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FANS
REPORT: BRIGHTON 1 - 0 LEEDS UNITED
We
have this report from the game:
Above
all, it was a superb team performance against a Leeds side who very evidently
didn't have anything approaching the level of collective spirit that our lads
demonstrated. Throughout the Albion line-up there were some immense
performances, but Adam Hinshelwood probably shaded it as man of the match. He
was outstanding at the heart of the defence where Guy Butters also did very
well. Credit too to Adam El-Abd on his return to the side: he made some
important interventions at right back, but I'd have to say Dan Harding had a
disappointing game at left back.
It
was great to see Chippy back in the centre of midfield alongside Charlie Oatway,
who did a good job in unsettling Leeds hard man Sean Gregan. Interesting,
though, that in this area of the pitch we missed that extra bit of quality that
Alexis Nicolas has brought to the side.
Once
again Dean Hammond played much better once he reverted to a central role when
Oatway went off injured, and Gary Hart worked the right flank with a typically
energetic display. I agree with one observer who said Leeds' two sendings off
probably wouldn't have happened if Hart hadn't been on the pitch by then. Left
back Kilgallon went for a 2nd yellow after crudely hacking Hart, and the little
wideman was involved in the hold-up play in the bottom corner of the pitch which
frustrated Butler into acquiring two yellows in the space of a couple of
minutes.
Darren
Currie was guilty of a glaring miss towards the end of the first half when
through on goal in the penalty area, but credit to him for providing the hard
and low free kick that earned the only goal of the game - from my perch it
looked like Virgo applied the finishing touch, but the 'experts' said it came
off Carlisle for an own goal, and they probably had a better view.
Leon
Knight and Adam Virgo worked tirelessly for the side and ran the Leeds' back
line into all sorts of confusion. Virgo won lots of headers to flick on for
Knight, and the little man caused them plenty of panic with his trickery,
although there were one or two of the usual dramatic collapses which the referee
didn't fall for.
We're
going to miss Virgs leading the line at Sunderland next Saturday but Mark McGhee
gave a hint of a solution when BBC SCR's Andrew Hawes suggested his old pal
Steve Claridge was now looking for something to do on a Saturday afternoon, and
the wily Scot said he wouldn't rule it out.
As
for Leeds, well it wouldn't surprise me in the least if they finish the season
below us. Michael Ricketts was shocking at centre forward and fully deserved to
be taken off at half time. His replacement, Brian Deane, initially caused some
problems but was guilty of a couple of glaring misses.
Brett
Ormerod was quite a handful, but only really got one exceptional goal-scoring
opportunity, which he screwed wide.
Leeds
finished with nine but, frankly, it could have been fewer because ref Richard
Beeby - he who awarded the crucial penalty for us in May's Play Off final -
missed several off-the-ball incidents which a more alert official might have
punished with red cards: notably Carlisle and Sullivan.
Written
by:
Nick Turrell
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