ASTON VILLA - Home, Falmer Years: 19/20 - 20/21 Prem, seasons 9, 10 . 16/17 C'ship, season6 . '19 EFL Cup, season9.
Manager; Dean Smith (2018) - Wins = 39.2% @ Aug '20 . Ground: Villa Park 42.6k . Nickname: Villans . Shirt: claret, light blue sleeves.
Prem record from 11/12 to 20/21; 16, 15, 15, 17, 20, (13 / 4, 5 @ C'ship), 17, 11 @ 20/4/21 . . . . Best = 15th, Worst = 20th,
Stayed up - '12, '13, '14, '15, '20, relegated '16.
C21; top six - '00, '04, '08, '09, '10, top ten - '01, '02, '05, '11 . Stayed up (in bottom six) - '03, '06, '12-'15, '20, relegated - '16.
Prem points last decade: 48, 38, 41, 38, 38, 17, - - - , 35, (44).
Recent Managers; Dean Smith (2018), Steve Bruce (2016-18), Steve Clarke (2016), Roberto di Matteo (2016), Eric Black (2016),
Remi Garde (2015-16), Tim Sherwood (2015), Paul Lambert (2012-15).

20/21 odds at start: top half 6/1, rel 15-8, stay up 4-11 . Sack Smith 8/1.
Run in from 9/4/21: Liverpool 2-1 (A), Man City (H), Everton (H), West Brom (H), Everton (A), Man Utd (H), Palace (A), Spurs (A), Chelsea (H).
Run in *forecast @ 9/4/21: 44 > *57pts, Max = 71 . Actual = 44 . Po = 9th, Best poss = 2nd . Actual po = 11th

VILLA Away: Prem.
Seasn . W D L . F A GD . . Pt Po pt/gm %Pt . . W% L%
20/21 - 7 3 06 . 20 14 06 .. 24 11 = 1.50 54.5 . 43.7 37.5 - D Smith.
19/20 - 2 5 12 . 19 37 -18 . 11 17 = 0.57 31.4 . 10.5 63.1 - Dean Smith, finish 27/7/20.
16/17 to 18/19 - not Premier League
15/16 - 1 3 15 . 13 41 -28 . 06 20 = 0.31 35.2 . 05.2 78.9 - Remi Garde.
14/15 - 5 2 12 . 13 32 -19 . 17 17 = 0.89 44.7 . 26.3 63.1 - Tim Sherwood.
13/14 - 4 5 10 . 17 32 -15 . 17 15 = 0.89 44.7 . 21.0 52.6 - Paul Lambert.

Albion v Villa (H) from 17/18: -, -, 1-1, 0-0 . . W = 0 D = 2 L = 0

Season10, 4th Premier League (H) Sat 13/2/21 - 0-0
Covid attendance restrictions: lockdown 3, Tier 3/4/5 = 0 fans, (T2 = 2000, T1 = 4000). Match played behind closed doors.
At very end of that belated run-in last term, during June & July '20, Villa had stayed in the Prem by getting a single point away on the final day. Following the league restarting after suspension during March (due to coronavirus outbreaks) some clubs, like Albion, hit the ground running or found good form at that critical time. Teams such as Villans & Seagulls having survived, were next expected to contest bottom six places once more. Our history of meetings wasn't extensive but taken on balance, both clubs were attempting to consolidate in this division. Therefore Brighton fans anticipated regular open play, with dual winning mentalities, rather than away sides merely parking the bus here or at other various silent venues on that long road nationwide. In the event things were indeed a tad different this term. Villa were now in the top ten, while Albion again serially struggled to get out of the bottom six. Poor home form was a contributing factor: W1 D6 L4 F11 A15. Somehow Graham Potter had to motivate players to up the ante at the empty Amex and score at least once while keeping a clean sheet. Brighton fans would be at home watching on tv and hoping their shouts of encouragement might somehow reach right into the stadium as support from afar. We'd just been knocked out of the FA Cup, so there was no better time to resume winning ways in the Prem now.
Albion got a goalless draw, which was at least another clean sheet and a run of six PL fixtures unbeaten. Villa were battered (see stats below) but their keeper had an eye-catching display of saves, blocks, parries and good fortune. At end of the night we'd registered a fail to score stat but not without trying to hit the net on numerous occasions. Several players had chances, not just strikers, although none on getting into the final third could make it count. It was a re-run of many performances this term where the end product was missing to complete impressive build up, forward moves and slick passing. Any of Albion's 10 outfield personnel were capable of scoring, as current tallies suggest, however doing so was beyond them again this evening. Until that ongoing problem was solved BHA would continue in lower order, always looking over shoulders at opposition behind maybe getting closer. Seagulls football & form was up to par presently but whether the side deserves something better or not, you only get rewards for putting the ball away more times than opponents on any given day.
Stats: ht 0-0, goals nil, poss 58%-42%, on target 9-1, off target 7-1, blocks 10-2, crosses 23-9, o/s 0-3, corners 9-2,
tackles 11-10, fouls 16-12, yellows 2-3, subs 2-3, shape 343-4231 . Weather: very cold.
Team: 26 Sanchez, 3 White, 5 Dunk, 33 Burn, 34 Veltman, 13 Gross, 8 Bissouma, 17 Alzate Y (14 Lallana 61), 10 Mac Allister,
9 Maupay (18 Welbeck 80), 11 Trossard Y . Bench: 31 Walton, 6 Karbownik, 15 Moder, 24 Propper, 22 Tau, 7 Connolly, 29 Zeqiri .
Squad: 16 Jahanbakhsh, 19 Izquierdo . Injured: 2 Lamptey, 4 Webster, 20 March . MoM: Veltman.
Prem: P24 . W1 D7 L4 .F11 A15 . W4 D4 L4 . F14 A15 . Pt26 Po15 = 1.08pt/gm. Wins = 20.8%, Loss = 33.3%

Villa:
Quatr: Pl . W D L . F A GD . . . Pt Po pt/gm . W% L%
Total: 30 . 13 05 12 . 43 33 10 . 44 11 = 1.46 . 43.3 40.0
3qtrs: 29 . 13 05 11 . 42 31 11 . 44 09 = 1.51 . 44.8 37.9
Hfwy: 19 . 10 02 07 . 34 21 13 . 32 09 = 1.68 . 52.6 36.8
Start: 10 . 06 00 04 . 21 13 08 . 18 10 = 1.80 . 60.0 40.0 - D Smith.
EFL Cup: Stoke 0-1 (H) R4, Bristol C 0-3 (A) R3, Burton 1-3 (A) R2.
FA Cup: Liverpool 1-4 (H) R3.
Nov: the first quarter finished with Villa 10th in the Prem table
Jan: at the halfway stage Villans were 8th and 3pts off a Europa League place.
Mar: threequarters completed they were 9th and 5pt from 5th.
May:

Season9, 3rd Premier League (H) Sat 18/1/20 - 1-1 ~ Trossard.
Albion had already hosted ex-Championship Villa at the Amex, for an EFL Cup R3 tie during late September (see below). We'd only previously played them here for that successful auto-promo campaign of our last year at level2 (see Season6 below). In fact we'd barely met at all this century, as BHA climbed from proverbial gutter, initially domiciled at Withdean, to the stars when wonderfully rehoused at Falmer. Villa meanwhile had been on a re-entry orbit, following many years previously at Prem level since its elite league formation in 1992. Things came down to a PL relegation battle now as both clubs wanted vital points to keep moving towards a survival target. The point was that this term nobody could say there were definitely three teams at bottom of the table who were already cut adrift without any hope. Seagulls had to up the ante from this moment because Brighton fans didn't wanna see a repeat of 2019 run-in trauma & drama here. Also, could coach Graham Potter come up with the goods to underline future credentials as a Prem boss respected for real & measured achievements? This was a very tough league with no guarantees... as Chris Hughton knew previously.
The game ended all square but Brighton fans knew Albion had thrown two points away because of failure to put the ball twice into the net. More than that, failure to seriously hit the target or turn possession into goal-scoring opportunities. It was just more of what we have come to accept at the Amex and the crowd was pretty quiet for long periods as well. A single goal lead, from Trossard's strike (38min) was never going to be enough to ensure victory. Villa responded after the interval, while Albion merely ground to a halt in front of goal. Visitors levelled (75min), were always in the game and carried a threat to boot. Potter threw subs on to try and grab a second goal, reshaped as usual and moved men about like chess pieces. It was a tight affair, although the away outfit defended well enough to thwart any forays into their area. Albion went from side to side, backwards, down flanks and across the box but never penetrated to effect. In truth, apart from early threats our attacks were too slow and got slower as time passed. Meanwhile Villa knew how to counter with directness & pace. Potter has reached a plateau with methods and personnel employed, so the jury is out on how much he could improve this group. Bear in mind he is learning on the job as well. Meanwhile the January window was not open yet for much needed replacements. That is to say, BHA required somebody to step in before it became another winter of discontent.
Stats: shape 4222-343, ht 1-0, goals 38-75, poss 56%-44%, on target 2-3, off target 3-5, blocks 5-0, crosses 11-19, o/s 2-4, corners 3-4,
tackles 19-21, fouls 11-13, yellows 3-3, subs 3-3 . MoM - Bernardo . Gate - 30,551, away 3021 . Weather - dry & cold.
1 Ryan, 46 Alzate, 15 Webster Y, 5 Dunk Y, 30 Bernardo, 6 Stephens, 24 Propper, 18 Mooy (13 Gross 80), 11 Trossard (17 Murray 80),
7 Maupay, 44 Connolly (22 Montoya 68) . Subs - 27 Button, 4 Duffy, 8 Bissouma, 16 Jahanbakhsh.
Squad - 3 Bong, 14 Balogun, 20 March, 21 Schelotto . Injured - 19 Izquierdo, 33 Burn.
Prem: P23 . W4 D5 L3 . F16 A13 . W2 D2 L7 F10 A18 . Pt25 Po14 = 1.08pt/gm. Wins = 26.0%, Loss = 43.4%

Season9 EFL Cup R3 (H) Wed 25/9/19 - L 1-3 ~ Roberts.
Albion drew Villa, for this evening knockout competition, with a home tie - after both Prem clubs got past lower league opposition away at end of August. Each outfit now had an option to field a similar second eleven, or maybe go with a full strength side as a potential way of progressing at shorter odds. Graham Potter had already blooded U23 academy graduate Aaron Connolly & ex-EFL youngster Steven Alzate at Prem level, having earlier dispensed with services of ex-PL strikers Hemed, Knockaert, Andone & Locadia during August. None of those previously figured in the R2 cup-tie squad but plenty of U23s & fringe players had made up match-day ranks.
On the day Potter had multiple injury problems among his senior squad, so selected the youngest Prem side to play anywhere at elite level this season so far. In the event Villa proved superior with their experienced team and were two up by the break (22 & 33 mins). Roberts headed home a set piece around the hour mark and Connolly came off immediately afterwards. But unfortunately Duffy sustained injury ten minutes later and left the battle. Villa soon enough sealed it via another goal as BHA youngsters desperately defended their area again & again (77min). Potter was pleased with his U23 virgin outfit, many of whom made debuts on a night of boys versus men. Brighton fans at least got to see how far the U23 squad was behind the curve in their development as pros, bearing in mind lots of contemporaries were already out on loan either in the EFL or abroad. It was a numbers game but just maybe a few could eventually make the grade in future. Perhaps the academy system required more meaningful competition, as in knockouts like this and the EFL Trophy, to sort chaff from wheat.
Stats: shape 343-433, ht 0-2, goals 61-22,33,77, poss 30%-70%, on target 6-10, off target 8-18, corners 3-11, fouls 7-11, yellows 2-1, subs 3-3. MoM - Roberts . Gate - 14,982, away 2305 . Weather - mild & dry.
27 Button, 58 Roberts Y, 4 Duffy (49 Yapi 72), 3 Bong, 51 A Davies, 72 Jenks (71 Spong 82), 28 Baluta, 50 Cochrane,
44 Connolly (60 Longman 58), 45 Richards Y, 55 Gwargis . Subs - 23 Steele, 52 J Davies, 53 O'Hora, 56 Radulovic.

Quatr: Pl . W D L . F A GD . . . Pt Po pt/gm . W% L%
Total: 38 . 9 8 21 . 41 67 -26 . 35 17 = 0.92 . 23.6 55.2 - D Smith, finish 27/7/20.
3qtrs: 29 . 7 5 17 . 34 56 -22 . 26 19 = 0.89 . 24.1 58.6 PREM SUSPENDED
Hfwy: 19 . 5 3 11 . 25 33 -08 . 19 18 = 1.00 . 26.3 57.8
Start: 10 . 3 2 05 . 15 16 -01 . 11 14 = 1.10 . 30.0 50.0 - D Smith.
EFL Cup: final - Man City L 1-2, s-f - Leicester 2-1 (H) 1-1 (A), q-f - Liverpool 5-0 (H), 4th rnd - Wolves 2-1 (H),
3rd rnd - Brighton 1-3 (A), 2nd rnd - Crewe 1-6 (A).
FA Cup: Fulham 2-1 (A) R3.
Aug: left in the bottom three, although did score enough times to reduce goal difference.
Oct: eased into lower mid table by end of start Q1.
New Year: just above d-z but dumped out of FA Cup by ex-Prem outfit.
March: in 19th d-z place when PL suspended. EFL Cup finalists.
July: outside d-z on last day and made it count when results all came in.

VILLA Previous Prem:
Sesn . W D L . . . F A GD . . Pt Po pt/gm . . W% L%
20/21 - see season10 above.
19/20 - 09 8 21 . 41 67 -26 . 35 17 = 0.92 . 23.6 55.2 - Dean Smith. PL SUSPENDED, complete @ 27/7/20.
Went to the last day for decider and guess what? Somehow they stayed in the div.
16/17 to 18/19 - not Premier League.
15/16 - 03 8 27 . 27 76 -49 . 17 20 = 0.44 . 07.8 71.0 - Remi Garde.
14/15 - 10 8 20 . 31 57 -26 . 38 17 = 1.00 . 26.3 52.6 - Tim Sherwood.
13/14 - 10 8 20 . 39 61 -22 . 38 15 = 1.00 . 26.3 52.6 - Paul Lambert.

FA CUP; from 13/14 - 3rd rnd, final, 4th, 3rd, 3rd, 3rd, 3rd,
LEAGUE CUP; from 13/14 - 3rd rnd, 2nd, 4th, 1st, 3rd, 2nd, final, 4th.
* * * * * * * * * * *

Aston Villa home, Falmer years - C'ship 16/17.
Albion v Villa (H) from 11/12: -, -, -, -, -, 1-1 . W = 0 D = 1 L = 0

Season6 (H) Championship 18/11/16 - 1-1 ~ Murray.
This first fixture against the ex-Prem midlands outfit was moved to a Friday night tv slot, following the customary November international break. Albion had established at second place in the Championship after an unbeaten run of 10 matches, including 8 victories. Meanwhile Villa were languishing in 14th, undefeated at home but merely one win away in 8 games. Chris Hughton had Seagulls squad in good form, especially at the Amex - six wins from 8 games. Also BHA had kept six clean sheets there, scoring 17 against 4. And goals conceded were 2 in each of the single draw & loss. Hughton knew his preferred starting eleven by now and had benefit of a strong bench and a fit squad too. In fact there was quality cover in most positions across & down the pitch, apart from a couple due to injury. In build up to this fixture assistant Colin Calderwood quit for a job at Villa.
Visitors took the lead after hosts failed to capitalise on early chances. From a f-k the ball went over and skimmed off a head to beat Stockdale's dive (20min). Albion huffed & puffed but couldn't seem to put passes together. Then just prior to h-t a final fluid move saw Murray smack a great 25 yarder into the bottom corner (45m). After the interval Villa pressed hard while Seagulls were forced into rearguard action. Hughton put Murphy into the fray with twenty mins left and later Norwood arrived but little changed. Stockdale made a couple of superb saves to keep parity as travellers went to win it at the death. The match was competitve and open but never dirty. Brighton fans were entertained in a full house but could see a tad more was needed to go beat a good football playing outfit. It was a fair result at end of the day.
Stats; h-t 1-1, goals 20-45, poss 59%-41%, on target 2-2, off target 4-5, corners 2-12, o/s 4-2, fouls 13-15, yellows 1-2, subs 2-2 . att 30,107.
Stockdale, Bruno, Duffy, Dunk, Bong, Knockaert (Norwood), Sidwell, Stephens, Skalak, Baldock (Murphy), Murray.
Champ's P17 . W10 D5 L2 . F26 A10 . Pt35 Po2 . W = 58.8% L = 11.7%
* * * * *

Withdean Era - no league meetings H&A in 12 seasons between 1999 and 2011.

Aston Villa - Away, Falmer Years: 19/20 - 20/21 Prem, seasons 9, 10 . 16/17 C'ship, season6.
VILLA @ Home: Villa Park.
Seasn . W D L . F A GD . . Pt Po pt/gm %Pt . . W% L%
20/21 - 6 2 06 . 23 19 04 .. 20 11 = 1.42 45.4 . 42.8 42.8 - D Smith.
19/20 - 7 3 09 . 22 30 -08 . 24 17 = 1.26 68.5 . 36.8 47.3 - Dean Smith, finish 25/7/20.
16/17 to 18/19 - not Premier League.
15/16 - 2 5 12 . 14 35 -21 . 11 15 = 0.57 64.7 . 10.5 63.1 - Remi Garde.
14/15 - 5 6 08 . 18 25 -07 . 21 17 = 1.10 55.2 . 26.3 42.1 - Tim Sherwood.
13/14 - 6 3 10 . 22 29 -07 . 21 15 = 1.10 55.2 . 31.5 52.6 - Paul Lambert.

Villa v Albion (A) from 17/18: -, -, 2-1, 1-2 . . W = 1 D = 0 L = 1

Season10, 4th Premier League (A) Sat 21/11/20 - W 1-2 ~ Welbeck, March.
This fixture was played in an empty stadium as per imposed recurrent lockdown pandemic protocols. It followed the second pause to our fourth ongoing but late starting Prem season. Away trips had to provide more points this campaign if Albion were to climb the table from previous lowly finishes. Clubs like Villa were obvious targets for getting a result; based on law of averages, second season syndrome, lightning twice striking, lady luck or fickle finger of fate. In reality, managerial influences, current form, squad experience and events on the field counted for more. Clubs that found themselves in lower order positions tended to stay there, especially those in the bottom six. So Albion's brief was fundamentally not to get beat and when gaining possession, turn it into on targets. By playing those percentages, one chance from many should go in. Anything less would maintain a current prevailing negative trend. The first quarter period was approaching its cut off date next week and results thus far could then be dissected - logically but mostly realistically in cold light of day.
Albion took home three valuable points, although it was all hands to the pumps at the death. Welbeck got his first BHA goal with a solo run between each half and chip finish (12min). Villa tried hard to restore parity but remained one behind come the interval. Lallana didn't appear for the second period. Hosts quickly levelled on turnaround from a set piece that Seagulls were merely ball watching rather than marking the runner (47min). Quite soon visitors were ahead once more when March finished a Gross lateral area pass with a super shot (56min). Villans went hell for leather to equalise and Potter took off Maupay as time ran out, going to 541 in a do or die rearguard battle. Lamptey received 2 very late yellows and was sent off in stoppage. Ref signalled a pen against March at the death but reversed his decision when reviewing via pitchside monitor. Potter was pleased with this result, where for once to date the proverbial ball broke in favour BHA. The Prem was being greatly influenced by VAR decisions thus far, so we hoped that come next May things would have evened out in the long run. Travellers away record looked respectable at present but domestic results needed addressing next, to move Albion out of the bottom six, after Q1 analysis at end of this month. Trouble was, Liverpool were our next fixture due at the Amex and with no fans allowed to be there a vital twelfth man would again be missing in support of better home form.
Stats: ht 0-1, goals 47-12,56, poss 55%-45%, on target 4-3, off target 6-3, corners 12-3, o/s 2-0, crosses 41-16, blocks 5-1, tackles 7-18, fouls 5-18, yellows 2-2, red 0-1, subs 2-3 . Weather: dry, cloudy.
Team: 1 Ryan, 2 Lamptey R, 3 White, 5 Dunk, 4 Webster, 20 March, 13 Gross (49 Molumby 96), 8 Bissouma Y, 14 Lallana (34 Veltman 46),
9 Maupay (33 Burn 80), 18 Welbeck . Bench: 23 Steele, 17 Alzate, 16 Jahanbakhsh, 7 Connolly.
Squad: 19 Izquierdo, 29 Zeqiri, 30 Bernardo . Injured: 11 Trossard . Sick: 10 Mac Allister, 24 Propper . MoM: Welbeck.
Prem: P9 . W0 D2 L2 . F4 A7 . W2 D1 L2 . F9 A8 . Pt9 Po16 = 1.00pt/gm. Wins = 22.2%, Loss = 44.4%

Season9, 3rd Premier League (A) Sat 19/10/19 - L 2-1 ~ Webster.
A much anticipated renewed league meeting with Villa occurred just after the second international break, during October. Through coincidence we'd recently played them, last month at the Amex, in an EFL Cup R3 tie. It was a Prem fixture now, although had hardly crossed paths previously (see Season6 below) with the ex-Prem midlands outfit. And late in the noughties Withdean era we'd only visited here for an FA Cup R4 tie, when Albion were a League One club. Anyway the state of play currently was Seagulls, now under coach Graham Potter, had accumulated just enough points to reside in midtable with Villans. This upcoming contest would supposedly show how each outfit had progressed thus far, bearing in mind the relative spending power of each PL sides owners. BHA hadn't gone overboard with pre-season signings, while Villa had splashed those millions well into three figures. Both squads were altered compared to last term but for different reasons. Quite a number of previous Seagulls players were now gone or out on loan, to make way for summer replacements or U23s on the up.
Albion were beaten right at the death after leading until just before the break. Webster nodded in from Gross f-k to highlight useful play from visitors during the first half (21min). Then Mooy got sent off for two quick bookables and the game changed dramatically (31 & 35min). Villa soon had the ball in the net but it was chalked off by VAR. Moments later they equalised on stroke of halftime and it gave hosts a vital lift (45+min). Potter withdrew Connolly for March at start of the second period, leaving Maupay alone up front. Albion huffed & puffed but everything remained the same while the clock ticked down. Potter put Duffy in after Montoya got a yellow and later Alzate went on, moving March to point. Seagulls flapped a few times at the back but Ryan held firm as last line of defence. But deep into stoppage Villa bagged their winner (90+4min). Potter said, 'I'm not one to criticise referees but you will see worse red cards.' Brighton fans were choked, especially after witnessing two goals against in time added on. It was a double psycological moment for all away concerned and not one for a happy outcome. At end of the day BHA went home with nothing, minus a player banned to boot.
Stats: shape 43-442, ht 1-1, goals 45,90-21, poss 49%-51%, on target 8-5, off target 8-8, blocks 8-7, crosses 31-17, corners 7-5, o/s 1-0,
tackles 6-11, fouls 9-17, yellows 1-2, red 0-1, subs 3-3 . Gate - 41,826, away 3010 . Weather - autumnal . MoM - Webster.
1 Ryan, 22 Montoya Y (4 Duffy 70), 15 Webster, 5 Dunk, 33 Burn, 13 Gross, 6 Stephens, 24 Propper, 18 Mooy R, 44 Connolly (20 March 46 Y),
7 Maupay (46 Alzate 81) . Subs - 27 Button, 8 Bissouma, 11 Trossard, 17 Murray.
Squad - 3 Bong, 14 Balogun, 16 Jahanbakhsh, 21 Schelotto . Injured - 19 Izquierdo, 30 Bernardo.
Prem P9 . W1 D2 L1 . F5 A4 . W1 D1 L3 . F4 A8 . Pt9 Po16 = 1.00pt/gm. Wins = 22.2%, Loss = 44.4%
* * * * * * * * * * *

Aston Villa away, Falmer years - C'ship 16/17.
Villa v Albion (A) from 11/12: -, -, -, -, -, 1-1 . W = 0 D = 1 L =0

Season6 (A) Championship 7/5/17 - 1-1 ~ Murray.
It was the last game of the season and for many Brighton fans a new experience. Previously BHA had been in League One when visiting here for an FA Cup R4 tie during January 2010 (see Withdean era). Looking into the future, Albion would be playing in the Prem next season, while recent ex-elite outfits like Villa, Norwich, QPR, Cardiff, Blackburn & Wigan etc would not. The rise of Seagulls had been nurtured by Chris Hughton who'd gotten them to take flight & really hit the heights in the last couple of years. Of course chairman Tony Bloom should also be congratulated in unison, for his extraordinary input at both the Amex & Lancing, to provide truly world class facilities for the club. Brighton fans 20 year journey from homelessness to become an active part of Premiership crowds requires a well documented mention again - see our archive, for Falmer diary & file, Characters & Stats. Hughton had said, 'now we want to try to finish it off at Villa. I think we'll have to win to be champions. But we want to be top and the good news is we have another chance.'
Albion finished runners-up in the Championship as it went to the wire. After a goalless first half things began to change when Hughton put March on around the hour mark. Then Baldock was brought down in the area, Ref pointed to the spot and sent off the defender. Murray stepped up to coolly slot Seagulls into the lead (64min). Bruno had to go off with ten minutes left as BHA came under increasing pressure in final stages. Stockdale made a couple of important saves but was unable to stop a punt from down range sneaking thru right at the death (89min). Hemed got on for stoppage time but it was all over bar the handclapping as Albion trooped off in second place overall. Hughton said, 'today is a negative day but there are far more pluses. What these lads have achieved this season is magnificent. We have achieved our goal. We are playing in a division where there are some very big teams, who have spent big money, and we have managed to finish in the top two.' As ever it was a rollercoaster ride for Brighton fans, although if this scenario had been forecast at very beginning of the season, most would have settled for this outcome there & then.
Stats; h-t 0-0, goals 89-64, poss 53%-47%, on target 10-3, off target 4-12, corners 7-3, o/s 0-2, fouls 9-14, yellows 0-1, red 1-0, subs 3-3.
Stockdale, Bruno (Rosenior), Tomori, Dunk, Pocognoli, Knockaert, Stephens, Sidwell, Murphy (March), Baldock (Hemed), Murray . att 32,856
Champ's P 46 . W28 D9 L9 . F74 A40 . Pt93 Po2 . W = 60.8% L = 19.5%
* * * * *

Withdean Era - 12 seasons from 1999 to 2011: no EFL meetings.
Last there - Season11 23/1/10 (A) FA Cup R4.