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Match Report: Brighton 1 - 1 Huddersfield
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Posted by David Snowball
at
Sunday, January 20, 2008
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IT's good that Albion are still talking about the play-offs as a target for this season but anyone who witnessed Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Huddersfield will surely have concluded that it is just a pipedream.
There needs to be a marked improvement throughout the whole set-up if Albion are going to get even close to a sniff of Wembley come May.
The harsh reality is that the current squad is simply not good enough to maintain a serious challenge.
A bit like the manager in his playing days in the heart of Brighton's midfield, there is a lot of pretty passing, some of which can be quite attractive to watch. But all too often it is all in vain because it seldom results in worthwhile chances on goal.
Against Huddersfield, with the exception of Elphick's header direct from a corner, and Forster's glaring miss when one on one with the 'keeper following Reid's slide-rule pass, there were only two real chances of note, both from set pieces, when Whing might have done better and the 'keeper saved comfortably.
Argus reporter Andy Naylor says the Albion desperately need wingers if they are going to mount a challenge, and he's probably right. Cox, playing on the left, forever has to cut back onto his right foot and put in a more predictable and less dangerous ball. From the right, we just don't have anyone who can reach the deadball line and whip in a dangerous cross.It makes all the approach play easier to defend.
Steve Thomson made a sound debut as the latest 'water carrier' - fetching the ball off the back four and spraying the ball around, and he may well be more effective when playing alongside Dean Hammond, who commands the centre of midfield more effectively than Reid.
But the Albion are still missing that strange spark that Bas Savage brought to the side. No-one is quite sure how he did it, but he was very effective playing alongside Forster in a way Alex Revell simply isn't. No-one could fault Revell for effort, but his touch is poor and so play is ponderous around him, while he is trying to bring the ball under control.
David Martot had probably his best game in an Albion shirt against Huddersfield - he certainly gets through more work than Robinson - but he too misses an important edge to give Albion a genuine dangerous thrust in important areas.
The mind-numbingly slow response from the management team in introducing substitutes continues to frustrate, with Nathan Elder once again given far too little time to make a difference in being introduced with 87 minutes on the clock.
Discounting the modest following from Yorkshire, the Albion crowd was down to just 5,153 on Saturday and many more performances like that will see the number fall easily short of 4,500 if there is nothing to play for.
At least two more signings before the window closes might make a difference - let's hope for everyone's sake they are made.Labels: Huddersfield Town, League One, Nick Turrell
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Huddersfield Report: "180 minutes of football, no goals, no action, not much fun!"
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Posted by David Snowball
at
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
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180 minutes of football, no goals, no action, not much fun.
Not only did the Albion turn in a disappointing performance against Huddersfield at Withdean, but then the country's representatives put in an equally lacklustre show away in Israel.
This couldn't have been more of an opposite to last week's performance against the leaders Scunthorpe. Brighton were slack, naïve and negative. At least the resoloute defending of recent times was still evident and Joel Lynch in particular was faultless. His performances have returned to the high level of earlier this season, following a mid-season slump. However Dean Cox and Jake Robinson seem to have gone in the opposite direction. Both had off-days but should be complimented for continually working hard and wanting the ball - even if their standard of play was below par.
The only other moment of interest was the dismissal of veteran defender Frank Sinclair. He bought down the impressive El-Abd with a dragged leg that El-Abd seemed to lunge over a little too easily. But soon after El-Abd was pulled off and replaced by Nathan Elder in a tactical switch that at least of paper looked adventurous. El-Abd seemed bemused by the decision as did a few disgruntled south-standers who disagreed with manager Dean Wilkins.
If the seagulls do harbour serious hopes for promotion next season, then the consistency issue must be resolves. Our youngsters have had a tough season but must learn from their mistakes if they want to progress next year.
By Rhys TurrellLabels: Huddersfield Town, League One, Rhys Turrell
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Huddersfield Town Report: It's just like watching Brazil...
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Posted by David Snowball
at
Monday, October 30, 2006
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Some recent Albion performances have been truly dreadful and a number of people were questioning the wisdom in giving Dean Wilkins the Manager's job. Saturday at Huddersfield showed exactly what he and the team can deliver to the travelling faithful. It was one of those days when everything worked, passes went to feet or perfectly into space for the onrushing forwards or midfielders, the Terriers defence was torn to shreds by the skill of Robinson & Cox and we looked likely to score a hatful. On the rare occasions when the Terriers threatened they were restricted to shots from outside the area and Henderson looked confident and assured. Revell and Jakey looked great up front against the ponderous Huddersfield defence and it really was "just like watching Brazil". Dean Hammond seemed revitalised in the centre of midfield with El-Abd alongside him and, despite a couple of errors at the beginning, El-Abd settled into winning the ball and giving it to Hammond or Cox to beat people, spray the ball around and create dangerous attacks.
Of course, Jakey scored a hat-trick to make the final score 3-0 to the Albion and great goals they were too. The first was a header which their keeper got a hand to and there was a delayed celebration from the travelling Seagulls as it was up the other end and no-one seemed sure if it had gone in. The second was a volley after the ball came to him from a Cox cross (who supplied the ball for the first goal too) and the third was a brilliant solo effort where he curled the ball into the top corner despite the close attentions of four defenders. Huddersfield never got into the game despite their recent run of good form and if the Albion continue to put in performances like this then the play-offs could be a distinct possibility.
Ratings:
Henderson - 7 - had little to do but did that perfectly
Whing - 8 - Just what we need, a right back who knows just what to do in that position
Butters - 7 - Solid and rarely troubled
Hinshelwood - 8 - Cool and calm all of the time
Mayo - 8 - Good all round game, even more so when moved into midfield in the second half
Cox - 9 - Brilliant game - all over the place
Hammond - 8 - Looked back to his best
El-Abd - 7 - shaky start but did what he had to do
Fraser - 6 - probably the only disappointment - subbed at half time
Revell - 8 - Won the ball in the air and chased all day
Robinson - 10 - Got to be MOM for the hat-trick
Subs
Hart - Came on at half time, got kicked immediately and was subbed himself
Lynch - 7 - looked composed and assured at left back
Rents - 6 - came on for Jake and played in midfield. The game was won by then.
 Labels: Huddersfield Town, League One
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