Opinion: Brighton have to play to strengths of Welbeck and Lallana

Brighton take the lead against West Brom, but had to settle for a point / Picture: Getty

Same old, same old Albion? A great first half and a thoroughly deserved lead at the break, followed by a tepid second half display.

It clearly is a game of opinions and everyone will do things differently and ultimately the only person who counts is Graham Potter, but was I only the person thinking Monday’s game was crying out for the introduction of Danny Welbeck with 15 minutes to go, rather than a perceived negative switch in order to keep it at 1-0?

Clearly the introduction of Steven Alzate didn’t work, as West Brom not only equalised but arguably were the only team in the closing stages that looked like winning.

Everyone who possesses a pair of ‘blue and white spectacles’ simply doesn’t care about the other 19 teams in the EPL, it's all about the Albion.

In these unprecedented and uncertain times, no one knows what shape or form post-Covid domestic football will take, but one thing is for certain the long-term future of the Albion will be better served with them remaining in the elite 20 clubs in this country.

I sincerely hope that Graham Potter is the man for the job, at times performances have been encouraging, but it is a results business, consistency is the key.

In Adam Lallana and Danny Welbeck, the Albion have signed two players of proven quality who have performed at the highest level; if they keep fit and the Albion consistently play in a style that compliments them both, the results will follow.

It would be quite ironic, with a wave of doom and gloom enveloping Sussex now Albion-wise, if Brighton were to travel to White Hart Lane on Sunday and get a result.

I was there when they did it in October 1981, 39 years ago, 1-0, I can still picture the late Michael Robinson bursting through for the Albion’s winner.

I will certainly settle for that Sunday, even better with Welbeck opening his Albion account?

* The Sky PPV farce continues, but for how much longer?

A reliable source at the broadcaster told me that only 74 (non-commercial) Sky viewers paid £14.95 for last week's West Brom vs Burnley fixture, and I would imagine that Monday night’s take-up wasn’t much more.

Fans have had enough and are voting with their wallets, and in the process as part of the protest charities are benefitting.

Frankly, I can’t see the policy lasting past November - in the post-Covid world both Sky and BT will want to keep the punters happy and this certainly isn’t doing that.