Bradford - Away, Withdean Era
Season 8 (A) 4/11/06 - 3-2 ~ Revell, Hammond, Bowditch
This was a second consecutive trip to Yorkshire and another big stadium to visit. The crowd was a little disappointing, although nearly 500 blue & white devoted paid on the gate. Both ex-Championship clubs were at present caught up in a mid-table melee, where a run of results could launch a rapid rise up that League 1 list. Kuipers replaced Hendo due to pre-fixture injury and Bowditch came on loan from Ipswich. Our all white away strip was converted to blue shorts and socks - a very nice 'on the day', home strip invertion.
An early goal is appreciated too and Revell stretched to clip a thru ball past their onrushing keeper. Brighton continued to out play a mis-firing Bantam unit and got to 'refreshments' still leading. Very soon after the break we went two up when Hammond fired in a penalty, given for a foul on Robinson. Suddenly Bradford were back to their best and battered us for half an hour. City also scored from a penalty (Mayo - 'handball') and then equalised in a packed area. There were 10 minutes left and a final result hung in the balance almost until full time. This season B'ton had developed a counter attack strategy and plan B went into action. We beat offside on a fast break, turned their defenders and Bowditch slid in to bag three points. Unbelievable - B'ton fans and team celebrated in style either side of the whistle.
Kuipers, Whing, Hinshelwood, Butters, Mayo (Lynch), Fraser, El-Abd, Hammond, Cox, Robinson (Bowditch), Revell.
League 1 P 17. W 7 D 3 L 7 . F 24 A 26 . Pt 24 Po 11

Season 4 (A) 15/2/03 - 1-0 ~ Zamora
In some respects Valley Parade looks as if it's 'work in progress' because there is no real symmetry to the layout of stands. There is a sort of little and large, lop-sided, finish it next year outlook - depending on your viewpoint. It's probably in keeping with a topsy-turvey recent club history. On reaching the Premiership it was spend, spend, spend, then inevitable relegation and on into administration, that kind of thing. In '02/3 Albion met them in division 1 and added to their ongoing problems by nicking victory in controversial circumstances.
Bradford thought their keeper had saved Zamora's lob on the line. The Ref gave a goal and we'd poached a one - nil win. It wasn't a true Russian Linesman's moment but almost as vital from Albion's perspective. We had to catch the rear of that struggling pack and got off the bottom at long last, to raise survival hopes. Ben Roberts quickly came and went to be replaced by Dave Bessant between those posts. Coppell also lost Steve Sidwell to Reading but brought in Ivar Ingimarsson from Wolves. Young home-grown and other fringe players weren't getting a look-in now, like Hinshelwood, Virgo, Rogers, Pethick and Butters. Brighton's manager had got some experience into his first eleven. Paul Kitson never seemed to be fit, while Graham Barrett only managed to score once. Still, we'd won one for three very valuable points.
Roberts, Watson, Ingimarsson, Cullip, Blackwell, Mayo, Carpenter, Rodger, Brooker (Barrett), Hart, Zamora.
Div 1 (Championship) P 32 . W 6 D 8 L 18 . F 33 A 51 . Pt 26 Po 22

Bradford - Home, Withdean Era
Season 8 (H) 14/4/07 - 0-1
The day was unseasonably warm, like summer but Brighton's home form was same as ever - truly awful. We'd not won at Withdean for two months, scored one goal and now lost 10 in 22 on our patch. Did Brighton fans think something was wrong? You bet your life! Wilkins had been offered a 'long' contract but was having a think about it. His kid inspired outfit lacked experience and were learning the hard way. Much to frustration of season ticket holders who had paid good money to watch a string of dire performances in a less than average season. What was Mr Knight going to do about it? Apparently 15 players were up for contract renewal and we couldn't keep 'em all at this rate surely.
Bradford were fighting relegation and still managed to beat us in a game that petered out pathetically. Brighton fans were having a go at anything to relieve boredom or just give vent to feelings. Gully never showed as he would have been next, after team and manager and Chairman. Fans had got to the stage where they had to find 400 plus notes for '07/8 and the future was as unpredictable as maybe fighting relegation ourselves next term at this rate. It was all in the melting pot - or pi$$ pot if you like.
Flinders, El-Abd, Rehman, Butters (Gatting), Rents, Fraser (Revell), Bertin, Loft, Robinson, Savage.
League 1 P 43 . W 14 D 10 L 19 . F 46 A 53 Pt 52 Po 16

Season 4 (H) 2/11/02 - 3-2 ~ Zamora 2, Rodger
Brighton fans were in the doghouse. Not from action by Steve Coppell, who had actually apologised for the debacle previously at Palace but with 'authorities'. BHA had applied for more seats at Withdean, so draconian measures fans had been subjected to for four years continued to be enforced, to reduce open air blue and increase white. We were all on a sort of ASBO probation, when any infringement would put standing and credence at the scheduled Public Inquiry under threat. Considering such circumstances, squarking Seagulls with halos somehow seemed an improbable image.
Bradford arrived hoping to inflict more pain in the rain, as everyone and everything was out to get us. Doom and gloom did not prevail though, as Brighton notched only a second win and incredibly a first at home. Zamora cracked in not one but two penalties and Rodger smacked a shot over the line from way out. Oh, Kuipers got sent off at the death. What did you expect, another fairy story ending?
Kuipers, Watson, Cullip, Blackwell, Mayo, Hart, Carpenter, Rodger (Oatway), Brooker (Petterson), Barrett, Zamora.
Div 1 (Champ's) P 15 . W 2 D 1 L 12 . F 14 A 32 . Pt 7 Po 24