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Match Report: Inept Albion crash out of cup: Brighton 1 - 2 Mansfield
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Posted by David Snowball
at
Sunday, January 06, 2008
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Inept Brighton crashed out of the FA Cup to the side second from bottom of the League - and they've only themselves to blame.
Talented defender Joel Lynch isn't quite as good a player as he thinks he is, and his slackness on the ball against hungry opponents led to both goals.
Mansfield hadn't won away in the league all season - and had lost their last five games on the road - so you can imagine how surprised and delighted their fans were.
Lynch, back in the side after illness, slotted in at left back and was exposed for the first time after only 10 minutes, failing to deal with the raiding right winger Hamshaw, who burst through and shot straight through Kuipers to open the scoring.
Although Alex Revell pulled a goal back with a free header from a Dean Cox free kick on 23 minutes, Albion failed to capitalise on the 'get-out-of-jail' equaliser and went behind again in added-on time at the end of the first half. Lynch again failed to deal with a move down the right wing and this time the ball was crossed for youngster Ian Holmes to tap in with ease.
The more natural left-back, Sam Rents, was introduced at the start of the 2nd half, replacing the injured Guy Butters, with Lynch moving into the centre, but there was no real spark to Albion's effort. They badly missed Dean Hammond in central midfield where Paul Reid struggled to make an impression and Tommy Fraser looked unwell or unfit. Substitute Doug Loft took his place but fared no better.
Considering all the pre-match fuss and bluster about signing David Martot in time to be included, it was amazing that he was kept on the bench as the game patently needed something positive to come from wide positions. Revell nearly made it happen when he dropped a good ball onto substitute Nathan Elder's head, but the keeper made a comfortable save.
Adam El-Abd burst through and saw what was obviously a cross graze the crossbar.
But that was all the Albion had to show for the second half, which was simply not good enough.
Player ratings:
Kuipers 5;
El-Abd
Elphick 5,
Butters 5,
Lynch 3;
Robinson 4,
Reid 4,
Fraser 3,
Cox 7;
Revell 6,
Forster 5.
Subs:
Rents (for Butters) 5,
Loft (for Fraser) 4,
Elder (for Robinson) 5.Labels: FA Cup, Mansfield, Nick Turrell
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West Ham Report: "Albion were by no means embarrassed at Upton Park"
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Posted by David Snowball
at
Sunday, January 07, 2007
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Ever since the draw was made for this FA Cup 3rd round tie there has been a nervous excitement whistling round the Withdean but after the dust had settled several Albion supporters seem to be wondering whether all the furore surrounding tickets was really worth it.
Let's get it straight, the Albion were by no means embarrassed at Upton Park but it just seems that they let themselves down by never really put up much resistance to the Premiership outfit. At half-time, with the scores level, the young seagulls must have thought they stood a chance of forcing a replay put these dreams were shattered by two quick goals by the hammers. Mark Noble, who was impressive in the centre of midfield, finished of a decent move after a knock-down by the equally impressive Carlos Tevez.
And it was Tevez who instigated the host's second goal, his forceful run and cross from the right-side was initially left but debutant Boa Morte reached his centre and crossed for Carlton Cole to head from a seemingly offside position. Regardless, the Albion were now two goals behind and it is there reaction to this scenario that seemed to disappoint the vast Brighton faithful.
For the first-half a cautious approach was highly expected but they never failed to change from this tactic even when they conceded. True it is that West Ham relatively few chances on goal but neither did us and Robinson and Revell were starved of service. Albion's only particularly dangerous move was when Gary Hart, who replaced Tommy Fraser on 51 minutes, bent a delightful cross for Revell but he was unable to get a proper connection with a diving header. Apart from that move however, Brighton rarely held possession in the opposition half, and it was only with the brief introduction of Joe Gatting that we looked lively in the forward positions. Unfortunately Hayden Mullins headed in a ninetieth minute goal to give the game a false image - two goals would have been fairer - but he took his goal well.
Credit should be given to West Ham for their capitalisation of our errors and naivety and that would serve as a valuable lesson to our young side. Particularly young Tommy Fraser who looks to struggle when in the opposition's area - his first-half header was straight at goalkeeper Carroll - whereas Cole found the corner with his header from a similar situation.
Hopefully this young Albion side will learn many lessons from their first afternoon against a Premiership side, as did many of the Championship team that took on Spurs two years ago, and they of course stayed in the Championship that season.
A relegation battle seems a little unlikely but the seagulls must remain focused on the league campaign and get a decent 'second-half' under their belts to provide a springboard for promotion next season - in much the same way as Nottingham Forest did at the tail end of last years campaign. We are also in the semi-finals of the 'Paint-Cup' and at trip to Wembley could be a decent earner for the club as well as a magnificent experience for players and fans alike.
With this match now digested by the players perhaps the next time they face Premier League opposition they will do so with more purpose, compose and confidence.
They're only young and can only improve.
Match Ratings:
Henderson: 7 - Had surprisingly little to do but when called on did well and
distribution was good.
Mayo: 5 - Granted he was playing against one of the best players at the
World Cup in Tevez, but was not disgraced. As
wholehearted as ever.
Butters: 6 - Lead by example and won most balls in the air, handled
oppositions pace well.
Lynch: 6 - Looked composed and confident but concentration lets him down.
O'Cearill 6 - Solid debut at right-back and was confident and strong in the tackle.
Frutos 6 - Made a lively start and won a few tackles lacked compose in final
third.
Hammond 8 (MOM) - Lead the side well and carried what little forward charge
there was. Strong and decisive tackling left mark on midfield also.
El-Abd 7 - Improved in second-half and was well disciplined when tackling,
got caught in possession a lot, however.
Fraser 5 - Lacked decisiveness in forward position and can't offer natural
width.
Robinson 5 - Was possibly daunted by the occasion but was well marked and
subdued by the Hammers, suffered from poor
service.
Revell: 6 - His first shot went for a throw in and that seemed to knock his
confidence, however he improved later in the game and fought gallantly despite poor service.
Subs:
Hart: 7 - Came on and hugged right-touch line and generally was solid. Should be in contention for a start in the JPS tie.
Rents: 5 - Had little impact but the game was already over by the time he came on.
Gatting: (Not enough time) - The side seemed to miss his hold-up play and
possibly could have come on earlier.Labels: FA Cup, Rhys Turrell, West Ham
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FA Cup: Stafford Rangers Report
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Posted by David Snowball
at
Monday, December 04, 2006
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The seagulls' set-up an exciting away day at West Ham with a comfortable victory against Conference side Stafford Rangers in the FA Cup. It will be Albion's first visit to Upton Park since the jubilant scenes of late 2003 when a Guy Butters header gave Brighton all three points on the hunting ground of seagulls' legend Bobby Zamora.
If anyone was foolish enough to expect another 8-0 trashing of a semi-pro Conference side they were sorely mistaken. The visitors offered very little in attack and thus stuck several players behind the ball, seemingly to keep the score at a respectable level, naturally this meant for a less compelling tie, but nevertheless it was a professional performance from the home side that were able to win without ever coming out of second gear. Albion captain Dean Hammond opened the scoring on 20 minutes with a controlled drive into the bottom far corner after the visitors failed to close him down. Hammond seems to be adding far more goals than in previous seasons which is excellent to see as it has been many years since a serious goals contribution came from midfield and with Dean Cox also in great form he may also make a valuable goalscoring input. The visitors still lacked any creative spark and the seagulls seemed to slumber into half-time much to the disappointment of Albion manager Dean Wilkins.
The seagulls certainly upped the tempo after the break and began to play at a level to quick and superior for their non-league visitors. And perhaps that should go for the referee as well. After a harsh booking for Adam Hinshelwood in he first-half he ridiculously booked Alex Revell for a ball-winning tackle much to the fury of the south stand who certainly let him know what they thought of the decision as did gaffer Wilkins who protested with the fourth official for quite some time. Just a few minutes afterwards though Revell effectively ended the game with a strong header from a brilliant cross by young Sam Rents who playing at left-back. It was a chance that all centre-forwards crave and capped a fine afternoon's work from Revell but also gave credit to the performance of Rents who slotted in almost unnoticed and made a composed home starting debut.
In the final minutes Robinson made in three with a composed finish after a great through pass by Cox. These two are forming a strong partnership and if they are nurtured properly could be the creative spark that we need to win games at this level.
In general it was an all-round solid display from Brighton who didn't underestimate their opponents and treated them with the respect that they deserved. Hopefully West Ham won't with us!
Henderson: 6
Rents:(LB): 6
Lynch: (CB) 6
Hishelwood: (CB) 6
Mayo: (RB): 6
RHYS TURRELLLabels: FA Cup, Rhys Turrell, Stafford Rangers
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