Cardiff - Home, Withdean Era
Season 7 (H) 15/10/05 - 1-2 ~ McShane
This fixture followed a second International break and also a first quarter of our third Championship season. Game 12 is one to be analysed for stats and a forecast made for eventual halfway, three quarters and final totals. It did not make for encouraging reading. On those facts & figs alone Brighton were for the drop come next May. Brightonfans magic predictor calculated only 38 points by game no. 46 - see Stoke (H) 30/4/06 for conformation. Mr McGhee was worried about consistency in squad performance, especially from youngsters and others less experienced. Pre-season signings Dodd and Kazim-Richards were respectively injured and mostly coming off the bench, while Turienzo had made only two appearances as a sub. French imports Frutos and goalie Chaigneau had also seen a lot of dugouts. Numbers were short and form had been anything to write home about - starting with Withdean.
You couldn't blame W'dean for this inept defeat, weather and pitch were excellent. Apart from the one home win, in other games here Albion had attempted to come from behind and so it proved again. We were a goal against from inside 15 min and effectively handed the initiative to marauding Welsh visitors. On the hour mark B'ton bundled in a scrappy equaliser - though it still counted. A minute later McGhee made two subs. Eleven minutes later Bluebirds subbed one. A further minute later he shot down Seagulls, letting fly as we scattered. This was the Championship and in punching above our weight we were getting too many beatings.
Henderson, Hart, McShane, Butters, Reid, Carole, Carpenter, Hammond, Jarrett (Frutos), Robinson (Kazim-Richards), Knight.
Champ's P 13 . W 1 D 7 L 5 . F 13 A 19 . Pt 10 Po 21

Season 6 (H) 19/10/04 - 1-1 ~ Knight
A crowd of Brighton fans had gone to the Greyhound Stadium, together with Mark, Dick and Martin in the dark. It was not a clandestine or unofficial visit to an alternative site but one of those BHA forum nights. Apparently Lewes District Council had prolonged time scales for opening PI2 and would continue a program of procrastination, in order to clash proceedings with preparation for a General Election. To democratic Albion devoted, all this was not politically correct. Another despised body, HM Inland Revenue had claimed 300k for back tax since the Goldstone sale but fortunately, 150k had been raised in an active Alive & Kicking appeal - and counting.
Prior in div2, Leon Knight had been something of a goal poacher, especially earlier that term. By the end of Dec '03 he had scored 17 in the league from 23 appearances. At conclusion of the season proper in early May, it was then 25 from 42. He subsequently converted a penalty in the play-off final, which won B'ton a place in the Championship. To date for '04/5 he had got only one, also a pen and been subbed with a little over an hour gone on a latest away start. Knight now grabbed an opener in this match on ten minutes, from a typical strikers reaction to a ball deep into their box. Ten min from time, Cardiff pinched a point via a usual Albion giveaway and lack of concentration. In between they were all over us like a rash and Kuipers had to make a couple of purely clinical interventions.
Brighton fans considered it as a point gained at the death. McGhee said, 'anyone who thinks otherwise is deluding themselves, in our position every one is a point gained. Be under no illusions we are in a battle to stay in this division. We are defending too deeply at times. We're actually on the bench pulling our hair out and trying to work out how we can get forward more. If you're only winning 1-0, you're going to be vulnerable.'
Kuipers, Reid, Hinshelwood, Butters, Harding, Nicolas (Carpenter), Hammond, Oatway, Currie (Jarrett), Knight, Virgo
Champ's P 14 . W 4 D 4 L 6 . F 13 A 19 . Pt 16 Po 17

Season 3 (H) 31/1/02 - 1-0 ~ Zamora
A week before this Thursday night escapade at the local sports complex, BHA U18s played a thrilling cup-tie in front of interested fans, friends and family. Stark blackness of that over-wintering nature reserve, towering behind silent banks of empty green south-stand seating, made diehards under a roof realise what a strange place Withdean really was. Still, all that talk of planning applications and a Public Inquiry was anything but pie in a treeless Falmer night sky surely. Brighton beat Leicester 3-2 in a fourth round Youth Cup match to highlight progress made to date by Dean Wilkins' squad of kids. He said, 'we've gone further in the cup than any youth team at the Albion has ever done before. But if you can't cope with playing on a big stage in front of thousands of people, that is going to cost your career in the game. Leicester are an Academy side, have their pick of players across UK. We played a team consisting entirely of local boys that have come through the Centre of Excellence. You could see them rise to vocal support, which showed their mental strength.' However, of that selective sixteen only Harding and El-Abd progressed into an Albion first eleven.
After the professional fixture witnessed by 6000 odd on another wet night, Taylor said, 'with three virtual ever-presents missing I felt we gave a tremendous performance to gain a vital 1-0 victory. Full credit to the lads who worked their socks off and bounced back in style from the Brentford capitulation. All the boys kept battling, it was backs to the wall, although we deserved the win.' One player appeared to have made the jump much earlier from kids' soccer, local lad Adam Virgo done good. Alan Cork's Cardiff certainly made a game of it but the ball just didn't break for them. Many Brighton fans remember an 'open goal' incident, when the mind was ahead of the ball but eyes couldn't believe it actually stayed outside posts. Kuipers was back and defensively Albion did the biz. Zamora converted a penalty decider. Perhaps it was all as Deano had said, more of a mental thing, not like the previous Brentford debacle on a night for pro's to forget.
Kuipers, Pethick, Virgo, Cullip, Mayo, Rogers, Carpenter, Oatway, Jones (Steele), Webb, Zamora.
Div 2 (League 1) P 29 . W 15 .D 10 L 4 . F 41 A 30 . Pt 55 Po 2

Season 2 (H) 10/2/01 - 1-0 ~ Zamora
There was a brand new green carpet at the Withdean and it seemed a shame to put a load of holes in it from a multi-studded game of football. However after weeks of inactivity beside that leafless nature reserve, natives had become restless and suffering acute withdrawal symptoms. This fixture brought together teams in second and third place in div3 and both had reason to pitch up. Alan Cork had left BHA for the Welsh outfit and was making a real Taffy style fist of it. Micky Adams appeared on track to take this second season marathon into a sprint finish. Brighton fans were just happy to be home. Cardiff were leading the division on spending alone and got knocked back by Dick Knight when offering 1.2 million for Bobby Zamora. Things had picked up for Bluebirds, who were attracting average crowds of over 7000, which was 1000 more than next best Brighton and 2000 in excess of table toppers Chesterfield. They also had runner-up goal scorer Earnshaw, who was one behind Zamora, heading marksman lists on 16 strikes. Micky Adams said, 'I feel at times like these, teams with strength in depth and buying power just have edge over the rest. It is particularly so if suspensions and injuries should take their toll. I'm sure if this occurs the board would enable me to strengthen the squad. I don't expect to be spending three million plus that Cardiff invested.'
This event set a ground record for the time at 6900 plus. The pitch was a great leveller and wet throughout but drained like a pint at last orders. Cardiff played their part, came down with an unbeaten run behind them and rose to the occasion. There were times when it appeared they must score and for the game to end in a 1-0 defeat for Bluebirds seemed harsh. Not that Brighton fans gave a flying flock for reputation - winner takes all. In contests like this one when everything was heightened, a good player can be recognised as genuinely outstanding because of what he contributes. Seeing Zamora wheel away, with ex-BHA goalie Walton on the deck, defenders chasing back and the ball entering and then lying in the net was enough to highlight, not only that the kid had made the grade but was now setting previously unattainable standards.
Cartwright, Watson, Wicks, Crosby, Mayo, Freeman (Hart), Rogers, Carpenter, Oatway, Brooker (Melton), Zamora (Steele).
Div 3 (League 2) P 28 . W 18 D 3 L 7 . F 44 A 21 Pt 57 Po 2

Season 2 (H) 5/12/00 LDV1 - 2-0 ~ Johnson, Cullip
Both teams were going great guns in div3 and met once already, in Wales during September. They shared a 1-1 draw at a stage of the season when hopes were sky high but actual positions not much higher than in and around play-off spots. Since then, Brighton had got right up to second and Cardiff consolidated in fifth. Micky Adams said, 'it's the first time Corky and I have met each other as managers. It is certain to be a tense and hard fought affair. Cardiff were one of my pre-season tips for promotion and Corky's turned them around and thoroughly deserves his MoM award. I see this tie as a chance to experiment slightly and to give people on fringes a chance to show us all what they can do. I am sure supporters understand, particularly with the state of the pitch, that rotation is needed.' LDV vans had taken over sponsorship from AWS for this Football League trophy involving clubs in tiers three and four. It had been around many years in one form or another and used to be entitled the Associate Members Cup. Though to its credit, various innovations were often included in this competition such as the ten-yard rule at free kicks, plus golden and then silver goals. Albion had experienced these in close fought knockouts in past terms. One problem was that it clashed with FA Cup dates and perhaps wasn't taken too seriously by all clubs and supporters alike.
Alan Cork had been promised the earth in Wales by ex-Wimbledon names of that old crazy gang era. He had been a manager for a short while at Swansea when Adams left after a mere 13 days. Cardiff arrived on a December night having been unbeaten in the league since mid October. Similarly for BHA, whose only defeat in 18 games was at table topping Chesterfield. Only 2300 turned up for what was an entertaining contest. Ex-Albion keeper Walton had a 'mare and former favourite Kurt Nogan didn't exactly dazzle either. Inside 15 minutes Brighton grabbed a crucial first goal when debutant Lee Johnson slotted home from 15 yards. Five minutes later it was almost done and dusted when Cullip headed us into round two. Adams reverted to five in a solid looking rearguard that allowed his attack-minded midfield and front-runners to roam forward from word go. Tactical winner or what?
Kuipers, Watson (Hammond), Cullip, Crosby, Wicks, Mayo, Melton, Johnson, Brooker, Steele, Ramsay (Hart).

Cardiff - Away, Withdean Era
Season 9 (A) LC1 14/8/07 - 0-1 aet
Only the second match in a new season and both were away to boot. We didn't really want to have been drawn there but a few die-hards made it on an evening following loads of Welsh rain. Wilkins went with the line-up that lost on opening day, bar dropping Mayo. Elphick came in and Lynch went to lb but got injured. The plan was to frustrate 'em and try to nick it, or if not go to penalties. This cup-tie went into extra time anyway but City pinched it with a free header from a late corner.
Brighton defended well and could be considered unlucky not to go a full two hours for a nil-nil. But this was knockout stuff and surely wasn't beyond us to finally get a goal. Trouble was we hadn't got a clue really and were lumping it up to front runners big time. We looked League 1 in the final third, lacking ideas and operating as individuals rather than a unit with understanding of positioning. If Albion were playing to strengths, apart from trying route one to unsettle Championship opposition, God help poor paid-up Withdean punters.
Kuipers, Whing, Elphick, Butters, Lynch (Rents), Fraser (Reid), El-Abd, Hammond, Cox, Revell (Savage), Forster.

Season 7 (A) 22/11/05 - 1-1 ~ Kazim-Richards
Mr McGhee believed he had a useful squad, could field a competitive team and produce professional performances. Brighton fans were a little uneasy with these assertions considering a poor return from his perceived Championship principles. Not for him a five man rearguard, or emphasis on defence. His doctrine was to play an open game and in suffering defeats, still hoped to remain in touch with teams just above the drop zone. In some ways a win one, lose one approach to results was actually better than a series of exceptional draws. In any event, a point per game would lead us to the trap door long before Easter and a possible crucifixion.
A small group of devoted travelling fans went to Wales on a cold Tuesday night, wishing for some kind of minor miracle. Within half an hour we'd seen two defenders replaced through injury problems. An away reshuffle saw B'ton hold out until cuppa time as Albion fans shivered. Knight went to fetch and carry man but another second half alteration ensued as we went one down. McGhee switched it around to a loose 4-3-3 as wingers pushed up. On 75 min super-sub CKR blasted a 30 yarder to find the bottom corner. There was more double box action as all blue poured forward, while all burgundy kept their fragile glass half full without bottling.
Blayney, Dodd (El-Abd), McShane (Nicolas), Butters, Reid, Carole, Hammond, Oatway, Frutos, Knight, McPhee (Kazim-Richards).
Champ's P 20 . W 2 D 11 L 7 . F 20 A 29 . Pt 17 Po 23

Season 6 (A) 12/2/05 - 0-2
Mark McGhee said, 'I don't often go into dressing rooms, rant and rave and point fingers. I have heard the words lethargy and lacklustre associated with our performance. On Saturday our shape of 352 failed us. Previously it had served us well against different formations. It caused Cardiff to have too much space and freedom in wide areas.' He was analysing a loss that saw Albion two down after conceding a 16th minute penalty and a 19th minute set piece. City had exploited pushing numbers down the flanks and keeping us stretched. In truth it was a bad day on foreign soil, in a bitter wind as we blew our chances at the outset. McGhee also said, 'what was really disappointing once 442, they gave us few problems yet we weren't able to get back into the match.' He had played Knight and McCammon together as the new little and large but it was hardly a striking partnership that looked made through a hand of God. Goals didn't come and others had to assume responsibility in and around the box.
Of 24 Championship teams Brighton were 21st from a list of goals scored. All ten wins so far had been by obtaining one more than letting in. Of losses, seven were by a single goal and six by a couple. It was possible to comeback from 0-1 but that was pretty infrequent to snatch a precious point. Clean sheets were as rare as rocking horse marks on Astroturf. Contests were generally tough and could swing either way so grabbing a lead was essential to well being if not survival. There had been ten 1-0 results, four of which were losses. As against Cardiff, opposition who go ahead defend their box with numbers and let us piss about all afternoon.
Yelldell, Reid (Hart), Virgo, Hinshelwood, Butters, Mayo (Harding), Carpenter, Nicolas, Jones (Watson), Knight, McCammon.
Champ's P 33 . W 10 D 8 L 15 . F 27 A 42 . Pt 38 Po 18

Season 3 (A) 29/9/01 - 1-1 ~ Zamora
The Welsh capital outfit had been up to div2 and back, while the new millennium changed fortunes for English clubs as well. From before Y2K Micky Adams and assistant Alan Cork had been rebuilding a Brighton side fit for promotion. Cork had left in midstream to join Bluebirds. It all came together in 2001, when Cardiff immediately followed champions Brighton into the third tier of league football. Well ahead of that particular div3 promotion pre-season, goalie Mark Walton had signed to stand between Ninian Park posts. Such is the footy merry-go-round, as Kuipers became a flying Dutch custodian in England but Walton... Adams had gotten success on the cheap, for about 250k but Cork spent a few quid, to the tune of 5 million at last count. He bid mega shekels for BZ just in case. It had all been an unequal contest, although costs for infrastructure at Withdean had peaked around 2 million for a kick off. Take into account crowd capacities, running costs and other budgets on and off field and Cardiff won hands down. They had a fair sized catchment area and numbers would turn up in relation to success. Oh, they were also after building a new stadium on the site of a co-located athletics track by Ninian Park car park. No way! Incidentally, City supreme Sam Hamman had splashed out to get a roof provided over the Grange Terrace end, which gave away fans some shelter but not from adjacent Welsh chanting. Hey, they do know they are...
Zamora was on hand to take advantage of a defensive error to put Albion ahead. City didn't fancy being on the wrong end of a 12000 Welsh vocal backlash and pushed for an equaliser. Red and black stripes were getting stuck in at the last line of defence and the one in front of that too. FDM was also giving it a go but once again was beaten just er, once. It continued as a close, if combative contest of contrasting cities by the sea. For about 500 visitors it wasn't a complete washout. Adams said, 'we felt slightly disappointed to come away with only one point. We were totally in control and didn't look like conceding a goal. An unbeaten run can help to breed confidence.'
Kuipers, Watson, Cullip, Morgan, Mayo, Rogers, Carpenter, Oatway (Steele), Jones (Brooker), Hart (Pitcher), Zamora.
Div 2 (League 1) P 11 . W 6 D 4 L 1 . F 15 A 8 . Pt 22 Po 2

Season 2 (A) 9/9/00 - 1-1 ~ Wicks
Like other clubs with potential to be successful, Cardiff were one who suffered in the nineties because of interference from men more interested in money than football. Somehow they got into div2 but fell back after one season and became a permanent Albion fixture again. There was now a new owner at the Welsh outfit and they knew that was kinda capital in the city. Absconding Albion keeper Mark Walton had also joined them, so that was something else we had in common. Visiting fans were usually shuffled into a corner of the ground off Sloper Road, which supposedly seemed appropriate. Those on that open Grange Terrace could on occasion be lashed by weather from the Bristol Channel but it was seemingly wetter in Wales anyway. Only 6500 odd assembled inside hostile Ninian Park and nearly 500 had come from over the big suspension bridge as opposition. There was Welsh talk about ground improvements, mega transfers and even a new stadium. Welcome to the world of dreams, Wembley after all got substituted by a Cardiff Arms Park super stadium - with retractable roof. Martin Perry, eat your heart out. A week later, Alan Cork took a job at other coastal blue birds. In the event it didn't rain...
Wicks got a goal and Brighton ended up with a point. If Jones effort had bounced over the line Geoff Hurst style, we might have won this battle of clubs potentially on the up. Ex-Bluebirds Carpenter and Oatway ruled the midfield roost in red and black stripes of travelling Seagulls. Zamora missed a chance but Wicks didn't from a corner to the near post. There were usual accidents and incidents and Grange Terrace was baying for a penalty, or two to wind up Caerdydd natives. City grabbed an equaliser but they were expected to be a foreign front-runner in the division, so we'd not done too bad to get a first draw. Adams said, 'we were unlucky not to win the match. They hit the post and that could have lost us the game, that would have been an even more bitter pill to swallow. It reinforces the fact that sometimes you need a bit of luck.'
Cartwright, Watson, Cullip, Wicks, Mayo, Rogers (Brooker), Carpenter, Oatway, Jones, Hart (Melton), Zamora (Ramsay).
Div 3 (League 2) P 6 . W 2 D 1 L 3 . F 9 A 10 . Pt 7 Po 12