HARUM SCARUM Albion recovered from the shakiest of starts to overcome a
useful Swindon side on a freezing afternoon at Withdean.
Skipper and leading goalscorer Nicky Forster once again led by example with
two fine goals and new boy Therry Racon looked a busy class act in the
centre of midfield.
If the Frenchman signed on loan from Charlton on Thursday can reproduce this
sort of form until the end of the season, Albion's bid for the play-offs
could stay on course.
Quality in the engine room of the side has been missing for a while now -
principally since Dean Hammond's departure - but, in Racon, Albion have
unearthed a potential gem. He looked comfortable on the ball, competitive,
challenged well for the ball in the air, and passed it intelligently.
His stock rose even more with the Albion faithful when halfway through the
second half he discarded the gloves he had been wearing!
It's to be hoped that Glenn Murray can soon resume sharing the goalscoring
burden with Forster, who, by his own admission, often scores in clutches of
games rather than consistently. Right now, if Forster's supply dries up,
it's not clear where other goals might come from.
Murray continues to get into goalscoring positions but, after a series of
misses in recent games, his lack of cutting edge and frequency of being
caught offside are proving frustrating.
Swindon's giant goalkeeper, Brezovan, did pull off one terrific stop when
Murray powered in a header from a Cox cross, but the £300,000 man otherwise
flattered to deceive.
Swindon were very quick out of the blocks to take the game to Brighton and,
after several early scares, including a pinball style set of ricochets in
the Albion penalty area, it wasn't surprising the Robins went ahead when
Craig Easton glanced in a header from the resulting corner.
Thankfully the lead didn't last long. Forster was brought down out on the
right and then got up to guide a header past Brezovan from Dean Cox's
pinpoint free kick.
In the swirling wind, defending was clearly difficult and there were plenty
of chances at both ends although Albion came closest through the Murray
header and a decent effort from Steven Thomson, who also popped up in
defence to head off the Albion goal-line.
It was a foul on the lively Cox that led to Albion's winner. Awarded a free
kick 20 yards out, Forster and Ian Westlake each shaped to take it but it
was Forster who struck a delightful curling effort into the net off the far
post.
At moments like that, when considering Albion's usual disappointing efforts
from such set pieces, it's a wonder Forster hasn't been given that
responsibility before. Albion had 25 minutes to defend the single goal
margin, and it was nervy at times.
Then, as the fourth official indicated there were four minutes of added
time, a blizzard suddenly swept across the ground. But Albion, with Butters
thrown on in place of Cox to shore up the defence, managed to hold out.
Player ratings (out of 10):
Kuipers 7; Hart 7, Elphick 7, Lynch 8, Mayo 7; Cox 8, Thomson 7, Racon 9, Westlake 7; Murray 6, Forster 9.
By Nick TurrellLabels: League One, Nick Turrell, Swindon
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