Past Statistics: Season 04-05 Reports

FANS REPORT: BRIGHTON 1 - 1 WATFORD, SAT 11 SEPT 04

We have this report from the game:

Well, you've probably seen the Virgo strike on the box now. Didn't he whack it well?! Can't see any need to move him back to the defence. He works a darn sight harder than Leon Knight, is proving a handful for defences, and with important goals as part of his repertoire is currently the answer to our striking problems. Molango showed in the early games that he hasn't quite got it (yet).

Knight is performing well below par, and needs to start working harder - and scoring. And Chris McPhee only came back into the frame on Saturday. He put himself about a bit but is still a bit ring rusty. I'd quite like to see Virgo and Robinson given a go together but McGhee is obviously trying to blood Jake gradually - he wasn't even on the bench in the last two games.

What was good about Saturday's situation is that with the injured

players coming back, we now have genuine competition for places, which can only be good for performance levels. As one of his greatest critics, I have to say Kerry Mayo had one of his best games against Watford - and I'm sure the presence of the returning Dan Harding on the bench had a lot to do with it.

I do hope we can get Alexis Nicolas on a full-time basis. He improves with every game, and I thought he was our man-of-the match on Saturday.

He and Dean Hammond complement each other well in the centre of midfield although I suspect a fit Chippy will probably edge out Hammond to give us a bit more authority and guile. I think Charlie will be the one to miss out if Nicolas does sign permanently.

The revelation, though, is Darren Currie. I know it is still early in

the season, but he really does seem to be finding his feet at this

level. It was he, of course, who set up the goal for Virgs, but he

contributed so much more throughout the game. His ball control, passing and vision are really helping us retain the ball better. It's only his lack of pace that lets him down. Quite a different player, but nonetheless still exciting, is Albert Jarrett: he's tricky, pacy and

skilful on the ball, so gets the crowd going as soon as he's in

possession, but obviously doesn't track back enough for the

management's liking. Having come on as a sub with 20 mins to go, McGhee very boldly then subbed him in the dying seconds so that Harding could shore up the left hand side to protect the draw.

Interesting that when the players (and management) saluted the 2,200 Albion fans at the end, Knight and Jarrett were noticeable by their absence.

Written by: Nick Turrell