HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Tuesday night’s game at the Amex Stadium by delving into their forums.

“Halfway there, three points off the top with a severely depleted squad. I’m up for the fight and I’m sure the team are too”, “I don’t think we will finish in the top two but some astute transfers and players returning to fitness should give us a fighting chance in the play-offs.”

“Massive pressure on the next two home games, we really need to win them to stay in the hunt.”

After losing their season-long unbeaten run to an emphatic 3-0 defeat at home to Middlesbrough just before Christmas, Brighton steadied the ship with a goalless draw at Brentford on Boxing Day.

“What is an ‘emphatic’ win? I’m not sure I remember seeing one of those”, “Don’t get me wrong. I love this ride but are we setting up not to lose?”

Although without a win in their last four games, three December draws at Brentford, QPR and Derby have typified the Seagulls’ tenacity this season.

“I thought we would be in a relegation battle this season”, “A year ago we would have been happy to maintain our status in the Championship. We were a shambles and badly struggling to pick up any points. Now we are bang in the top six and competing in every game despite struggling for players.”

Chris Hughton

“Does anyone still believe the myth that Chris Hughton is a boring negative manager?”, “He can be as dull as ditch water as long as he keeps producing these results”, “He has created a good, competitive team out of a shambles”, “He will not panic, but he keeps everyone on an even keel.”

“A suave, articulate gentle man at the helm”, the former Norwich boss is praised for “his organising of the team, ability to get the selection absolutely spot-on, flexibility in working with completely different formations and not being overly defensive minded”, “The man’s a hero, a true hero.”

“I’m extremely proud to have Chris Hughton as manager”, “He is more like a secret assassin, going about his business quietly and under the radar but is hugely successful in completing the task he has been paid to do”, “He makes people want to do their jobs well, without being dominated.”

“We genuinely don’t know how lucky we are having such a top bloke as manager”, “He’s calm, chilled and completely in control”, “We are the perfect club for him. He suits us and I can see this partnership lasting for many years to come. He may even be our Alex Ferguson.”

Injuries

“We have seven first-team matchday squad players currently injured and it’s hardly surprising it’s taking its toll”, “This season has started to become irritating with injuries”, “I can’t help feeling we are in for a rough few weeks until the injured are back and we can sign a couple.”

It is worth looking back at the Seagulls’ starting XI (above) when they won at Portman Road in August to give an idea of how injuries have hit their playing squad. Players currently absent or recovering from injury are marked with an asterisk. Winger Solly March can be added to this list.

“We look tired and the squad is injury ravaged”, “We look jaded against Middlesbrough”, “There was sadly no zip in our play. We were too slow.” Fans have frequently highlighted how tired many of the regular starting players have looked with Chris Hughton unable to rotate.

“The team look tired and bereft of ideas, too many injuries to creative players”, “I have felt we look tired this month to be honest. Derby and QPR played with more intensity and looked quicker to the ball”, “Middlesbrough have their own injuries. It just shows the importance of buying in a squad.”

Formation

“Chris always has his teams well organised and disciplined”, “He uses his players to get the best out of their potential”, “The 4-4-2 system is simple to play so the players like it. It is also a simple system to oppose, hence the high number of draws and narrow wins.”

The starting XI (above) for the Seagulls’ Boxing Day scoreless draw at Griffin Park kept the same 4-4-2 formation which has served the team faithfully so far this season. Opposition fans have highlighted the team’s organisation and an ability to hurt teams by playing a controlled counter-attacking game.

Albion are down to “the bare bones” in defence with right-footed Inigo Calderon having had to cover the absence of a fit left-back. With centre-backs Gordon Greer and Uwe Hünemeier recently injured, summer signing from Shrewsbury Connor Goldson is expected to make a full debut on Tuesday having made two sub appearances.

Dale Stephens and Beram Kayal have been widely praised for their work in midfield but Hughton has bolstered the two-man engine room by swapping a striker for another midfielder Andrew Crofts to add some solidity. The two-man midfield has been targeted in recent games, most notably by Middlesbrough.

“It was apparent after the first five minutes that we had the wrong formation to prevail over Boro. They looked comfortable on the ball while we were either chasing the game or suffocated by their numbers”, “Our midfield was overrun and they could neither supply forward nor protect defenders.”

Brentford 0 — 0 Brighton

“It’s grim up North”, “Just back from the game. We were poor in the first half and Calderon was very exposed at left-back. The 4-4-2 wasn’t working because we had no real wide threat and Wilson was not in the game. Brentford were always in place and could boss the game”, “Thankful for a point.”

“This doesn’t sound like the reaction to the Middlesbrough defeat we wanted.” Brentford largely dominated this Boxing Day encounter and Brighton were grateful to keeper David Stockdale for a series of fine saves which helped the visitors pick up their first clean sheet in eight games.

“Bloody hell, this sounds awful from the Albion so far”, “This is painful watching.” Many Seagulls felt that the introduction of Crofts as a half-time replacement for striker James Wilson, who was ill, helped shore up the midfield and this contributed to a stronger Albion showing after the break.

Brighton 0 — 3 Middlesbrough

“Basically, they were better than us”, “There is no shame in losing to a quality side”, “That was a real wake-up call today”, “No longer an embarrassment, now a humiliation, get them off as soon as possible and sort them out for the next game”, “The best team we have played by a country mile.”

Many fans felt that the game was lost when Kike nodded home Albert Adomah’s cross in the fourth minute. Two further headers, by Adomah a minute before the break and Christian Stuani on 62 minutes confirmed a comprehensive win for Boro with home fans feeling their team was outclassed.

“Thank God we don’t have to play Middlesbrough every week”, “I thought our unbeaten run would come to an end against this lot, but what gets me is the manner in which we lost. We were bossed all over the park and had no reply at all. The Amex Stadium was like a library.”

“It is churlish to criticise a first defeat after 21 games but we were overrun at times in the middle of the park at QPR and again against Boro”, “They looked like they had an extra man at times and always seemed to have two or three men open”, “They made us look bang average today.”

“It was a textbook performance of getting ahead, strangling the game and then relying on our mistakes at set-pieces to score again”, “Their tactics were textbook, giving us no space from defence and when we were going forward”, “Talk about deflated, we were never, ever in the match.”

QPR 2 — 2 Brighton

“Take care of Charlie Austin and we should be okay”, “On balance, we probably deserved a point tonight and nearly lost”, “Disappointed not to have won from being two goals up but I would have taken the draw at half-time, such was QPR’s dominance. It was a good game.”

While QPR fans celebrated a comeback, with two Austin goals on 65 and 88 minutes cancelling out Dale Stephens strike on 53 and Rajiv Van La Parra’s long-range second two minutes later, some Seagulls blamed red carded centre-back Lewis Dunk with most feeling that it was a fair result.

“This is the first time this season that I have felt properly miffed. This season is still all flavours of awesome but tonight hurt”, “I have continually bemoaned our lack of killer instinct and inability to finish teams off”, “It’s disappointing to surrender a two-goal lead so late in the game.”

“QPR are a very solid side who were all over us most of the game”, “They were running riot before Dunk’s sending off”, “That’s two points dropped, no other way to summarise it”, “Dunk blew it for us. I would still have taken a draw at the start”, “Stupid boy. We were under the cosh as it was.”

Goalkeeper and Defenders

“Our back four against Ipswich is likely to be Bruno, Dunk, Goldson and Calderon who are our last four defenders. One more injury or suspension and we won’t even have the bare bones”, “We need to stop conceding from set-pieces. We need our centre-backs to win headers in both boxes.”

David Stockdale

“I am pleased Stockdale has done so much better this season. He is the full package and I would to see him captain the club”, “He has made some saves that could genuinely be described as world class”, “We have had to dig out results in the last few games and he has made a huge contribution.”

“Top save”, the 30-year-old former Fulham and Ipswich loan keeper “has been the revelation of the season”, “He was steady at Brentford when those around him were shaken”, “I have felt confident with him in goal”, “Stockdale twice denied Austin with excellent saves at Loftus Road.”

“Stockdale’s distribution is consistently good.” He is praised for his distribution but one area has been criticised. “Middlesbrough seemed to be another example where goals were being conceded and it felt like he wasn’t commanding his area”, “I wish he would come out occasionally for corners.”

“Bruno is by some distance the best technical player at the club. He has been in magnificent form this season having been all over the place for much of the previous one. We get the odd hair-raising moment but I can live with that for the sheer flair he regularly brings to the party.”

“Bruno does have a tendency to leave us exposed at times.” The 35-year-old ex-Valencia right-back “is genuinely exciting albeit nerve-wracking to watch”, “He usually uses space behind defenders so well”, “My favourite player for his love affair with the ball and his defensive attitude this season.”

“We are really struggling with Inigo Calderon at left-back.” The 33-year-old ex-Alaves right-back “never lets you down, but he is having to be protected by left winger Jamie Murphy and this reduces Murphy’s threat”, “He struggles to get forward and when he does, it is usually on the inside line.”

“He is still a legend”, “I love Calderon but he is so out of position. His lack of a left foot has been totally worked out by our opponents and massively limits our left-sided attacking options”, “He did his backs-to-the-wall and never-give-up stuff against Boro but was woefully out of his depth.”

Gordon Greer was substituted at Griffin Park with a hamstring injury. The 35-year-old ex-Swindon man “has been too slow to act as a covering central defender”, “Austin got the better of him for QPR’s first, again”, “He looked shaky against Boro but has always been slow”, “On borrowed time.”

Fellow centre-back Uwe Hünemeier was substituted in the Boro defeat with groin injury. The 29-year-old ex-Paderborn man “has a good balance between covering his partner and winning the ball higher up the field”, “He is weak in the air, but his general play feels more comfortable.”

“Connor Goldson is much quicker than Greer.” The 23-year-old “seemed to keep it simple coming on from the bench at Brentford not trying anything clever”, “Physically he looks the part”, “Tuesday will be tough for him up against Daryl Murphy but he’s up for the challenge”, “A big moment for him.”

Lewis Dunk

“A walking red card which won’t go unnoticed at opponents’ team meetings”, “Cheers Dunk, you thick idiot”, “He is dreadful, can’t stay on his feet, is always out of position and late in challenges”, “He is a good defender but his intelligence is seriously lacking”, “What an absolute pillock.”

“Dunk needs to be bloody careful.” Fans were furious with the 24-year-old youth product for picking up two yellow cards at Loftus Road and many saw the danger before it happened. “He has been tremendous today but still suffers from rushes of blood”, “It was a challenge worthy of a red card.”

“Dunk reminds me of a slightly more mobile Titus Bramble. He will play fantastically well for three games, then cost you one single-handedly”, “We need a central defender with more sense”, “Needs to sort his head out”, “A car crash waiting to happen in between moments of assured brilliance.”

Central Midfielders

Rohan Ince has been a peripheral figure. The 23-year-old ex-Chelsea youngster “looked like a rabbit in head lights when he came on against Derby and made a mistake”, “He isn’t the holding player Hughton thinks he is but a box-to-box player, a bit like Victor Wanyama in winning and moving the ball.”

“Beefing up the midfield with Andrew Crofts stopped us from being overrun by Brentford in the second half.” The 31-year-old former Canary “firms things up at the back”, “He certainly didn’t frighten Boro. All he did was shore up the midfield, a strange change when we needed goals.”

Crofts’s arrival has often heralded a switch to a three-man central midfield. “Crofts is a solid hard player who frees up the wingers a bit”, “Don’t write him off as he can nick a goal from midfield”, “He frees up Dale Stephens”, “We needed him to bolster the midfield from the start against Boro.”

Dale Stephens

“Overhead kick by Stephens”, “A bicycle-kick, just like watching Brazil.” The 26-year-old ex-Charlton man was praised for his strike at Loftus Road. “A good finish but there wasn’t the usual snap to his passing”, “He was the only one on the pace of the game at Brentford”, “The pick of our players.”

“Our best player but not his best game”, he struggled against Middlesbrough. “Stephens was not as influential as we are used to and was often outnumbered”, “He was running through treacle in the second half, exhausted”, “There were few outlets but he was too deep and didn’t move it quickly.”

“Stephens and Kayal are the best midfield pairing I have ever seen at the club”, “He keeps things moving”, “His passing in the final third has notably improved in recent months. He plays more first time than Kayal”, “He has been able to play more openly knowing he has backup from Kayal.”

Beram Kayal

“Another great display from our midfield talisman, great energy in breaking up play and he started several counter-attacks”, “He gave the ball away a lot at Loftus Road but you can’t fault his work-rate”, “He can be utter magic at times but was sloppy and casual and not in the QPR game.”

“The 27-year-old ex-Celtic man is neck-and-neck with David Stockdale in one poll for the Seagulls’ player of the first half of the season.

“He carries the ball well and assists goals with his passing”, “He played further up the field when Crofts came on, beginning to motor and looking a threat.”

“God forbid if Kayal or Stephens get an injury or a lengthy suspension. They are our engine and our creativity”, “Kayal tackles, dribbles and gets around the pitch brilliantly”, “He can over-elaborate or procrastinate and lose the ball”, “He played well but couldn’t win the Boro game single-handed.”

Wide Midfielders

“Elvis is in the building”, “Up front, interesting”, summer signing from Feyenoord Elvis Manu played as a lone striker at the end of the Brentford game. The 22-year-old Dutchman normally plays on the left wing. “He is strong and quick, but looked lost up front and not positionally aware.”

“Manu was offside several times but this may be mistimed runs or delayed passes. He needs to learn to stay on his feet. He’s certainly quick and there’s something positive about him”, “I don’t think he can lead the line. Maybe he’d be best just behind bursting through rather than repeatedly offside.”

“It is no coincidence that the performances of Jamie Murphy have dipped having a right-footed left-back playing behind him.” The 26-year-old ex-Sheffield United left winger “has been poor for a while and not just on the left. It’s also when he switches wings”, “I have not seen him play well for ages.”

“Murphy was ineffective and off the pace at Brentford”, “He ignored instruction from team-mates and was more interested in doing his own thing”, “He ducked out of some challenges which really irritates me”, “He was dreadful, didn’t beat his man once and didn’t fancy the physicality.”

Rajiv Van La Parra

“Wingers are all about confidence in beating players and this move seems to have been what Van La Parra really needed.” The 24-year-old right-winger is on loan from Wolves until the beginning of January. “He can certainly cross and has bags of pace and energy”, “A potent attacking threat.”

“His defending has been suspect. When Bruno bombs forward, Rajiv stays up-field and does not appear to track back closely. In recent games there have been holes in the right side of our team, exploited and goals conceded”, “More awareness of defensive work is needed by him.”

“I’m beginning to see what Wolves fans meant when they said he was inconsistent”, “He clearly lost the battle with George Friend against Boro, often picking up the ball very deep and it was difficult to link effectively with the forwards”, “He has pace and a good cross, but he often gives the ball away.”

Strikers

“We really lack a top-class striker in this division and the play-offs are the best that are going to be achieved until we are able to get one”, “We haven’t found the answer up front and it’s frustrating that we seem to have the same conversation about misfiring strikers every season.”

“Our only option to keep the ball up front until others support is to play Bobby Zamora”, “He holds the ball up far better than Tomer Hemed but his distribution is not that great.” The 34-year-old ex-Tottenham, West Ham, QPR and Fulham striker has been used as a substitute in recent games. “Not the answer to our striker issues.”

“Zamora is a great player with an amazing instinct for goal but I just see him as an impact player these days, preferably in the last 30 minutes against a tired defence. He’s too slow and static these days and doesn’t have the pace to get past his marker. He’s only really useful in the box.”

James Wilson

“Quick and impressive”, “Wilson has shown already that he is a great young player but is also showing that a lack of consistency may be the reason why Manchester United sent him on loan”, “He looked very dangerous when we started playing balls through to him on the ground at QPR.”

The 20-year-old joined on loan from the end of November until the end of the season. “Wilson looks dangerous with the ball at his feet but his link-up play is poor”, “He showed odd flashes of talent but was far too isolated to take the Boro defence on alone”, “He tried hard all game but had no service.”

“Wilson was dying on his feet after an hour at QPR. No way could he have lasted”, “He’s a good player but too small to play as a lone striker”, “He has the pace and technical ability to play out wide but I would rather have him in the box”, “We should be using his great turn of pace more.”

Tomer Hemed

“Tomer, use the force”, “He is bang average, isn’t he?” The 28-year-old ex-Almeria forward “works hard and has bought into being an Albion player. However he doesn’t seem to be a natural finisher at all”, “He takes one too many touches when he does have the chance to shoot.”

“Hemed was little more than a bollard against Boro”, “He didn’t move when our build-up play was in midfield”, “I have never seen such an ineffective performance from a centre-forward. He doesn’t score, lacks pace, doesn’t run with the ball effectively and is continually beaten in the air.”

“I don’t think opposition defenders think they have had a tough game when facing Hemed”, “He isn’t good enough to get into the right positions. He runs around a fair bit but not in a way that helps”, “I’m not quite sure what type of striker he is yet”, “At the moment he’s definitely not the man.”

Seagulls’ Views on ITFC and the Game

“Most teams lose three or four games in a bad run and I think ours started with Middlesbrough, to be followed by Brentford and Ipswich. If that is the case there is no problem, because neither Brentford nor Ipswich will finish above us.”

With 61 per cent forecasting a home win and 19 per cent predicting a stalemate, Albion fans are quietly confident going into Tuesday’s game. Characteristic of their habit of winning narrowly this season, 2-1 and 1-0 home victories, followed by a 1-1 draw are the most popular forecast scores.

“We could do with winning a few games, especially the Ipswich one, or we will get dragged into the pack”, “It will finish 2-1 to the Albion in a very tight game. I'm looking forward to Mick McCarthy's usual decent post-match comments.”

“This is our blip and I’m not confident, a 2-0 defeat”, “It will be a 0-0 draw as injuries take their toll on our attacking options and we refuse to be defeated”, “Injuries now taking a serious toll as well as the continued lack of potency from our 'strikers'.”

“I think it will end in tears.” Many of their comments betray a real apprehension given their current run of form and depleted squad. “I really hope this does not prove to be a ‘season of two halves' and that we're merely having a mid-season blip, from which we'll recover, sooner rather than later.”

“I make Ipswich favourites due to their excellent away form and our injury problems, they will win. However, I will point out that after this game, the run of fixtures is much kinder and the transfer window opens so I’m more positive after this extremely difficult fixture.”

Websites

The busiest Albion message board is the lively, friendly and knowledgeable North Stand Chat.

@HarryFromBath

Photo: Action Images

LesTibbetsbrokenleg added 11:57 - Dec 28 Thanks very much for the very informative read as ever Harry. Without underestimating Brighton's league position and squad unity, this could be a good time to play them, given the number of their team out to injury. 2-1 to Ipswich? COYB!!
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ericclacton added 12:00 - Dec 28 Good read Harry, when they beat us at P.R. they looked very good, but the injuries they have will be good for us, a draw would be a decent result. COYB!!!!
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LankHenners added 12:08 - Dec 28 Thanks Harry - I didn't quite realise the extent of their injury problems, but whilst not brilliant the replacements aren't exactly useless. Stephens and Kayal were excellent at Portman Road, the latter in particular running our midfield ragged. They gave us some lessons to learn so hopefully we've been reading well since the weekend - need to not let them set the tempo of the game within the opening 5 minutes and therefore dominate the rest of the game. Could be a real contest with our terrific away form and coming off the back of a dramatic late win against their blip and depleted squad. In all honesty I'd accept a draw, but a win here would do us a lot of good - just need to keep in touch before a string of very winnable games come along.

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Bluebell added 12:46 - Dec 28 Thanks Harry. A great read as usual. Sounds like they have a lot of injuries which may help us. Is Lua Lua injured? I really hope so because if I had to watch him do that back flip again I would run on the pitch and punch him! Zamora is obviously the one to watch but hopefully after the win on Saturday, and all the other away wins, the boys will be up for it. I would be happy with a draw but we can win it as they have been going downhill recently.

3

DanLyles added 14:27 - Dec 28 Great work as usual Harry and I echo those sentiments regarding this being a great time to play Brighton. So glad Lua Lua isn't playing as he was the main difference between the teams at Portman Road. With Bruno bombing forward from rb and Calderon playing out of position at lb I would like to see the pace of Fraser and Oar on the wings pitted against these two, with Sears moving up front. Looks like an area we could really exploit. Bru's passing range would be ideal to pick them out though...

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tractorgrl added 14:33 - Dec 28 Thankyou for this report Harry, at what is a busy time for you men with beer/wine to be drunk and sausage rolls etc to be finished up!! Ha ha!! They say they're slow and we have pace aplenty, could be carnage in our favour! Is it 'unsportsmanlike' to wish for a pretty little red card for an opposition player? Yes not very festive tractorgrl! Going for 2-0 Town.
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bluefeast added 15:01 - Dec 28 Top class Harry as always
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Steve_M added 15:12 - Dec 28 Reading that, I'm reminded of us in January last season. A team deservedly achieving well above pre-season expectations but stuttering with injuries and tired players. Whether we can we take advantage of that probably depends on whether Brighton take the two or three good chances we offer up per match.
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bedsitfc added 16:20 - Dec 28 We really need to beat a team above us and more importantly stay in the top six. I will be s1b row i tomorrow, who else is going and how can we help the boys by making sure Brighton know we are there??? Fill the place with noise and inflatables???
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carsey added 16:30 - Dec 28 I have no doubt that provided McCarthy sets the team up to attack from the start we can get a result against Brighton but the back 4/5 need to not make any stupid mistakes. 3 - 1 will do nicely thanks
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DerryfromBury added 16:47 - Dec 28 Thanks for the report Harry. could be the right time to play the Seagulls with their little blip in form and a few keys players out with injuries. Our GK and his defence all need to be on their metal against young James Wilson. Off to Brighton myself tomorrow looking forward to a good showing from the lads. COYB Happy New Year Harry
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 17:41 - Dec 28 Thanks Harry. I am going to have a lot of egg on my face, and derision in my ear no doubt, but I can see us winning the next two games.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 20:49 - Dec 28 They say they're vulnerable to set pieces. Cue Tommy & Christian. I'm sure that is in MM's notebook. If we take the game to them, I think we could get something out of it.
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ntoms97 added 09:49 - Dec 29 Their bubble is popping, that's basically what the fans are saying. The one that said neither Brentford nor Ipswich will finish above us this season I feel will be eating his words come end of the season, I genuinely feel we are stronger and that their bubble has popped. Can see them free fall into 7-12th position come end of the season!
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dirtyboy added 12:51 - Dec 29 Tough tough game, if we come away with a point, i'd be chuffed to be honest.
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RegencyBlue added 16:26 - Dec 29 A point would be a good result but given Brighton's current form if we put them under pressure, rather than letting them set the pace, we could get all three!
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Warkys_Tash added 19:19 - Dec 29 Thanks Harry as ever a decent report. Personally I am desperate to beat Brighton, for the way we chucked it in against them here & that sent us on a downer for nearly two months & I want pay back for last seasons result at the Amex, which cost us top spot. No Lua, Lua tonight is a result!
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