Friday 10th December 2010
You could say that it hasn’t been the best four and a bit weeks for Albion; four FA cup ties against two non-league clubs, a defeat and two draws in the league, and a serious injury to one of their keys talents - on loan winger Kazenga Lua Lua. But if the Seagulls get at least 3 points out of Huddersfield and Notts County in the next seven days, Gus Poyet’s team will be top at Christmas - a perfect present to wake up to on Christmas morning.
It’s been a fabulous season - exceeding expectations by a long way, and, considering Albion’s position at the top of League One, it is completely inexcusable that the fans can boo their team at half time if they have failed to impress. One could argue that you pay the price for the ticket, and therefore can respond how you wish to what you are watching. I disagree. You watch a football match to support your team, and I will only boo if I see lack of effort and genuinely poor performances, on a consistent basis. To boo a side who are top of the division, and have earned 21 points out of a possible 27 at the Withdean, is quite frankly ludicrous.
The “boo boys” obviously want to share their frustration during this rough patch, and it’s an understandable frustration. The goals aren’t flowing as freely as they once were; perhaps there is a worry that they have been found out by the opposition. Perhaps Brighton without Lua Lua is Brighton without that extra option, the ‘something out of nothing’ player. All this may contribute, but if it wasn’t for missed penalties, sending offs, and late equalisers, things would be looking healthier.
Hartlepool away was just an awful day for Albion - the injury to Lua Lua, Liam Bridcutt’s straight red, and taking nothing back home apart from a first league defeat since August. To lose Bridcutt for three games was a blow, and he was certainly missed. Then at home to Bristol Rovers, Chris Wood’s debut goal from the penalty spot seemed to ensure the three points were in the bag, but an injury time own goal meant two points dropped. Then Chris Wood had the opportunity to repeat his heroics against Southampton - but this time Southampton keeper Kelvin Davis was the hero. Another missed penalty in the cup forced an unwanted replay at Gigg Lane, in which thankfully Brighton triumphed. So convert penalty misses into goals, and goal concession into goal prevention, and Albion would be 8 points clear and going into this Saturday’s game without the efforts of Wednesday night’s FA Cup replay.
Of course all teams concede late goals, get players sent off, and miss penalties, but Albion seem to do it a lot! I don’t really understand why Ashley Barnes didn’t take the penalty at home to FC United. Elliott Bennett took it, and missed. It isn’t clear who the number one penalty taker is, and this could prove a costly mistake. Look at Frank Lampard at Chelsea: if they get a penalty and he’s on the pitch, he will undoubtedly take it, and probably score.
As a football fan, you want everything to be perfect, and if it isn’t perfect, you complain. That is the nature of the beast. But it is worth noting where Brighton were at this point last season - 17 points from 18 matches. From the same number of games this season, double last year’s total at this stage and add a couple more: 36 points. I don’t think anyone expected that. The fact that they’ve had a poor run, yet are still 4 points clear at the top, highlights the unpredictable nature of this league. It’s similar to the Premier League in that respect: no-one has lost more home games than Arsenal this season, but they’re still top. If that was Brighton’s bad patch, consider it a good bad patch, if that makes any sense. Last season at this stage, Leeds were top with 45 points, so it’s certainly positive that no other team in the league has shown that they are real favourites.
Because of last Saturday’s postponement, it’s been over two weeks since Albion’s last league game, and a welcome break from the pressure that comes with being top. Tomorrow will be a big test - away at Huddersfield, who, like most teams in the division, have a split personality. They haven’t drawn a game in the league since the beginning of September, so expect a winner. A victory at the Galpharm would remind the rest of the league why Albion are top, and could end the bad patch. Poyet has no plans to change the way his team play anytime soon, and why would he? Win or lose tomorrow, they’ll still be in top spot with a highly winnable home match against Notts County to follow, and the opportunity to go into the new year as league leaders. What’s there to moan about?
Huddersfield vs Brighton & Hove Albion - Saturday 11th December, 3pm
Sports Saturday with Ben Holt 2-6pm, Brighton's Juice 107.2, juicebrighton.com
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