Win ensures Albion's survival
ANOTHER sunny Saturday at Withdean saw Albion secure their League One place for next season.
They beat Bristol Rovers 2-1 in a game that felt like a mid-table, end-of-season affair. It wasn't until the last 20 minutes that the game came alive and it wasn't the football but two red cards that did it. And there was a sting at the end! A 92nd minute penalty gave us the win we just about deserved.
It all started serenely enough. Manager Gus Poyet brought in Gavin Hoyte for the injured Inigo Calderon. Lee Hendrie started in midfield. His strangest decision was to bring in Chris Holroyd and Ashley Barnes as our strike pair. Glenn Murray was on the bench and our top scorer Nicky Forster is banished to play for promotion chasing Charlton. More of Murray later!
At the start Brighton played the ball around as Poyet wants. But possession wasn't converted into chances. With 12 minutes gone Rovers broke clear down the right, Carl Regan put across the perfect ball and Andy Williams put it away. "It's All In The Game" and "Can't Get Used To Losing..." But we weren't singing any more.
As half-time approached some were wondering about the merits of pretty football. Adam El-Abd, who was in one of his storming, no nonsense moods, probably caused Gus a frown or two as he booted a clearance upfield. Route one maybe but Barnes was onto it, holding off the defender and unleashing a great shot past Mikkel Anderson in the Rovers goal. 1-1.
Barnes looked most likely to give Albion the lead but one volley went just over and another attempt was blocked by Anderson.
Into the second-half and El-Abd came up from the back to attack a couple of corners. One diving header went just wide; another somehow went over the bar. Barnes had a snapshot well saved. It was starting to look like a draw until Poyet brought on Murray for the last 25 minutes.
What to say about Glenn? Silly boy comes to mind! A straight red after being on the pitch for less than 10 minutes. There may have been bad feeling, perhaps "previous", between him and the Rovers central defender Daniel Jones. Rovers were clearing the ball when the assistant ref ran onto the pitch waving his flag. "Off, off" the Albion fans chanted, presuming Jones had fouled Murray. A brief chat and red card it was from Mr Sarginson. OFF it was – BUT for our Glenn!
A tangle had ended with Murray pushing Jones in the face. The assistant saw it (and the video cameras picked it up). This was Murray's second red of the season. He has also collected ten yellows. It comes after Poyet had warned him about his discipline, or rather lack of it, after his last ban. Now he misses the last two games of the season AND the first two of next. If Poyet has doubts about retaining Murray for next season he has been given fresh ammunition!
At least the red card livened the game up. Ten-man Brighton were angry and doubled their efforts. We attacked and Danny Coles made a clumsy tackle on Barnes. This gave ref Sarginson the chance to even things up. A second yellow meant matching orders for the Rovers defender.
Five added minutes were nearly up when Barnes, who probably deserved MOTM, burst into the Pirates' area. He was brought down and "won" the penalty. With Murray having an early bath, Elliott Bennett was able to grab the glory. He slotted home for a last gasp win.
The three points made Albion mathematically safe with two games left. No problems! But let's be honest, it won't be easy to gain promotion out of this division. Against us COULD be Southampton, Sheffield Wednesday or Crystal Palace (please!), Leeds, Charlton, etc. Poyet has problems with strikers; Forster is history, Murray is Murray and Barnes is on loan! In fact there are problems all over the pitch!
Brezovan hasn't made the keeper's spot his own (his punching isn't any better than Murray's!). Calderon, who I think has been our best player this season, might not be fit by August! We have too many midfielders and the newcomers still haven't performed.
We await the cull! Little Dean Cox has gone. Adam Virgo is out in the cold. It has been said Gus will be trying for up to 10 players of Championship quality! That's big Bloom money - and no easy task.
Poyet is realistic saying "… if you tell me it is very easy to go from the bottom four to the top six I think you are wrong. " I think he is right!
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Weather for Lewes
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -6 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
