Ipswich - Home, Withdean Era
Season 7 (H) 29/10/05 - 1-1 ~ Hammond
This particular match came a day after John Prescott said 'Yes' to Falmer. Truly a huge positive but unfortunately a debateable choice of words in the accompanying documentation, allowed the anti-at-any-price assembly some leverage to decide on judicial appeals. You know the rest. At the time Dick Knight said, 'our supporters have been fantastic, conducting a brilliant campaign using imagination, humour and endless patience during this long drawn out process.' Abusers of an unwieldy democratic procedure were to test this statement to near destruction.
Prior to the game McGhee said, 'I do hear shouts from behind my dugout but will never accept criticism that players do not try.' A 6800, biggest so far Withdean audience didn't feel like getting on his back anyway. Hammond swept in a fluid move following a super Knight pass and CKR assist on 15 minutes. B'ton were expected to go on and win to celebrate breaking news but only received a Dear John letter instead. Oatway was carried off to hospital on the stroke of half an hour. By 40 min Town had equalised to get 'em back in the contest. In the second period both outfits had chances to win an entertaining scrap on an excellent pitch. As had been recently perceived, early season 424 was now changed although B'ton didn't score many in a tried or tested formation. McGhee said, 'the challenge for me is to keep the club at this level. If you don't take advantage of chances you are in danger of coming unstuck.'
Henderson, Hart, McShane (Robinson), Butters, Reid, Carole, Oatway (Nicolas), Hammond, Frutos (El-Abd), Knight, Kazim-Richards.
Champ's P 16 . W 2 D 9 L 5 . F 16 A 21 . Pt 15 Po 22

Season 6 (H) 8/5/05 - 1-1 ~ Virgo
It was a nice day and Brighton fans went down to the woods hoping for a pleasant surprise. Today was when we had an open-air gathering, to celebrate being in and very much a relevant part of the Championship. Such a final occasion to a long season would mark continued survival, or not and fate was held in our own hands. There were actually two places up for grabs to qualify for next terms fixture list. Albion had to secure a point to be certain of staying up, whatever else happened in a three way relegation battle. Our goal difference was not enough alone to stay afloat, should both rivals then equal an existing 50 point total.
Brighton were a goal down on 3 minutes, when a defensive lapse in concentration left a Town bloke clear. Six minutes later later, half-fit Virgo caught a dropping ball sweet as a nut to volley an equaliser. He had been voted player of the season and was an honour most richly deserved. As a top and tail contest, a certain cup-tie atmosphere prevailed at Withdean in wonderful springtime sunshine. Ipswich had a chance for automatic promotion, so were not inclined to treat 90 mins as a typical mundane end of term affair. Both sets of fans were tuned into radios or on mobiles for minute-by-minute updated information. At halftime Albion were sitting pretty and not too worried about audacious arithmetic. All that changed into a necessary second period as mathematics and semantics took hold of brains increasingly bewildered by tension headaches. Fellow drop zone competitors were having a real go and another goal from Tractor Boys would sink us faster than that wobbly west pier wreckage in a storm. What could it all mean? Town upped the ante and subbed in favour of forwards. Our defence stood firm with even later changes for strikers as McGhee hoped to steal it at the death. Scenes equivalent to gaining promotion erupted on the final whistle, when Brighton fans could hardly contain themselves and did anything but keep off the grass, while players hugged one another in sheer relief.
Blayney, Reid, El-Abd, Butters, Harding, Hart (McPhee), Oatway, Carpenter, Hammond, Knight (Robinson), Virgo.
Champ's P 46 . W 13 D 12 L 21 . F 40 A 65 . Pt 51 Po 20

Season 4 (H) 10/12/02 - 1-1 ~ Zamora
This fixture was fitted in on a Tuesday night in December, to add to that one when pre-Xmas Brighton don't do home Saturdays. Apparently Ipswich had European commitments when first scheduled in October. Would you ever believe it? The ex-Prem outfit was seemingly struggling to find expected league form as well, although they still held a League Cup place open. We had been up at their place in late September in that very competition and got done 3-1 to boot us out.
A usual pattern of a stronger team, keeping possession and building ensued. However, Albion broke deadlock with a superb strike just before half time. Zamora had hit a post earlier and obviously had made the grade, which kinda gave everyone hope approaching the season of joy. He ran on to a centre circle thru ball and pushed ahead solo, to shoot past their keeper from 25 yards. Town had always been in it but lacked a quality finish to complete their passing game. Maybe Albion gave them too much room or respect but it increasingly looked like a second period leveller was only a matter of minutes away. Twelve minutes from time they got back all square by pressing from mid-field.
A valuable point meant we were off the bottom at last albeit on goal difference of one. It was also a small step before a mid-season milestone and an indicator of progress to date. Albion realised how close a line between success and failure ran, relative to rewards as yielded by yuletide of that year. Steve Coppell said, 'the fixture once again featured some major swings in dominance during the 90 minutes. After 45 mins I felt we were unlucky to be only 1-0 up and yet towards the end we defended really well to hold on to a point. We created more opportunities than our opponents who were playing in the Premiership a few months ago.'
Kuipers, Watson, Pethick, Cullip, Mayo, Jones, Sidwell, Carpenter, Brooker (Oatway), Barrett, (Piercy), Zamora.
Div 1 (Champ's) P 22 . W 3 D 5 L 14 . F 22 A 41

Ipswich - Away, Withdean Era
Season 7 (A) 15/4/06 - 2-1 ~ Noel-Williams, Lynch
Over 800 travelling supporters got to Portman Road to join a crowd of 23000 on another mild afternoon. At this particular venue, there is a side view at one end, rather than being behind a goal as usual. Brighton fans were in very good voice, rained a maroon balloon fest on lower tiers and sang along loudly to 'I predict a riot.' As it was a vital Championship fixture, Albion attempted to play like they intended to remain in this league. Town were off the radar to previous terms and a low level game was rumbling toward a half time nil-nil. Seconds before early doors, big bad Noel-Williams produced some poachers style football to put us ahead. A slightly beefier looking B'ton threw their weight about in the next 45 minutes to some effect. We had numbers forward to compete at a corner, won after CKR hit the woodwork and then their keeper deflected a follow up strike. Lynch got a touch as Ipswich couldn't clear their lines. There was a consolation for moaning home-mob early leavers, due to Seagulls deciding to roost instead of watching over our goalmouth.
Determination had seen B'ton through, while a revitalised squad played like their lives almost depended on victory. A tougher approach ensued, where Albion had dispensed with flying French wingers and didn't rely just on fast breaks. Getting a lead had been crucial and for a second successive away contest, we weren't merely chasing the game. A lot of matches had hung in balance while Albion struggled to find the net and was it all coming together now at the death?
Henderson, Hart, McShane, Butters, Lynch, Reid (El-Abd), Hammond, Carpenter, Mayo, Kazim-Richards (Carole), Noel-Williams (Gatting).
Champ's P 43 . W 7 D 17 L 19 . F 38 A 62 . Pt 38 Po 24

Season 6 (A) 27/11/04 - 0-1
A slice of luck when a loose ball arrived on an unmarked Ipswich boot, gave the home eleven an undeserved victory. Although form of late was not good, with five losses out of the last six games, this particular defeat did not feel like end of the world had come. A game that was expected to be extensively defensive, actually opened out into a footy contest. Albion held the fancied East Anglian outfit to one in the first half then pushed on for an equaliser in the second 45 minutes. This was a competent display of containment and building to retain possession, before applying pressure to Prem hopefuls. We'd conceded on 20 odd minutes but if it had stayed goal-less with 20 odd min to go we might just have stolen it. They let us come to the area and when McGhee subbed his three, more chances began to crop up. There was the usual shout for a penalty, this time when Cullip of all people had gone through. He was only booked for diving - as if he knew how! An optimum Albion line-up was developing and turnout by travelling support reached greater heights of volume and resonance - Sussex by the sea style.
McGhee said, I don't see one game being easier or more difficult than any other. Any side's capable of beating any other. We require ten wins from 25 games to stay in the Championship. We can afford 15 Saturday nights going home having been beaten. If we play the way we played against Ipswich and we don't get anything from it, we won't miss a beat.' So there you are - nothing to worry about really.
Kuipers, Reid, Cullip, Butters, Hinshelwood, Hart (Jones), Oatway, Nicolas (Knight), Carpenter (Hammond), Currie, Claridge.
Champ's P 21 . W 6 D 4 L 11 . F 16 A 29 . Pt 22 Po 20

Season 4 (A) 22/3/03 - 2-2 ~ og, Rougier
There were 26000 punters at Portman Road including over 1600 pilgrims from west of East Anglia. Brighton had been up the A12 earlier in this season to compete in a League Cup tie and been well beat on that night. Now a revised team-sheet had the squad vying for a safety spot in the league and being more competitive to boot. Ipswich were on fringes of play-offs so weren't exactly going to roll over to do us a favour - again. A slip at the back allowed a simple giveaway goal that Coppell had been trying to eradicate since coming on a mission impossible scenario. Ipswich led for a further 45 minutes, through half-time and past the hour mark. Five minutes later a header from Rougier hit the bar and bounced down. Town's goalie who was also now under forces of gravity, couldn't prevent it going in off his rear. Both sets of fans were witnessing an exciting affair, where the home side sought to win. They missed a penalty kick to go ahead, by putting the ball into row Z, where locals were not pleased. In a frantic finish Rougier tapped in a Brooker pass with ten min left. It was Ipswich who now had to equalise and did with a wonder shot from distance with a few minutes to go. The atmosphere was electric and in a huge crowd, Albion support was fantastic.
Coppell said, 'the game saw the departure after a month of Tony Rougier. In a very short space of time he was at home with the team. I know he would have loved to have stayed to try and help us maintain our status.' After this fixture Brighton were a point from safety in a four way dogfight at the foot of the table. We needed a good run to the very end and still had to play two of those bottom sides in the last three matches. It looked like it might run and run at this stage.
Beasant, Watson (Jones), Ingimarsson, Cullip, Blackwell, Mayo, Brooker, Carpenter, Rodger, Rougier, Hart (Barrett).
Div 1 (Champ's) P 39 . W 9 D 9 L 21 . F 40 A 59 Pt 36 Po 23.

Season 4 (A) 24/9/02 LC2 - 1-3 ~ Hammond
Believe it or not BHA topped their division with all but a one hundred percent record. It might only have been a list of home attendances in relation to capacity but at least we were winning something. Other stats made for less encouraging reading. Albion were on a losing run of 8 in div1 and Chairman Dick Knight had said it was ten and out for unlucky manager Martin Hinshelwood. Ipswich were listed as due at Withdean in a months time and Albion had to stop the rot by then or be relegation certainties. Already we were getting adrift at the back and trailing in twenty-two other sides wake. Each match piled on pressure for Brighton fans who, still turned up in numbers although three of five away had been at Wimbledon, Portsmouth and Millwall and hey, how we liked our local Saturday out in high summer. This League Cup round two tie, was a first evening 'do' and nearly 300 got along to tip this pukka Suffolk gate over 1300 queuing punters. Albion didn't anticipate further progress, claiming injury problems, bad signings, inexperience and collective depression for defeatist attitudes. Ipswich were an ex-Prem outfit after all and a big fish in a pretty deep pond. We were that life at the bottom.
We duly got done on the night as expected and why bother turning up at all? Unbelievably Hammond opened the scoring on 8 minutes but it only served to redouble Town attacks, like pulling on a big cat's tail and thinking they'd roll over for a tummy tickle. By half time it was all over and we'd got a proper mauling. Hinsh said, 'we acquitted ourselves extremely well. Overall I was pleased with the performance and we showed a lot of character second half.' Spin or denial maybe but Albion could now concentrate on survival. A fellow div1 manager said, 'likes of Brighton, others similar and ourselves are run on a shoestring. Some of us are going to find our squads are not big enough. Survival is the name of the game and anything better than that would be outstanding.' That guy was right, Cups were only any good if we could make money to cover an otherwise perceived and increasingly bankrupt season.
Petterson, Watson, Cullip, Virgo, Mayo, Brooker (Rogers), Carpenter, Oatway, Hammond, Piercy (McPhee), Hart.