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Report: Millwall 0-1 Brighton	Posted by David Snowball at Friday, February 27, 2009
As the final whistle blew at the New Den, matchwinner Adam Virgo slumped into a squat position and held his head in his hands. It must have been a curious mixture of emotions that filled his head. Having seen the man who brought him back to the Albion dispensed with on the eve of the Millwall clash, he went on to play out of position alongside Nicky Forster - and score the all-important deciding goal, flinging himself at Chris Birchall's cross from the right with a little over quarter of an hour to go. No-one epitomises the spirit of Brighton & Hove Albion as much as Virgo. How frustrating, then, that three days later he got involved in a totally unnecessary wrestling match with Northampton powerhouse Akinfenwa and saw red, meaning an instant three-match ban. There were so-called supporters within my earshot who reckoned it was a good thing he'd be missing. But are the alternatives really any better? Of course Virgo isn't our most accomplished footballer but if others shared his never-say-die attitude we probably wouldn't be stranded in the bottom four. I believe the team will miss his physical presence, but let's see how the squad responds - especially with a new manager to impress. It would be good to think David Livermore might be able to step into Virgo's boots - except he's also sidelined due to his sending off at Luton. Craig Davies impressed when coming off the bench against Northampton and taking Virgo's place alongside Nicky Forster. Unfortunately all the good things he did paled into insignificance as a result of a glaring miss when clean through in the 92nd minute. There really looked to be only two scenarios as he scampered clear of the Town defence thanks to Forster's through ball - he would either be hacked down by the defender or he would bury the winning goal of the game. Astonishingly, he missed the target altogether. The absence of a consoling word from any of his colleagues at the final whistle (although there was a belated "low five" from El Abd) told its own story. It was perhaps understandable why White and Booker stuck with the team which won at Millwall but this was a game Albion should have won and the impact of Davies and Seb Carole as substitutes showed what might have been earlier in the game. There was a lot of huff and puff, as usual, but Dean Cox in particular needed to convert some of his industry into goals. Two good chances failed to trouble the Cobblers' 'keeper. It was unjust when Town took the lead in added-on time at the end of the first half, but Albion's defence gave the striker time and space to get his shot away. The reply from Tommy Elphick, emphatically heading home Carole's corner from the right, will have boosted his confidence and was certainly deserved. But the senseless sendings off seemed to kill off any likelihood of a win either way - until that moment right at the end when Davies looked certain to score. Albion player ratings: Kuipers 5 - not yet recovered his confidence after his absence from the team; kicking was woeful. Whing 7 - wholehearted as ever and one particular whipped-in cross might have been buried by Forster, but too often his passes go astray. Elphick 7 - took his goal well; still too much hoof for my liking. El Abd 7 - centre back is certainly his best position but might have done better in stopping Northampton's goal. McNulty 8 - comfortable on the ball, looked good carrying it forward; think that £150,000 looks money well spent. Birchall 6 - occasional moments of inventiveness but not dominant enough; could struggle now his mentor Adams has gone. Fraser 6 - a typical Tommy performance - can't fault the effort but the quality's lacking. Carole replaced him. Jarrett 8 - settling into the kind of influential central midfield player we've been crying out for. Cox 7 - worked hard but should have scored. Forster 7 - another industrious performance but not at his clinical best; probably should have got goal 201. Virgo 6 - toiled manfully as ever but let the side down with a stupid sending off. Subs Davies 8 - Albion looked far more of a threat going forward after his introduction. Should have won it though. Carole 8 - Virtually first contribution was to strike a quality corner for Elphick's goal. Did enough to warrant starting v Crewe.