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Can Albion be a giant killer at Villa (again)?
So ASTON VILLA away it is in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Leeds United from our League One knocked out Manchester United at Old Trafford. Now it's Brighton's turn to do some giant killing!
Villa are a mere 58 places above us in the leagues (Villa are 6th in the Premiership and Albion are 20th in League One). No problem?
The tie is due to be played on the weekend of Saturday 23rd/Sunday 24th January with ticket details to be announced soon. I believe under the FA cup rules we can have 15% of the Villa Park seats so could take 6,500 there! There will be great south coast demand for blue and white Uruguayan flags!
A late, late goal from captain Andrew Crofts gave us the win over Torquay in the third round. With only 10 minutes left at Plainmoor Nicky Forster's shot was pushed around the post. Gary Dicker took the corner finding Crofts whose exquisite angled header flew high into the net.
I didn't make the long trip west to the English Riviera and understand that it wasn't a great game. But we defended well so that the one goal was enough.
Perhaps manager Gus Poyet has been reading my "Scenes" in the Express? He brought back Former Dutch Marine Michel Kuipers in place of butter-fingers Brezovan. Michelle, with the help of the defence, kept a clean sheet. And for the first time Poyet gave ex-Albion captain Adam Virgo a league start. Adam was MOTM in the heart of our defence and came close to scoring with a fine curling shot early in the second-half.
Poyet singled out our captain marvel Crofts for praise after the victory. It was his first game as permanent team captain. He marked it by scoring the winning goal. That brings his tally to five for the season. I'm pleased to read that Virgo is right behind the Crofts' captaincy and that he wants to play for the club. Our new manager now has a problem, albeit a nice one. He can only play eleven. With Virgo and James Tunnicliffe playing well at Torquay in defence plus Crofts and Dicker looking set in midfield, is there any space for Tommy Elphick, Alan Navarro or Elliott Bennett?
There could be interesting times ahead. Rumours say Poyet could have up to 4 million to spend in the January window. I actually think we have the players to keep us safely in this division. It is just a matter of getting the right combinations and players playing to their strengths. Certainly the squad is too big and up to 15 may have to go. Fans aren't going to say no to new quality players but hopefully Poyet is experienced enough not to bring in more of the same. Any new face must fit into the master plan of getting promotion to the Championship next year in readiness for Falmer in August 2011.
To the Sound of Music – "How do we solve a problem like Glenn Murray?" How to get Murray magic every game? On his day, which is only about one in five, he is fantastic. What was the key factor in his fabulous performances at Southampton and Wycombe? I can only suggest it must be me! I went to these games and saw his six goals. But he was very quiet at Plainmoor. Perhaps the club could sponsor me for the away games! I will be at Villa Park expecting the very best from Murray.
It is back to the serious stuff of League One survival on Saturday when Brentford visit Withdean. Now that Brighton are out of the bottom four (on goal difference!) I look up the table. The Bees are in the top half - but only six points ahead. Three wins and I think we could be in the top ten!
I'm hoping a win on Saturday will start the charge up the table AND set us up nicely for the challenge of Premiership Aston Villa.
Villa will be out for revenge! They must still be smarting over our magnificent win in the FA Charity Shield at Stamford Bridge. A Charlie Webb goal was enough to give our Champions of the Southern League a famous 1 – 0 victory. You may have forgotten this historic triumph? It was another game I couldn't make – 5th September 1910. Villa were then the most famous club in England and champions of the Football League.
We can do it again – of course we can!
Ray Eggleton
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Weather for Horsham
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -7 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: East
