last minute by doing likewise from the right, this time via an Orlandi centre.

At 4-0 Hammond decided to give Blackpool a consolation by heading past Kuszczak from a Tom Ince centre. He beat the turf in frustration as he was clearly trying to defend the ball for a corner.

Kusczak departed shortly after following a clash of heads with Blackpool substitute Gary Taylor-Fletcher who himself was substituted suffering with double vision a few minutes later.

Ankergen was rarely bothered being forced to break sweat just once when he dived on a ball bouncing in the penalty area.

Vicente's and Ulloa's attacking talents remained on the bench un-needed on a day to remember at the Amex.

In describing the goals it is easy to forget how masterful the Albion's display was. Several times this season they have threatened to take a visiting team

All is forgiven

apart and it was Blackpool's misfortune to be the victims. The Albion were equally as good against Bolton but this time the chances went in. The 90 minutes were a treasured combination of team organisation and individual talent. Nobody had an off day.

Some of us took a deep breath when we heard that Barnes was starting but his display brought a whole new meaning to the word "redemption". He kept well out of the referee's way, made 2 and scored 2 and generally gave Kirk Broadfoot an afternoon to forget.

David Lopez showed us his range of passing skills and Orlandi seems to have found a new lease of life with a goal and 2 assists.

Bridge rampaged down the wing in the first half but made way for Bruno in the second. It was good to see him back. Suddenly the Albion look very strong with plenty of cover and options on the bench.

7 games without defeat and 9 at home. The Seagulls clearly have momentum and are now just 3 points away from securing the words, like Pike, we are not allowed to mention. 

MAGIC MOMENT: LuaLua made life hell for the right of Blackpool's defence so they decided to have him marked by 3 players. As number three arrived he simply drove past them all at

Did Gus say "No pace at the back"?

great pace and tested Gilks with a low drive.

REF WATCH: Avoided contact with Barnes. Greer booking looked a bit harsh early on and Tom Ince was fortunate to escape with only a booking for a frustrated hack at Bridcutt late on. Took pity on Blackpool with only 3 minutes of added time despite 6 substitutions and a long delay when Kuszcak was injured.

ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: Quite rightly the match sponsor gave the main award to Ashley Barnes so my personal alternative goes to Matthew Upson. He has become Mr. Consistent in the back line and just 3 defeats in 16 games has much to do with him. Crucially he never wastes a ball when moving forward and avoids the pointless passing between central defenders. His is extremely calm under pressure and has been a good influence on Gordon Greer.
 

 

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.

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.

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

"KING HENRY: "I know not if the day be ours or no;"
MOUNTJOY:  "The day is yours"

Football League Championship

17th March 2013

Brighton and Hove Albion (2)3
Ulloa 42 and 49
David Lopez 45

Crystal Palace (0)0

Attendance: 28,499 (Amex record)

In the film "Shakespeare in Love" the character played by Geoffrey Rush, when asked a question, would answer "It's a mystery!" Even after watching the Albion for 55 years I am still find football something of a mystery. 

The boys in blue have the taxis ready.

The first half of this match was somewhat similar to Bolton last Saturday. The away team dominant and creating chances but the home team scores with its first on target attempt and then to rub it in scores again within 3 minutes.

Although it hurts to say so Palace were the better team for most of the first half and it will certainly be a mystery to Ian Holloway why they did not score. After some early possession play by the Seagulls, Palace began to control the game with the Albion struggling to create clear cut opportunities. Kuszczak saved well after a rare Upson mistake and then saved a more comfortable Murray header. 

The Albion were to often surrendering possession and several passes went straight into touch.

Mr. Pawson checks last season's sending off positions.

It appeared the Albion could not wait for the half time whistle so they could review their on field strategy when out of nothing Buckley broke down the right and put over a fine centre for Ulloa to bundle in at the far post with a bit of help from the woodwork.  Suddenly the Albion were lifted and surged forward, Palace looked shaken and Dikgacoi committed a clumsy foul 20 yards out for which he was booked. Orlandi and David Lopez eyed up the opportunity but it was David Lopez who curled the ball around the left hand side of wall, past Speroni's despairing flap and into the goal via the post.

In 3 minutes the Albion had gone from hanging out for a half time chat to being nearly out of sight. Perhaps it was just reward for Gus's most adventurous team selection of the season with all his offensive players (with the exception of Vicente) on the pitch and only one defensive 
 midfielder.

The East Stand on record attendance day

Holloway replaced a midfielder with an extra attacker and at that moment gave control of the game to the Albion. Bridcutt could no longer be manmarked and he and David Lopez enjoyed a degree of space denied them in the first half. The Palace's plan was to deny the Albion's passing game space and to hit on the break but when you are 2 down that goes out of the window and clearly Palace's plan B was get the ball wide and lump it towards Murray and the newly arrived Phillips. Even Wilbraham arrived to help the numbers ganging up in the penalty area for a Zaha cross.   This might have worked had Palace had any decent possession but with David Lopez and Bricutt bossing the midfield and LuaLua a constant meanace down the left Palace hardly had a look in during the second half. The Albion really are a difficult team to contain once they are ahead as they revelled in the space offered  by Palace's need to press forward.

Within minutes of the restart LuaLua broke down the left and centered to Orlandi who drove the ball into Speroni's arms. The Albion were not to be denied and on 49 minutes Buckley again broke down the right, put over a centre which Orlandi headed  back across the goal to the unmarked Ulloa who gleefully passed the ball into the back of the net. 

And likewise the North Stand

Palace huffed and puffed a bit but showed no threat with the Albion picking them off on the break. They should really have had a fourth when Ulloa broke away down the middle only for Speroni to parry his shot and likewise Buckley's follow up. 

The second half highlight was surely LuaLua giving Richards a torrid time as Kazenga teased him before pushing the ball down the wing and beating him for pace time after time. Where has he been all season?

In the closing moments Calderon joined in pushing the ball beyond defenders and beating them for pace. 

So from a shaky start the Albion grew to totally dominate the game. Ulloa looked a class act with Murray hardly making a contribution. Every Albion player did their bit and Barnes' grumpiness and El-Abd's bullying of attackers not missed at all. After settling down as a partnership Greer and Upson were kings of the penalty area. LuaLua's and Buckley's wing play could not be contained, Bridcutt was calm and controlled and David Lopez was perpetual motion. Bridge put the clamps on Zaha who grew more and more frustrated.

The Albion are beginning to make the Amex somewhat of a fortress with 5 League wins and a draw in 2013. A few weeks ago Gus said the Albion needed 6 wins to make the play offs so that means winning the remaining 4 home games and getting at least one of the road from 4 games. 

We appear to have recovered from a difficult 3 game road trip and let's hope today's victory can give us the impetus to push on to the play offs. Crystal Palace in the Wembley play off final anybody?

The unhappy bunnies from Croydon

REF WATCH: Craig Pawson's appointment was met with some aprehension by Albion fans and Gus alike given his Burnley performance last season. There were fears 2 Albion players would be in the bath before those in the corporate seats had worked out which side was which. Pawson even grinned as he was roundly booed during his pre game jog. We need not have worrried as he controlled the game rather well. He kept a lid on things but rarely did the fevered atmosphere on the terraces make its way on to the pitch which was of credit to the players. He was firm with Palace's habit of stealing a few yards at free kicks and throw ins but did indulge their constant moaning every time he gave a free kick against them. Mr. Pawson you can return!

MAGIC MOMENT: Must be the several times LuaLua put his foot on the ball inviting Richards to come and get it before he flicked it down the wing and beat him for pace. 

David Lopez and Crofts celebrate at the final whistle

ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: It has to be LuaLua. He gave the team so much more up front. His hold up play gave the defenders and midfielders a breather and his constant threat stopped Richards getting forward to help in attach. He did his bit to help out the defence. On the day he made more impact than Zaha.

And finally...... no more lamenting Murray's departure as we have Ulloa to worship now.

 

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

"But that defences.......be maintained"

Football League Championship

Bolton Wanderers (1)1
Alonso 20

Brighton and Hove Albion (0)0

Attendance: 17,599

Now which way do I go?

I have always believed one of football's unwritten laws to be "the onus is on the home team to attack".  I was wrong! I travelled all the way to Horwich Parkway in darkest, deepest Lancashire to witness a game you could see at the Amex almost any week. Bolton, the home team, defended as if their lives depended on it and Brighton, the away team, attacked almost incessantly as if playing at home.

Bolton had a not unfamiliar Championship game plan. Defend in depth, strike on the break and hope the soccer Gods smile on you. The Wanderers scored with their only shot on target and held on with the same determination shown by Ralph Richardson to the last half of the last cigar in Moscow in Dr. Zhivago.

How many times do the match stats tell us "opponents - shots on target 1; goals 1"? No doubt after the game Dougie Freedman was telling his chairman, over the prawn sandwiches and chilled white wine, "never mind the quality look at the League table". It may not be very pretty but Bolton have a plan and are making a determined late run for the play offs.

Welcome to the Reebok

Andrew Lonergan's left hand post played a significant part in the lead up to Bolton's 20th minute goal. From a Bruno lay back Crofts thumped the ball against the post. The rebound could have gone anywhere but fell kindly for the home team who were able to break away down their left. Alonso's low shot from 25 yards went through a number of legs and seemed to bounce over Kuszczak's despairing dive. Towards half time Ngog escaped El-Abd and glanced a shot over the bar but apart from some catching practice for Kuszczak in the second half that was about it as far as Bolton's attacking credentials were concerned. 

Crofts, who impressed on his return after a long layoff, nearly scored in the first half from a clever Vicente free kick. As Vicente seemed to be setting himself up to shoot he laid the  ball off to Crofts whose fierce volley forced Lonergan into the save of the game as he palmed the ball away.

The second half was mainly attack versus defence as Bolton grimly held on to what they had achieved. Despite this the Albion were unable to force Lonergan into a meaningful save as the ball flew over the cross bar and past both posts on numerous occassions.  David Lopez drove just over the bar from 20 yards just after half time, Upson headed a corner inches over the bar, another David Lopez shot went just wide and Orlandi had appeared to have scored but his shot fell just the wrong side of the post.  Bridcutt tried his luck from distance and a Vicente shot was palmed down by the goalie. It appeared that every Albion player chanced their arm but to no effect. Too often, however, attacks just seemed to peter out with the ball bouncing gently into Lonergan's arms.

Barnes fired in about half a dozen times but his shots and headers were either charged down or flew well wide. From a fine David Lopez centre in the second half he screwed the ball horribly into the away supporters.

Albion's most creative players, usually David Lopez, Buckley and Vicente were usually surrounded by 2, and sometimes 3, defenders as soon as in possession.  

The Albion attack in the 2nd half

As the game progressed Barnes cut a increasingly forlorn figure. He clearly did not take kindly to the more agricultural element of Bolton's defending but received little sympathy from the referee. This was in sharp contrast with Ulloa who played with the heart of lion and the patience of Job as he was mauled, barged and pulled over with no protection whatsoever from the ref. 

The Albion dominated possession, passed the ball from side to side, probed down both sides of the pitch, brought on all their attacking substitutes but to no avail. The Bolton central defenders were outstanding and at the mearest hint of danger thumped the ball far away. I feel sure I caught Zat Knight and Lonergan smirking as yet another Albion attack came to nothing towards the end. 

What the game exposed was the Albion's need for another reliable striker to back up Ulloa. If we are to become solely dependent on him to score defences will quickly suss this out and we can wave goodbye to any play off chances.

To have 2 of your 4 strikers out for the season with injury and a third get himself sent off in his first full game since returning from his previous suspension is careless in the extreme.

Sitting in the Reebok it was difficult to see why Barnes was sent for an early bath. My immediate reaction was here we have a ref who wanted to take centre stage by sending somebody off with seconds to go in a match where feelings were running a bit high with the one of teams on the end of a totally undeserved result. I assumed Barnes had lipped the ref once too often. He clearly was very angry and Bruno had to usher him towards the tunnel to prevent further trouble. 

Another 2nd half attack comes to nothing

It was from the wonderful world of Twitter that I learnt after the game that  Barnes had allegedly tried to trip the ref. The ref was about twice the size of Barnes and the trip was not that evident from watching the game.   However, if  Barnes did do it and the club do not appeal the sending off he deserves whatever punishment comes his way. 

If our worse fears are confirmed Gus will have to rethink his worth to the side as such a short temper is just a liability and will be played on by other sides. In the short term Gus needs to get another striker in pretty quick or our play off chances will go down the plug along with water from Barnes slightly early bath.

The result of the game was a travesty. The Albion have been mugged by Bolton for 4 points this season and Saturday's game should be referred for investigation by the Office of Fair Trading. 

In the world of soccer cliches Tuesday's game against Barnsley will be "massive". I suspect Barnsley will take their lead from Bristol City and Bolton and set themselves up as the away team for a home game. Gus needs to work out a game plan for counteracting this.

Expectant happy travellers

Victory will take us up into 5th place with our play off destiny very much in our own hands. A defeat or a draw will leave us in the mix with four or five other teams. Going into the Palace game desperate for the 3 points will give Holloway an advantage we would wish to deny him.

STAT TO PONDER: Since returning to the Championship the Albion have yet to beat a recently relegated Premiership team. Last season it was  West Ham United, Blackpool and Birmingham City. This season it has been Bolton Wanderers, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers. Until yesterday all the games this season had ended in draws and we now only have the home game against Wolves to get that monkey off our back.

PROGRAMME WATCH: The match programme designated Liam Bridcutt as our "star man" and announced him as a striker. The research went a big astray there. It also nominated Ashley Barnes as the "one to watch". More ways than one as it turned out.

REF WATCH: Like most refs in this League tolerated the defensive rough stuff and gave Ulloa less protection than he offered the sainted Kevin Davies. Pretty fair otherwise. Sending off Barnes was the big decision and we await what happens next.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Nobody let the Albion down at the Reebok apart from Barnes and all tried their hardest to find a way through. My man of the match was Liam Bridcutt. He swept superbly in front of the defence and was the launch point for many of the second half attacks. He least of all deserved to find himself on the losing side. 

 

A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

"Why, here he comes, swelling like a turkey cock"

Football League Championship

2nd March 2013

Brighton and Hove Albion (1)4
Ulloa 20, 76, 78
David Lopez 81 pen

Huddersfield Town (1)1
Vaughan 42

Attendance: 25,831

In Canada a double double is a Tim Horton's coffee with double cream (milk to you and I) and double sugar. Across the Atlantic at the Amex it is back to back home wins delivering a double double over Burnley and Huddersfield Town.

If anybody doubted the Albion's credentials when it comes to pushing for a play off place this game dispelled them. For long periods they were quite imperious and while Huddersfield huffed and puffed the Albion played with flair and imagination.

The new seats in the north west corner receive their first guests

For their part Huddersfield turned up with a not unfamiliar game plan. Get everybody behind the ball, defend in depth, try to hit the Albion on the break, stay in the ref's ear and rough the Albion up a little.

Huddersfield won the booking count 4-0; their only victory of the day. Early on they decided to commit fouls near the half way line where the ref was unlikely to book the culprit. Vaughan had several lunges at the Pole in goal before he eventually was booked but the biggest sinner was Neil Danns who avoided the most obvious sending off I have ever seen. Danns, with leg off the ground, put his studs into Hammond's shin. To his credit Hammond did not make a fuss and that may have saved Danns. It was one of worst tackles I have seen go unpunished by a sending off. I wonder what Barnes thought given the tackle he was despatched for at Sheffield Wednesday? Inevitably it was a Danns' header across the box that lead to Huddersfield's equaliser.

Huddersfield forced a couple of corners early on but the Seagulls came more into the game with David Lopez and Hammond controlling midfield and Buckley causing havoc down the wing.

From a David Lopez corner a Buckley blaster was deflected out to Hammond who moved the ball on to Orlandi who found space for a fine cross which Ulloa headed in at the near post for the first.

Shortly aftwards a quick David Lopez free kick found Orlandi unmarked just outside the area and he lifted the ball towards the roof of the net. However, Orlandi's north end jinx continues as Smithies stuck out a hand and somehow diverted the ball wide. 

Against the run of play the visitors equalised just before half time. From a throw in conceded when an Albion corner routine broke down the ball was centred for a bit of head tennis and a rather acrobatic overhead kick from Vaughan. Huddersfield were not the first Amex visitors to score with their first on target attempt.

So that's where the cameras hide

As the second half progressed so the Albion became more dominant. 2 drives, one from David Lopez, were kicked off the line and  Barnes headed over when well placed. Orlandi shaved the post with a shot on the turn. But Spanish craft was to deliver. The Albion's first goal was made in Spain and so was the second. This time a David Lopez corner was headed powerfully past Smithies by Ulloa. Huddersfield protested the corner should not have been awarded but to no avail.

2 minutes later the visitors lost possession trying to build an attack and Calderon released Ulloa down the left. He drifted past his marker, went round Smithies and tapped the ball into the back of the net for his first hat trick in English football. At last the ghost of Murray is buried!

If the first 3 goals were Spanish affairs the fourth had a made in the UK feel about it. Barnes won possession near the half way line and was caught off the ball for his troubles. He had already played the ball forward to Mackail-Smith who was clipped from behind just inside the penalty area. David Lopez dispatched the penalty with the aplomb we have come to expect. 

So a notable day was concluded. The first time the Albion had scored 4 since returning to the Championship, the biggest win of the season, the second home and away double and a genuine hat trick was scored. The Albion finished the game with 2 double barrelled named players on pitch - now that does not happen very often. The victory was achieved without 3 of the side's most influential players - Bridge, Bridcutt and Vicente.

The Albion now face 3 daunting road trips but Bricutt will be back along with Bridge and Vicente and confidence will be sky high.

Town must have wished they had stayed on the coach

In my opinion the Albion are a much better side with Upson at the back. Apart from his obvious defensive qualities he does not indulge in the sometimes fruitless passing across and  back and across that Greer and El Abd indulge in. Instead he usually moves forward and is able to find a colleague so good is his distribution.

I thought that Dicker's substitution by Barnes does not bode well for his contract chances at season end. Sadly he gave the ball away a few times in midfield. 

REF WATCH: Made a major error in not sending Danns off. Did not crack down early enough on the visitors' persistent foul play but eventually lost patience and booked four. 

MAGIC MOMENT: The crowd chanting ola! ola! ola! when the Albion played keep ball towards the end. 

MY PERSONAL ALTERNATIVE MAN OF THE MATCH: For once the game sponsor got the main award right - how can you not make a hat trick hero man of the match? However, my eye caught David Lopez. He is fast becoming indispensable and not just for penalty conversions. Yesterday he was all over the field - right back, right wing, central and right side midfield as the Albion moved players around. His corner delivered the second goal, had a shot cleared off the line, set up the Orlandi chance in the first half and converted the penalty. His range of passing is quite outstanding.