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That's why Gus is boss and I'm not!
Yes on the road our Seagulls triumphed again!
But first an apology. If you did see last week's column you will have read of my disappointment! "Swindon misery" it was headed!
I was not happy with the bad Withdean form and that home defeat in particular. I moaned about our manager's team selection and tactics.
Luckily Gus Poyet didn't take any notice! Just three days later he started with the same eleven from the Swindon game and what was the result? Albion beat Brentford 3-0 to clinch a hugely important Withdean win. That's why Gus is manager – and I'm not!
I pointed out the flaw in putting Glenn Murray up front on his own; especially as his heading ability is questionable. What happened? Glenn scored his first goal at Withdean this season AND with his head!
But I wasn't completely wrong! I'm a fan of both Adam Virgo and Nicky Forster who were both left on the subs bench until the end of the game. Who scored goals two and three? Virgo, a great goal on 90 minutes, and the last a penalty by our top goal-scorer Forster on 95 minutes!
It was Virgo's 200th league appearance for the Albion so the goal he scored was a double celebration. After the game Adam said that the most important thing was the three points which moved us up the league table.
Poyet was delighted for Glenn Murray as his early goal ended the personal Withdean drought. He predicts more goals to come. (Amen to that – we are back at Withdean this Saturday!).
Happily we are consistently good away. At Boundary Park, Oldham, last weekend we had a fine 2 – 0 victory. I hope you've seen Elliott Bennett's superb strike.
It did get several plays on regional TV. On 40 minutes he picked up the ball wide left, cut in towards the penalty area across two defenders and unleashed a powerful shot.
The camera angle captured this perfectly as it flew into the top right of the net swerving slightly left to right so that the keeper had no chance. This is likely to be "goal-of-the-season"!
Meanwhile Albion's keeper Peter Brezovan was doing his bit to keep us ahead. He made a couple of magnificent saves to stop Oldham getting back into the game.
Brighton went two up early in the second half. Murray forced an error which enabled Seb Carole, our French wide-man playing instead of the injured LuaLua, to win the ball and fire in a low cross. Gary Dicker was at the far post but was beaten to the ball by Oldham defender Jon Worthington who could only knock into his own net.
The ref Darren Webb decided to make the game interesting with eight minutes left by harshly penalising Tommy Elphick for hand ball! When the ball is blasted at you from close range and hits your hand is that intentional? For a change it didn't cost us as Brezovan saved the penalty.
He used all of his 6ft 5inches guessing right, and diving right, to parry the ball. The Oldham player following up blasted his shot against the underside of the cross bar. It wasn't Oldham's day as the ball rebounded safely.
The three points moved Brighton up to their highest position in the league this season, 14th. Suddenly things are looking brighter. Our form at Withdean means we won't make the play-offs but relegation fears have receded. I predict us moving up to around 11th spot, nicely set up or next season, the push for the championship, and Falmer.
Poyet's problems are positive ones! Diego Arismendi should be fit for inclusion in his squad for Saturday's game, and his debut.
Now there is news just in of another international midfielder signing for the Seagulls! Lee Hendrie has come to Brighton from Derby County on loan until the end of the season. The 32-year-old played Premiership football with Aston Villa until 2007 and earned one England cap.
He has struggled to settle at Derby and wants the chance to play Poyet's style of football. Our manager says "He is an excellent footballer, he played over 250 games at the top level, and I know his qualities from playing against him." But where do we put all these midfielders?
At the beginning of the season I thought midfield was our weakness. Suddenly we are spoilt for choice. Our subs bench will soon be crammed with internationals! I'm not complaining you understand and will be there to see how Gus manages his riches in beating Tranmere!
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Weather for Horsham
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
