Leicester - Away, Withdean Era
Season 10 (A) 27/1/09 - 0-0
It was a half decent evening in winter and nearly 500 travelled to see us in the best stad in League1. There may have been more but the M1 was shut for hours and some mighta got caught out. Micky Adams was also back where he done good before. Well, before he buggered off for eventual life at a prospective big club anyway. But Brighton were hovering above the drop zone, while Leicester led League1 by going a proverbial extra M1 mile. Adams was desperate to sort his ailing squad and a few faces had come and gone during the transfer window. Jason Jarrett arrived as latest signing to join Chris Birchall in midfield following departure of Steve Thomson to Scotland. Adam Hinshelwood was back from long term injury but others had niggles to prevent a regular eleven being turned out.
Sullivan made a brilliant reaction save when the ball came back off the bar to a Foxes predator. He also got down to other attempts when the table toppers threatened to break thru our set-up. Adams put El-Abd in front of the rearguard in a sort of 451 shape. This was in lieu of Virgo failing a fitness test that afternoon, to otherwise be front part of 442. In the event Albion were pretty mobile and didn't spend ninety minutes holding City at bay in our half. Perhaps it was the big-boys stad effect but the match was pretty open and a pukka game of football, without added bonus of goals. Either outfit might have nicked it, although keepers were well protected against forward moves. They missed some chances, so did we once or twice and it all ended as a moral victory for Brighton. Our record there ain't too bad overall either.
Sullivan, Whing, Elphick, Hinshelwood, Livermore, El-Abd, Birchall, Jarrett, Fraser, Cox (Loft), Forster.
League1 P 26 . W 5 D 10 L 11. F 29 A 38 . Pt 25 Po 21

Season 7 (A) 27/9/05 - 0-0
A seasonal Falmer march along Brighton sea-front on the evening before, had seen people assemble in their thousands, equivalent to a crowd Albion would like to have arrive for home games. The message to politicians was made clear - say 'Yes' to a new stadium and soon. There were fans from many other clubs and an assortment of household names, in a peaceful demonstration that rallied opposite a government talking shop. Time was now required for a final decision.
There were twenty thousand at Leicester but less than 400 Albion supporters. Never-mind, after a quiet start away fans got into their stride and baited Foxes followers with, 'worst support we've ever seen'. Championship venues of this standard were becoming familiar to B'ton fans, whom sometimes wondered how easy it seemed for other clubs to get a brand new shiny all-seater, complete with enclosed corners. The game itself was a disappointment from the point of view of not getting all points on offer.
Leicester couldn't convert their chances and Hendo had a good game to keep 'em out. With two flying wingers, Albion maybe should have applied more pressure and capitalised on an attacking formation. A dour contest opened out in later stages and each side could have got a goal to go and win it. Carole shot wrong side of a post and Hammond headed wide. We weren't too fluid overall and sort of became bogged down for passive periods of play.
Henderson, Reid, McShane, Butters, Mayo, Carole, Oatway, Hammond, Jarrett (Frutos), Knight, Kazim-Richards.
Champ's P 11 . W 1 D 7 L 3 . F 11 A 14 . Pt 10 Po 20

Season 6 (A) 30/8/04 - 1-0 ~ Virgo
One thing was evident on a Bank Holiday Monday in the midlands, Brighton fans really enjoyed a day out, at a pukka Prem style venue. Vocal support was exceptional from 700 odd seasiders, amid a 22 thousand land- & jaw-locked home mob. Since that '02/3 season when places like Leicester, Wolverhampton, Nottingham, Sheffield, Derby and Stoke had been visited and left suitable impressions, Albion travellers wanted lots more. The effect on eyes and ears let many a northern Championship audience also marvel at Seagulls solid support. Albion's all yellow away strip actually appeared vibrant in summertime conditions and added to an extra special on-the-road feel. Hey, we are Brighton from the south.
Mark McGhee put out a side with plenty of young players across the team sheet. Their enthusiasm and desire to compete was evident straight from the lunchtime kick-off - perhaps it was a hunger. Harding, Virgo, Knight, Nicolas, El-Abd, Hinshelwood, Hammond and Molango were all around the tender age of 21. Jarrett and Robinson were even younger. Whether actually playing or not they enhanced a team spirit and work ethic, where the only way was up.
Albion led on 40 minutes when new striker Virgo showed some additional attributes above previous defenders skills, to rifle home from distance a simple ball over the top. A below par Foxes outfit went forward with less than cunning in a bruising second half. They failed to score due to a B'ton defence that didn't fold when chased down field. Our rearguard stood strong and determined not to allow an ex-Prem team to break through. Maintaining a clean sheet was a crucial clincher for 3 points, where an unlikely upset in the face of pressure, provided a super day to remember.
Kuipers, El-Abd, Cullip, Butters, Mayo, Hinshelwood, Nicolas, Hammond, Currie (Jones), Virgo (Molango), Knight (Hart).
Champ's P 6 . W 2 D 1 L 3 . F 5 A 9 . Pt 7 Po 13

Season 4 (A) 19/4/03 - 0-2
Micky Adams had got his new Walkers Stadium outfit to within a necessary three points for promotion to the Premiership. Guess who they finally had up there to get 'em off? Leicester's record and ground was certainly something for the likes of lowly Albion to aspire to. They were on the way back up, while we looked anything but and with woeful Withdean as a home, not likely to for a bit either. A near capacity crowd of 32,000 filled sides and ends right out and into corner seats. Over 2000 travelling fans had their own, not so little angle from which to view events and did their best to support. The season was quickly coming to a climax and this Easter Saturday fixture would make things clearer for top and bottom clubs, including p-o hopefuls.
A home party began in earnest at halftime just after Leicester scored a second killer goal. They went one ahead inside 10 minutes to a header and never really looked stretched. Another nod past Beasant sealed our fate. Coming back from such a deficit was beyond Brighton's capabilities that term. It was not as if we played badly but statistically were assured to lose this one at any odds. Albion had not won all year when going behind and only drawn twice when two down. We were not getting a pasting month after month but tended to lose by the odd goal in three on average.
Coppell said, 'the stadium and huge benefits it brings demonstrate what Falmer could mean to the Albion. It shows the massive gap that has to be breached before Brighton can consider themselves a competitive football club.' A Leicester fan said, 'I wish your club success in its fight against relegation and in your battle for a new stadium. The Walkers has reinvigorated Leicester City and a new ground would do the same for Brighton.'
Beasant, Watson, Ingimarsson, Cullip, Blackwell (Jones), Mayo, Brooker (Oatway), Carpenter, Rodger, Hart, Zamora (Barrett).
Div 1 (Champ's) P 43 . W 10 D 10 L 23 . F 42 A 64 . Pt 40 Po 22

Leicester - Home, Withdean Era
Season 10 (H) 28/10/08 - 3-2 ~ Johnson 2, og
Going into this third tier affair versus fourth placed Foxes, Micky Adams musta been remembering all our yesterdays - see season4 below. He hadn't exactly set Sussex on fire with a failing revolution2 and remained without a win in 10 fixtures going back to August. Brighton hadn't won at home yet either, while Leicester were unbeaten away in six League1 contests. A clean sheet was actually considered success, even though goals had dried up too. Apart from Forster and Murray no other Albion player had scored to boot, since sub Robinson's consolation against leaders Scunthorpe in early September. There was more doom and gloom to hand but what with economic down-turns etc, wasn't life as we should know it slightly alien already? Over 6200 punters got along to the Withy on a calm, cold but precipitation free Tuesday night. This was slightly disappointing for a first evening-fixture home crowd because nearly 900 were City fans, on an after working-hours visit.
Adams got Brad Johnson in on loan from Leeds that very day to play in midfield. With recognised strikers under the physio, he badly needed someone to contribute to an ailing goals tally. Kuipers was also out of the sixteen, with a thigh-strain incurred when kicking into a howling gale at Hartlepool on Saturday previously. So sub goalie John Sullivan came in for his debut between sticks. Albion's shape was 443, with Virgo up front as spearhead come targetman. By halftime B'ton were two down (35 & 42 min), to quick as lightning strikes helped by outfield defensive blunders. Adams subbed ineffective midfielders and immediately switched to 442 for the second period. After an hour we were improving and pushing Leicester back. Then Johnson did what it said on the tin and bagged a brace of left footers (60 & 85m) inside 15 minutes. Withdean faithful, encouraged by a game of two halves, got some noise going and a frantic finish ensued. Just before stoppage, City put an Anyinsah cross into their own net and almost unbelievably, Albion had got three to reverse another beating. You just had to be there!
Sullivan, Whing, Elphick, Hawkins, Richards, Thomson, Savage (Thornton), Johnson, Anyinsah, Virgo, McLeod (Cox).
League1 P 14 . W 3 D 7 L 4 . F 16 A 19 . Pt 16 Po 15

Season 7 (H) 11/2/06 - 1-2 ~ Frutos
The boys really done good. Albion's youth team won 3-2 aet at Blackburn to progress to the cup quarterfinals. Coach Dean Wilkins said, 'they take enormous credit from the game to come from behind and win in extra time. They have got to try and learn to cope with the bigger stage and perform close to their capabilities.' Mark McGhee said, 'without their contribution to the first team squad we could be as low as the Conference. Where we are now is down to the sheer numbers of players who have come through the ranks.'
Several combinations of strikers had been tried throughout this season, without finding an optimum pairing. Different players from other positions would find the net on occasion but lack of a consistent goal scorer was finding us out at Champ's level. Forwards had come and gone in turn to little or no effect, while attacking midfielders and wingers had also gone off the boil and dried up. To make it worse we hardly ever kept a clean sheet. It wasn't going to stay very clean for long either as Leicester went two up inside five minutes for this vital six pointer. Brighton hadn't scored three for five months and one of those was an own goal. Crucial one-nil wins that kept us alive last term had evaporated in the mists of time. We assumed McGhee saved pent-up anger for coffee break and did some damage to cups in the dressing room. One big problem Brighton fans had was, his distinct lack of being demonstrative when pitch-side. We accepted it with Coppell, fair enough but this guy wasn't exactly appearing as super Mr McMotivator. In the event Frutos gave us hope but only that for half an hour. Hammond got a red card at the death. Some fans possibly wanted similar for Mr McG.
Henderson, El-Abd, McShane, Butters, Reid, Carole (Robinson), Hammond, Carpenter, Frutos, Hart, Gatting
Champ's P 33 . W 5 D 14 L 14 . F 31 A 51 . Pt 29 Po 22

Season 6 (H) 9/4/05 - 1-1 ~ Reid
A straw poll had been taken of Lib-Dem MP's and others across Sussex, as to a categorical Yes for Falmer. Those in the west were mostly positive. In the east a negative response showed the party was split down the middle and not at all politically correct. In contrast Albion were involved in a radical social inclusion project and provided opportunities for youngsters in deprived neighbourhoods through sport and learning. Thankfully there were people who were prepared to help and be truly representative of their local communities needs and aspirations.
Half an hour of the match had passed and Dolan handled in our area. Leicester went ahead from the spot and the makeshift centre half was subbed on the hour, never to take the field again. A number of penalties had been conceded in the last few games and dodgy, myopic or jobs-worth Ref's apart, it was a constant worry during a rollercoaster of a run-in. The only consistency from officials Brighton fans could see, was for them to give spot kicks against us and not point our way when opposition fouled in their box. That said, on 61 minutes a Leicester bod was sent off for twice kicking the ball away and otherwise being un-gentlemanly - it at least gave us a chance to square a circle of unpredictable events. Prior to what was spoken of as a six pointer, Albion had lost six on the spin - so we were desperate for something above zero from this contest.
A 'make some noise' initiative had helped move Withdean ambivalence more in favour of focussed hot air, in lieu of cold comfort. It did go a bit quiet when viewing a 12 yard freebie from elevated rows A through Z but picked up afterwards. McGhee went with 433 from 532 in a bid to rescue a point - to say he hoped to win it is flouting the one nil effect as much as saying W'dean had atmosphere. Reid shot home a sweet as left foot strike on the volley with 10 minutes counting down all too fast.
Blayney, Reid, Dolan (Jones), El-Abd, Butters, Harding, Carpenter, Oatway, Hammond (Robinson), Virgo, McCammon (McPhee).
Champ's P 42 . W 12 D 9 L 21 . F 35 A 61 . Pt 45 Po 22

Season 4 (H) 20/12/02 - 0-1
A traditional Friday night at Withdean before Xmas is a magical experience, a sort of footy Santa's grotto. People forsake scenic streetlights and shopping pleasures to flock from the city and make a veritable wonderland from out of a suburban sports' complex. There are carols playing on a choral PA and Attila the festive is all, yo ho-ho and merry Christmas everyone. Belief is suspended for two hours until reality bites, when a blank Saturday becomes filled with diy, family duties or heaven forbid, retail therapy.
Micky Adams brought second placed Leicester down to strugglers Brighton, sporting a wide grin. He had kick-started an Albion rise to division 1 and is something of a local hero. He wanted a chance to try and make it in the elite and time would tell. Adams had gained a couple of promotions from div3 and was endeavouring to do the big one in this season. In fact Leicester had fallen from the Prem the season before and although technically in administration had necessary backing to bounce back. They had a strong squad, were on an unbeaten run and proved hard to beat. Adams said, 'I told the players they had to prove that they are Premiership players on a First Division stage. We try to get there together.'
A thick mist hung above the pitch after a wet day. It was getting worse after a late kick-off. Those furthest from action had to peer more and more into a thickening gloom as they lost touch with lines. It was a pity weather didn't cause an abandonment because Albion played as if in a fog anyway. Leicester were a handy side with a couple of purposeful strikers who knew their jobs. We probably would have been done by more than one had conditions favoured true football. When they bagged the winner with 20 mins left, there was a time delay before away fans realised something worth celebrating had happened up that blanked out end. Coppell said, 'it gave me indigestion with my Christmas dinner.'
Kuipers, Watson, Pethick, Cullip, Mayo, Sidwell (Hart), Carpenter, Rodger, Jones (Brooker), Barrett, Zamora.
Div 1 (Champ's) P 24 . W 3 D 5 L 16 . F 22 A 43 . Pt 14 Po 24