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Brighton 3-2 Town - Match Report
Wednesday, 21st Jan 2015 22:04

Town missed out on the chance to claim the Championship’s top spot as they were beaten 3-2 at Brighton. Sam Baldock put the Seagulls in front in the 18th minute, Daryl Murphy struck back four minutes later with his 18th of the season, but Joao Teixeira struck on 38 and in first-half injury time to make it 3-1 at the break, with Freddie Sears pulling one back with his first Town goal with 12 minutes of the game remaining.

Cole Skuse’s return to the side in place of Stephen Hunt was the only change to the Town team which beat Millwall 3-1 at the weekend.

Skuse, who had missed the previous three games having been ill, took up his usual central midfield role with Jay Tabb switching to the left and Stephen Hunt dropping to the bench.

Noel Hunt continued up front with David McGoldrick out with his knee injury. New signings Paddy Kenny and Freddie Sears were on the bench.

First-year academy scholar Kundai Benyu, a midfielder, travelled with the first-team squad for the first time but was left out of the 18 along with Cameron Stewart.

Former Blues loanee David Stockdale started in goal for the home side, who made four changes to the team which lost 1-0 at home to Brentford at the weekend.

The Seagulls were without Craig Mackail-Smith (ankle), Greg Halford (calf) and former Blue Nicky Forster’s stepson Jake Forster-Caskey (hip) due to injuries as well as suspended defender Lewis Dunk, their top scorer.

At a freezing Amex Stadium, Town threatened for the first time in the fifth minute when Kevin Bru, fresh from signing a new contract, sent Daryl Murphy away down the left but the Championship’s top scorer’s cross was too long for any of his team-mates.

Murphy saw a shot deflect wide on 10 during what was largely a cagey opening to the match. The Irishman headed over from the resultant corner taken by Paul Anderson on the right.

The home side threatened for the first time a minute later when Chris O’Grady sent a dangerous low ball across the edge of the Blues’ six-yard box but skipper Luke Chambers was on hand to clear. From the corner Inigo Calderon headed weakly to Bartosz Bialkowski in the Town goal.

Seagulls keeper Stockdale did superbly to tip a Noel Hunt header over in the 17th minute after Tabb had chipped a cross to the edge of the six-yard box from the left, but the linesman’s flag had been raised for offside.

Despite the Blues having looked the more dangerous side, Brighton went in front in the 18th minute. Baldock brought the ball in from the left and as Anderson threw himself in to block smashed a 25-yard strike beyond Bialkowski and into the corner of the net.

Bialkowski saved low to his right from Teixeira on 21 but the Brighton lead wasn’t to last long. A minute later, Hunt sent over a well-struck low ball from the right and Murphy slammed home his 18th goal of the season.


Town weren’t far from going in front on 25 when Anderson sent in a freekick from deep on the left. Stockdale punched to the edge of the area and Bru headed only just wide of the post.

On 27 Murphy looked to tee-up Hunt inside the area but the former Leeds man scuffed his effort through to Stockdale.

Town were almost the architects of their own downfall on 19 when Skuse’s clearance was blocked into the path of O’Grady on the edge of the box, but Berra got across to challenge.

From the resultant corner, Hunt headed Rohan Ince’s looping header off the line at the post before Aaron Hughes sent the rebound onto the roof of the net.

Albion went close again in the 34th minute after Tyrone Mings had been harshly penalised when challenging Calderon, the Town left-back appearing to have been the one fouled. Danny Holla sent over the freekick and the ball eventually fell to O’Grady, who lashed over.

Three minutes later, the Seagulls threatened again from a set-piece, Hughes forcing Bialkowski to tip his header over from under the bar from Holla’s corner on the left.

The home side were looking increasingly dangerous and on 39 they went back on front. Teixeira was allowed to bring the ball forward unchallenged before cutting across onto his right foot and hitting a powerful strike which deflected off Skuse and into the corner of the net.

In injury time it got even worse for Town. Joe Bennett crossed from the left and an untracked Teixeira smashed a low shot into the corner of the net from the penalty spot. The whistle went soon afterwards.

There had been little in the game at 1-1 but Albion made the most of the Blues’ uncharacteristically poor defending - both from open play and at set pieces - and might have gone in front prior to Teixeira’s two strikes.

The same Town XI started the second half as they went about the unlikely task of overturning the Seagulls’ two-goal lead and claiming he Championship’s top spot.

Four minutes after the restart Baldock scraped a low shot well wide for Albion. A minute later, Freddie Sears replaced Anderson, the former Colchester man joining Murphy up front with Hunt going to the right.

Brighton went close to a fourth moments later when O’Grady’s shot deflected off a defender and Bialkowski had to use all his height to claim as the ball threatened to loop over him.

On 55 the former Barnsley man scuffed an effort after Calderon had found him on the left. Two minutes later, Tabb’s corner from the Town left found Berra but the centre-half was unable to turn the ball towards goal.

After Hunt had been booked for a foul on Teixeira, Berra headed another Tabb corner from the left into Stockdale’s arms.

Brighton should have gone 4-1 in front just after the hour mark. Teixeira made a superb run down the right beating two Town players before sending over a ball for Baldock on the penalty spot. The former MK Dons man took a touch before hitting a low shot which Bialkowski did superbly to save.

On 65 Teddy Bishop, who had been waiting on the sidelines for the right moment to come on for seven minutes, took over from Hunt with the home crowd by no ole-ing their side’s passes in their own half. Town had shown few signs of getting back into it since the break.

As the game moved into is final 20 minutes the Blues continued to search for an opening with subs Bishop and Sears increasingly involved in and around the area.

On 73 the former academy youngster worked some space in the box but saw his shot blocked. Moments later, Stephen Hunt replaced Tabb, before the impressive O’Grady was replaced by new Brighton loanee Leon Best.

With 12 minutes remaining new Town signing Sears set up a grandstand finish with his first Blues goal. Bru played in the sub on the right of the box and the striker hit his shot across Stockdale and into the net.

With four minutes left on the clock Town came within a foot of an equaliser. Mings’s cross from the left was cleared to Murphy breaking into the box. The Irishman touched it on to his left foot before hitting a low shot with the outside of his boot which beat Stockdale but went beyond the post.

Town continued to press in four minutes of injury time but aside from a couple of balls into the box the Albion defence was given little to be overly concerned about and, after Bru had been booked for taking out his frustration on the referee, the official’s whistle confirmed the Blues’ fifth league defeat of the season.

Mick McCarthy’s men were made to pay for the poor goals which were given away before the break.

They kept going and never gave up but breaking through a well-organised and impressive Brighton side twice was never going to be easy and clear-cut chances were far and few between.

The home side, who looked a much better team than their current lowly position, saw the game out professionally and were always a danger when breaking with Ince pulling the strings and the excellent Teixeira proving impossible to keep quiet. Baldock would have scored a fourth but for an excellent Bialkowski save.

Sears took his first Town goal confidently and Town might have claimed what would probably have been an undeserved point had Murphy taken his late chance.

Tonight’s defeat and Middlesbrough’s 2-1 win at home to Cardiff last night sees the Blues drop to third but only a point behind the leaders, level on points with Boro, who have a superior goal difference. Town are next in action against Wigan at Portman Road a week on Saturday.

Brighton: Stockdale, Bruno, Greer, Hughes, Bennett, Holla, Ince, Calderon, Teixeira (March 87), Baldock, O’Grady (Best 77). Unused: Walton, Rea, Chicksen, McCour, Colunga.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Mings, Berra, Smith, Skuse, Bru, Anderson (Sears 50), Tabb (S Hunt 74), N Hunt (Bishop 66), Murphy. Unused: Kenny, Parr, Clarke, Ambrose. Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire). Att: 23,880 (Town: 923).


Photo: Action Images



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MathieandMarshall added 22:07 - Jan 21
Brace yourself for a hundred negative comments! It's only one game. Disappointing yes but a lot more football to be played between now and May!

Great to see Sears score already. Bright future for Town I hope
15

buntITFC added 22:07 - Jan 21
Well that's a huge shame. You should never come away from a game with 0 points after scoring 2 goals. The defence has let us down today, which luckily is a rarity and hopefully it stays that way for the rest of the season. You always have to beware the team with the new manager; Bolton and Birmingham have also proved this. But still, we really should have got at least a point from tonight's game. In fact I would have been thrilled with a point.Glad that there is a break now for the squad so that Mick and the team can address this 'mini slump' and hopefully have them raring to go for Wigan. On a plus side Murphs got back to his scoring ways and Sears got his first for the club. I know Hunt got 2 for us against Millwall but I really think Sears should start ahead of him.
5

loyal_Blue added 22:07 - Jan 21
We were rubbish tonight. Not good enough I could not believe how many times they walked past our defence. I think it was their third goal that one of there players went past like 5 of our players. I couldn't how bad we played tonight. We only started playing when we made our subs which made a real impact but way to late ! On to the next COYB !
3

DurhamTownFan added 22:08 - Jan 21
Before you comment, chill out everyone. Have our players really become bad players overnight? Has mick suddenly lost it overnight? Could we have gone top with a win and are we therefore still only two points off top?

There are plenty of games left, and plenty of points to play for. Some of the complainers need to remember how far we've come these last few months.

We can still do it!!
10

Green_Army added 22:08 - Jan 21
Heads up and move on!

As simple as that!
5

bluefeast added 22:09 - Jan 21
Town, playing a standard 4-4-2 system, quickly began to look a little outnumbered in midfield against a 4-2-3-1 formation , why do we do this , 442 allows the opposition to much of the ball and without the ball you cant do anything.
2

carlo88 added 22:10 - Jan 21
Beaten by a very good Brighton performance which we had no right to expect.
1

DurhamTownFan added 22:11 - Jan 21
One point off top!
3

miltonsnephew added 22:11 - Jan 21
Signings must be made to maintain this push, our strike force is just about there.

WE NEED THE CREATIVE MIDFIELDER! Get JONIESTA back ASAP the guy wants to be here anyway!!

A WINGER And a BIG BUSTLING CENTRE MIDFIELDER!

4

essextractorboy93 added 22:12 - Jan 21
Absolutely gutted with the result but as others have said it's just one game. Sounds like a very poor performance first half but we got to put this result behind us and move on. 3 defeats in 4 games is a bit of a concern though.
8

jas0999 added 22:12 - Jan 21
A very disappointing result. Brighton had won just twice at home this season. A massive chance to go top tonight and yet again we failed to take it. Since Southampton away we have struggled. With such a small squad this was going to happen. We still need options to give other players a rest. We beat a poor Millwall side at the weekend, but tonight we weren't good enough. N Hunt may have scored against Millwall, but is he really an out and out striker?? We need a Sharp and a Williams type player. Hunt is a winger these days.

We still have an excellent chance of promotion. With players leaving on a regular basis and only Sears signed (hunt left and came back), it's time for Evans to recognise the excellent work of MM and TC and back a couple of additions for a final push. I think we need it as we look jaded, with few impact options available.
9

bluefeast added 22:13 - Jan 21
Any of the top 8 can win this league or come 2nd ,our form has dipped but we are still in touch , if this is our bad run then great ,as there are so many points to be won. Brighton taught us a lesson. At least MM and TC have thinking time and i hope they think we have to play Parr.
10

runaround added 22:14 - Jan 21
Was very nervous about tonight's game & it proved with good reason. Can only go by radio commentary but it sounds like Brighton put in an excellent performance which can happen, especially in a league like this. Gutted to miss out on top spot but there's another 19 matches to go & all is not lost. We do however need to start another winning run. I believe we desperately need the first goal in matches to win & I'm slightly concerned Derby, Boro & Bournemouth have more quality than us.
It will be a long 10 days till the Wigan game
9

bluefeast added 22:18 - Jan 21
Our style of play demands players run a lot and hound opposition ,well we look burned out and poor in possession ,out of ideas and so on. This 10 days will i hope give them the breather they need.
7

Michael11 added 22:18 - Jan 21
Disappointing, but not the end of the world. If offered 3 points out of any back to back away games in this league, you'd probably take it. Murph found the net again and young Freddie got off to a good start so still some positives to take. It's a long season and you can't win every game. Hopefully we'll kick on next week against Wigan!
2

bellazzurri79 added 22:19 - Jan 21
Tonight was not good enough pure and simple ... Do you remember teams like Leicester or burnley conceding 3 goals to teams in the relegation area last season? It just doesn't happen to teams that go onto get printed automatically ...

The defence need to look at themselves

We still need some midfield transfers...

3

pablo123 added 22:19 - Jan 21
Hard to understand the team we put out tonight !!! We set up for a negative draw against a really poor side , and made them look good !! 1 defeat in 20 odd has now turned into 3 in the last 4 !!! And we have looked awful in the process !!! Why oh why do we not got at teams like Brighton and put them away !! I fear us dropping away now I really do !!!
4

oddball added 22:21 - Jan 21
Hmmm.. One point off top, long way to go and alot is gonna happen. Bournemouth lost at leeds, derby lost at home to forest, we not the only team getting the jitters, coyb. Still got the problem of three centre backs, parr at right back but who do u drop, real dilemma for mm, tough decision.
8

BlueMachines added 22:22 - Jan 21
Walked through our defence continuously? Love Chambers but would playing a proper right back help?
2

Stato added 22:23 - Jan 21
We misses McGoldrick and generally looked poor throughout apart from bishop who looked very lively when he came on. Murphy and sears both took their goals well but mostly we were over run in midfield. Very quiet games from Mings and Bru
1

del45 added 22:25 - Jan 21
had to come , not played well in the last 3 games,hope the break will renew our form, think we have got to play both bishop and sears to score more goals.
2

TimmyH added 22:29 - Jan 21
Makes you wonder if Brighton would have got this result if Sami Hyppia was still in charge rather than the wiley Chris Hughton? - even so rather disappointing result and I'm not quite so sure we can put it down to 'only' 1 game, both the Derby and Southampton games we looked quite a limited team rather lacking in creative ideas and performances of late haven't been wonderful.
Saying this though Mick has worked wonders this season and I believe we have 10 days now to take a break and get as many players fit and hopefully add some creative additions in the transfer/loan market as I still have doubts about some players in our midfield. Nice to see Freddie Sears score tonight and by all reports did well coming on as a sub in the last 2 games.

Should be interesting to see how the team handles the pressure in the coming months and just to add a note that ALL 3 top clubs have lost in the last few days - early signs of jitters or just a coincidence? Time to recuperate.
5

ArnieM added 22:29 - Jan 21
Typical Town IMO. Opportunity to push on snd we cock it up.

Its not just "One game" is it! Its one ein in January. Our little blip. All sides have them snd the top 3 teams have all lost recently now. I personally think we are heavy legged and have tun out of steam a little. Just hope the mini break helps one or two players recoup. But we often don't perform well after these breaks either. So wigan game ( like they all seem to be now) is yet another "biggie".

COYBs
4

Jimmy86 added 22:31 - Jan 21
Such a shame and a huge opportunity missed. Brighton were always going to beat someone at home, having lost their last 5, just such a shame it had to be us. It's bonkers though, because, despite losing we are still only a point off top spot. A lot of football still to be played and I expect some new faces still to come in. Nice break now until the Wigan game, will give us chance to recharge the batteries. Coyb
2

StowTractorBoy added 22:32 - Jan 21
The goals we conceded tonight were awful with our defence just standing off. Brighton didn't even have to pass there way past us as we stood off both Baldock and Texeira. Ironic that the only other time Brighton have scored 3 goals in a league match before tonight was against Norwich. Think we caught Brighton on a good day with the Hughton effect getting into gear but we did not help ourselves I'm afraid.
1


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