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Inflatables go flat
THE last away game of the season was meant to be a party with Seagulls' fans taking inflatables along to the game against MK Dons. Gus Poyet's team, however, effectively spiked the fun blow-ups in what was a forgettable game of football.
Almost 1,900 Brighton supporters made the trip and were "rewarded" with a poor end-of-season, nothing to play for, mid-table match with no goals. Manager Poyet did bring in new faces and tried new formations but with one exception learnt little.
Lewis Dunk came into our defence. "Lewis who" you will probably say. Well, Dunk is an 18-year-old Albion scholar who was given a pro deal by the club just last week. He put in a remarkable performance despite it being his third game in five days. He was arguably our man of the match.
Poyet also had schoolboy Jake Caskey on the bench and IF he had played he would have become the youngest-ever Albion player. He didn't.
Adam Virgo isn't getting another contract as forecast and wasn't in the squad. Diego Arismendi, Lee Hendrie, Chris Holroyd and Seb Carole were all given starts. The Dons had been forced into several changes and the outcome was a poor, disjointed first-half. The home side did at least hit our woodwork through Luke Chadwick and Charlie Collins but they didn't beat keeper Peter Brezovan.
The game finally came alive on the stroke of half-time but for the wrong reasons. Two straight red cards! Arismendi was chasing to the Dons' goal line and tangled with Alex Rae. The Dons midfielder appeared to foul our Uruguayan.
There was some pushing with our player the innocent party. Ref Oli Langford over-reacted and sent both players off. Poyet defended his fellow countryman and said the club will consider an appeal. Diego certainly didn't deserve the red and was visibly upset by his dismissal.
So it was a 10-aside game for the second half. It was more open but with very little entertainment. Things improved after Poyet brought on Marcos Painter, Alan Navarro and Gary Dicker. We had more of the game with chances for Gavin Hoyte and Tommy Elphick. You will note no forwards have been mentioned! Holroyd was largely ineffective upfront AND he falls to ground too easily.
There is now a striker problem. Poyet has two high-scoring forwards in Glenn Murray and Nicky Forster. Murray is on a four-match suspension and rumours abound. Could he go to Leeds? Forster is with Charlton and won't be coming back. I'm not sure where Liam Dickinson is!
Ashley Barnes, our free-scoring loanee from Plymouth, was on the bench but wasn't played. Could this be a ploy to bring down the amount of money Plymouth would want for him? I just hope that Poyet comes up with a solution for scoring goals on Saturday for the last game of the season against Yeovil. We don't want to go out with a whimper at Withdean!
A word about Adam Virgo – so ends his second spell at Albion. Micky Adams brought him back in 2008. He played a vital role in the side that won promotion in 2004 under Mark McGhee. I will always remember him for the dramatic last-gasp header in the play-off against Swindon. Having got us to the Millennium Stadium and promotion he helped with nine goals as a striker. 158 appearances 17 goals - thanks for the memories Adam.
Albion have won a Trophy! We won the Sussex Senior Cup (that's three wins in four years). A young reserve side beat Bognor Regis Town 4-0 at Eastbourne Borough's ground on Monday. Young Jake Caskey, mentioned above, scored twice in the first-half and was MOTM. Steve Brinkhurst scored number three and George Barker number four. For the Seagulls' side the only first team names were the released pair of Dean Cox and Adam Virgo! At least they leave on a high note.
As the season draws to a close we learn that the Seagulls go to the Algarve in July. Poyet in Portugal will feel at home! He says "I'm hoping to see many Brighton fans…they are more than welcome to join us…" I know many who would like to make the trip!
Four Sussex sides will provide opposition in July – Burgess Hill Saturday 10th, Whitehawk 13th, Bognor 16th and Eastbourne Borough Saturday 17th July. There will be two more friendlies before the league starts on Saturday 7th August.
I didn't make the MK Dons game, luckily, BUT did take the Falmer tour. CEO Martin Perry kindly arranged for me to see over the new stadium. It is fantastic and will be truly MAGNIFICENT. After the Yeovil game I hope to tell you more about it and if possible include a few photos.
Roll on August 2011!
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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
