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Previous encounters (Sheff U )
SHEFFIELD UTD - Home, Falmer Years: 19/20 - 20/21 Prem, seasons 9 - 10. Albion record @ Amex: W = 0 D = 1 L = 1 Manager; Paul Heckingbottom (2021), previously Slavisa Jokanovic (2021), Chris Wilder (16-21) - Wins = 50.7% @ Aug '20 . Ground: Bramall Lane 32k . Nickname: Blades . Shirt: red & white stripes. Prem record from 11/12 to 22/23; (3, 5, 7, 5, 11, 1 @ League One) / (10, 2 @ C'ship), 9, 20, (5, 2 C) @ 27/1/23. C21; Prem, top ten - '20 . Relegated - '07, '21. Prem points: - - - - - - - - 54 23 -. Recent Managers; Chris Wilder (16-21), Nigel Adkins (15-16), Nigel Clough (14-15), Danny Wilson (11-13). UNITED away: Prem. Seasn . W D L . F A GD . . . Pt Po pt/gm %Pt . W% L% 21/22 - 22/23 not Premier League. 20/21 - 2 1 16 . 08 36 -28 . 07 20 = 0.36 30.4 . 10.5 84.2 - P Heckingbottom & C Wilder. 19/20 - 4 9 06 . 15 24 -09 . 21 09 = 1.10 38.8 . 21.0 31.5 - C Wilder, finish 27/7/20. 11/12 - 18/19 not Premier League. Albion v Sheff Utd (H) from 17/18: -, -, 0-1, 1-1, -, - . . W = 0 D = 1 L = 1 . F1 A2 scorers: Welbeck. memorable match: Season9 - our first hosting since Withdean and another shock. For Away Falmer Years results and reports scroll further below. Seasons 11-12 (4th-6th) - not Premier League. Season10, 4th Premier League (H) Sun 20/12/20 - 1-1 ~ Welbeck. Coronavirus restrictions - attendance selected by ballot for 2000 home fans as per Tier 2 rating in Sussex. (Tier 3 = 0). Just like Albion did in days of yore, Blades came from lower levels to reach the promised land after struggles evolved over time this century. The trick now for both clubs was to find a pathway ahead for consolidation in the elite. Both managers had gotten through their baptisms of Prem fire, albeit by different means of progress. Graham Potter belatedly gained the necessary qualifying certificate, after interrupted trials & tribulations eventually turned into him seeing light at end of a dark tunnel. His mission was to turn Potter ball strategies into positive results and climb the table of relative success. So far this was once again proving a tough seasonal challenge. Meanwhile ex-Albion Withdean days loanee Chris Wilder was already struggling just to keep United in the Prem, which latterly appeared the much bigger task. * match report: Albion's search for an initial home win this term continued after finishing this tough match that they should have won but almost lost. Blades were reduced to ten men five minutes before halftime when Ref consulted the pitchside monitor following VAR intervention at a Utd yellow card. Hosts should have been ahead by then anyway but couldn't find the net. The second half was also one way traffic but again, although sticking the ball away proved problematic. United netted first at a counter and 2000 selected Brighton fans inside the Amex were momentarily stunned (63min). Potter had gone for broke with three attacking subs and it was Welbeck who rescued a point with time fast running out (87min). At the death Seagulls were going for a winner in a very congested area but hit the bar. It's never over until it is, so each side eventually got a point apiece. Therefore two points were lost by Albion today due to lack of finishing - see stats below. We were also merely two points above the drop zone and something had to be done to stop the rot asap & pdq to boot. Stats: ht 0-0, goals 87-63, poss 73%-27%, on target 5-3, off target 16-2, o/s 1-2, corners 14-2, fouls 9-11, yellows 1-5, red 0-1, subs 3-3. Weather: dry. Team: 26 Sanchez, 34 Veltman (16 Jahanbakhsh 46), 3 White (29 Zeqiri 72), 5 Dunk Y, 4 Webster, 20 March, 8 Bissouma, 14 Lallana, 7 Connolly, 9 Maupay (18 Welbeck 66), 11 Trossard . Bench: (from 9 subs) 23 Steele, 33 Burn, 49 Molumby, 10 Mac Allister, 17 Alzate, 13 Gross. Squad: 1 Ryan, 19 Izquierdo, 24 Propper . Injured: 2 Lamptey, 21 Andone . MoM: March. Prem: P14 . W0 D4 L3 . F7 A11 . W2 D2 L3 . F9 A11 . Pt12 Po17 = 0.85pt/gm. Wins = 14.2%, Loss = 42.8% Quatr: Pl . W D L . . . F A GD . . Pt Po pt/gm . . W% L% Total: 38 . 07 02 29 . 20 63 -43 . 23 20 = 0.60 . 18.4 76.3 - P Heckingbottom 3qtrs: 29 . 04 02 23 . 16 50 -34 . 14 20 = 0.48 . 13.7 79.3 Hfwy: 19 . 01 02 16 . 10 32 -22 . 05 20 = 0.26 . 05.2 84.2 Start: 10 . 00 01 09 . 04 16 -12 . 01 20 = 0.10 . 00.0 90.0 - C Wilder. EFL Cup: Burnley 5pen4 (1-1) (A) R2. FA Cup: Chelsea 2-0 (A) q-f, Bristol City 1-0 (H) R5, Plymouth 2-1 (H) R4, Bristol Rov 2-3 (A) R3. Nov: at end of the first quarter, Utd were 20th and at foot of the table. Jan: at the halfway stage Blades were still bottom and well adrift. Mar: threequarters completed, still bottom as time fast runs out. Wilder parts company with club owners, leaves job. May: relegated by mid April, always in bottom place. Season9, 3rd Premier League (H) Sat 21/12/19 - L 0-1. This was the last home pre-Xmas fixture, during that usual Prem six-game December slog. BHA hadn't hosted United at the Amex beforehand during six Championship seasons here from 2011. Our last level2 meetings went right back to open-air days at Withdean sports complex, from those early noughties at the theatre of trees (see WE tab previous encounters). During that interim decade or more Albion went from gutter to the stars, fulfilling prospects previously denied this catchment area during those frustrating days of planning, protests, paper-work and public enquiries. Now this really was the big time and apart from entertaining those top-six elite we had also met past combatants like United. Both clubs wanted to establish in the Prem and to date were making a fist of it prior to undertaking all 19 reciprocal fixtures from New Year. * match report: Albion crashed to defeat from a no-show in front of goal, posting another poor performance against a side not exactly playing typical Prem-style footy. But visitors solid defence throughout and true Yorkshire grit when up the other end gave them so much more than just an edge. Individually and as a team Seagulls were not at the races, failing to capitalise on 70/30 possession and merely appearing paper tigers - as the pre-match media hype got exposed to be based in literal bullsh!t. VAR came into effect on more occasions than actual goals recorded but BHA couldn't use these multi incidents as any sort of excuse for not scoring. In truth hosts woulda been beaten by three but for ultra-modern technology advice. And they gave away the winning goal as an early Xmas Prem present to the ex-lev2 outfit, who never remotely looked like conceding afterwards (24min). Potter put on Murray & Connolly immediately after the interval and very soon following that double swap Bissouma got on - BHA going to 343 in an attempt to up the ante. But it was like pi$$ing into the gale-force s-w wind we know so well during Sussex winters. Look at the detailed stats below for dry facts & figs, should you doubt written responses to this latest Amex debacle. Potter said, 'we were not good enough and that includes me. We must all hold our hands up. United were better in everything they did.' The sad thing is, no matter how well Potter-ball magic gets perceived thru entertainment value, comparing actual points obtained at this festive moment 12 months ago, Albion are coming up short. Is it cause for concern? Well, Brighton fans must remember opening months of 2019... we don't want a repeat by any stretch of footy realism. Stats: shape 433-451, ht 0-1, goal 24, poss 69%-31%, on target 2-2, off target 4-5, blocks 3-0, o/s 2-3, corners 4-3, crosses 22-9, tackles 7-22, fouls 6-11, yellows 1-3, subs 3-3 . MoM - Connolly . Gate - 30,505 away 3008 . Weather - rain. 1 Ryan, 22 Montoya (8 Bissouma 55 Y), 15 Webster, 5 Dunk, 33 Burn, 13 Gross (17 Murray 45), 6 Stephens, 24 Propper, 18 Mooy, 11 Trossard (44 Connolly 45), 7 Maupay . Subs: 27 Button, 4 Duffy, 30 Bernardo, 46 Alzate. Squad - 3 Bong, 14 Balogun, 16 Jahanbakhsh, 21 Schelotto . Injured - 19 Izquierdo, 20 March. Prem P18 . W3 D3 L3 . F12 A11 . W2 D2 L5 . F9 A15. Pt20 Po13 = 1.11pt/gm. Wins = 27.7%, Loss = 44.4% Quatr: Pl . W D L . . . F A GD . . Pt Po pt/gm . W% L% Total: 38 . 14 12 12 . 39 39 00 . 54 9 = 1.42 . 36.8 31.5 - C Wilder, finish 27/7/20 3qtrs: 29 . 11 11 07 . 30 25 05 . 44 6 = 1.51 . 37.9 24.1 PREM SUSPENDED Hfwy: 19 . 07 08 04 . 23 17 06 . 29 6 = 1.52 . 36.8 21.0 Start: 10 . 03 04 03 . 09 08 01 . 13 7 = 1.30 . 30.0 30.0 - Chris Wilder. EFL Cup: 3rd rnd - Sunderland 0-1 (H), 2nd rnd - Blackburn 2-1 (H). FA Cup: Arsenal 1-2 (H) q-f, Reading 1-2 aet (A) R5, Millwall 0-2 (A) R4, Fylde 2-1 (H) R3. Aug: doing much better than anticipated and zero gd that adds to points cushion. Oct: claiming a top ten slot and getting the job done ok by end of start Q1. New Year: in 8th pos and thru to FAC4. March: 7th position when Prem suspended. Into FAC last eight. July: didn't make the top six but creditable effort in their first year back. Seasons 7-8 (1st-2nd) - not Premier League. SHEFF UTD Previous Prem: Seasn . W D L . . F A GD . . Pt Po pt/gm . W% L% 21/22 - 22/23 not Premier League. 20/21 - 07 2 29 . 20 63 -43 . 23 20 = 0.60 . 18.4 76.3 - R Heckingbottom & C Wilder @ 24/5/21 Manager bailed out before run in (sacked) with club already in dire trouble and soon relegated thereafter. 19/20 - 14 12 12 . 39 39 00 . 54 09 = 1.42 . 36.8 31.5 - C Wilder. PL SUSPENDED, complete @ 27/7/20 Manager did a superb job considering his starting point from lower leagues. 11/12 - 18/19 not Premier League. FA CUP; from 11/12 - 4th rnd, 4th, s-f, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, 5th, 3rd, q-f, q-f, 3rd. LEAGUE CUP; from 11/12 - 2nd rnd, 1st, 1st, s-f, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 3rd, 2nd, 3rd, 1st. * * * * * Sheff Utd - home, Falmer years: Championship from 2011 to 2017, Seasons 1-6 - no meetings. * * * * * Previous EFL: 12 seasons from 1999 - 2011. See Withdean Era tab & also Clubs scroll in Archive: Seasons 4 02/3, 6 04/5, 7 05/6 - Championship. Withdean era: Albion v Blades 2-4, 1-1, 0-1 . . . W = 0 D = 1 L = 2 memorable match: Season4 (H) - a new manager on board but could it get worse? see: Seasons 4, 6, 7 for club & stadium info. Also Dick Knight, Steve Coppell & Micky Adams.
Sheff Utd - Away, Falmer Years: 19/20 - 20/21 Prem, seasons 9 - 10. Albion record @ Blades: W = 0 D = 1 L = 1 UNITED @ Home: Bramall Lane. Seasn . W D L . . F A GD . . . Pt Po pt/gm %Pt . W% L% 21/22 - 22/23 not Premier League. 20/21 - 05 1 13 . 12 27 -15 . 16 20 = 0.84 69.5 . 26.3 68.4 - P Heckingbottom & C Wilder. 19/20 - 10 3 06 . 24 15 09 .. 33 09 = 1.73 61.1 . 52.6 31.5 - Chris Wilder, finish 27/7/20. 11/12 - 18/19 not Premier League. Sheff Utd v Albion (A) from 17/18: -, -, 1-1, 1-0, -, - . . W = 0 D = 1 L = 1 . F1 A2 scorers: Maupay. memorable match: Season9 (A) - revisiting Bramall Lane since our last trip in 2006. For Home Falmer Years results & reports scroll further up. Seasons 11-12 (5th-6th) - not Premier League. Season10, 4th Premier League (A) Sat 24/4/21 - L 1-0 Covid restrictions: no fans attending (post-lockdown3, Tier 3/4/5). Many Brighton fans wondered how we'd been struggling to maintain a regular place in the Prem for these last four seasons, while ex-Championship United had last term thrust up this division like a blade thru butter from their very first strike in decades. Tony Bloom next wanted midtable mediocrity and elite consolidation but it would seem to be via a process of evolution for Seagulls, rather than revolution as enountered during other periods of BHA success this century. However, now heat was on to turn performances into points and thus justify survival expectation by getting results. And on paper no better opportunity than today appeared against Blades - who had fallen on their sword this campaign, to say least. The Yorkshire outfit had proved to be merely a flash in the pan after two seasons in the elite and were surely there for taking having been the first club officially relegated thus far. * match report: Albion crashed to defeat on yet another day in the Prem when failing to find the net. This was the third fail to score stat in a row which highlighted a very average display of intent but alas no end product. Seagulls are not clinical enough, especially competing against lower order clubs, who look on us as easy touches for a point or more. Any will to win was not backed up by what happened in front of goal, where bad decisions, wrong choices and lack of footy finishing skills exposed a powder puff attack of fragile attitude. After BHA defensive mistakes, Blades scored (19min) and rest of the first half was poor as we chased the game again. Second period action was more like that required to attempt a leveller but it all fell in a heap after VAR ruled o/s had occurred prior to the ball crossing the home line. Albion went thru motions, moved players about, put on subs but missed every trick in front of posts as opportunities got presented to convert and at least equalise. It was a bad show and Brighton fans were once more this term left frustrated and irritated by an ongoing goal drought. One factor in this continuing conundrum is that we don't have players who have scored goals in sufficient numbers to make an impact at Prem level. We've got a team of personnel who've hit the net previously lower down the pyramid, in lesser leagues abroad or during academy development. It is a different matter to rack up good numbers in the elite and BHA just don't have regular goal scorers from around the pitch to back up intermittent strikers. At end of the day, or perhaps we should say season, this needs to change or Seagulls stay in the PL shall inevitably become shorter as the law of diminishing returns takes effect in the drop zone. Stats: ht 1-0, goal 19, poss 32%-68%, on target 3-4, off target 1-8, blocks 3-5, crosses 12-24, corners 2-12, o/s 0-1, tackles 24-11, fouls 13-7, yellows 3-0, subs 2-3, shape 3412-3412 . Weather: dry Team: 26 Sanchez, 4 Webster, 5 Dunk, 34 Veltman, 13 Gross (16 Jahanbakhsh 67), 8 Bissouma, 14 Lallana, 15 Moder (7 Connolly 67), 9 Maupay, 11 Trossard (19 Izquierdo 82), 18 Welbeck . Bench: 23 Steele, 17 Alzate, 24 Propper, 29 Zeqiri, 33 Burn . Squad: 6 Karbownik, 22 Tau . Injured: 2 Lamptey, 20 March . Ban: 3 White . Prem: P33 . W2 D8 L6 . F16 A19 . W5 D5 L7 . F17 A20 . Pt34 Po17 = 1.03pt/gm. Wins = 21.2%, Loss = 39.3% Season9, 3rd Premier League (A) Sat 22/2/20 - 1-1 ~ Maupay. This PL fixture was scheduled following the new winter break. We'd not met Blades here since those earlier times of level2 matches back in the noughties, so hoped it had been worth the extra wait, both short (in Prem days) & long (in football years). Albion were struggling again this term in another bid to beat the drop, while Blades were going great guns in their first season at elite level since long lost days of yore. On the road Brighton were pretty dismal with a record of w2 d3 l8 f14 a24 gd-10. Apart from a four goal beating at Man City early in the campaign, other defeats had been by the odd goal or two. Unfortunately scoring goals consistently was a problem yet to be overcome. And keeping clean sheets also seemed difficult to boot. Graham Potter had tried numerous shapes & tactics and was never shy of changing things around during play but so far had not found a working method to get vital goals and wins. BHA were short on striker options, so had to rely on other players getting goals to supplement meagre ongoing totals. Performances varied regularly and fans were never quite sure what to expect on any given appearance. Albion were often chasing the game, which more or less decided allocation of points from that initial opening score. That said, there was still hope today somehow would be a going one... survival depended on it after all. * match report: In the event Albion rescued a point from a hard fought battle. They went back to basics, packed defence as in Chris Hughton's reign and held out against the odds. United opened the scoring with a snap shot following a corner (26min). Very soon afterwards Maupay levelled it when heading home from a f-k that was nodded back across the area (30 min). Potter put on two attacking subs and went to 433 for last phases of a dour contest. Blades continued to cut & thrust but visitors parried all further blows by putting bodies on the line. Potter was pleased with the performance and said, 'we are now fighting for everything.' Travelling support were realistic about todays outcome and happy not to have got beat again. Brighton fans checked other results and found BHA had gained a little bit on lesser rivals who had lost. It is never over until it is but so far so good and all to play for. Stats: shape 352-532, ht 1-1, goals 26-30, poss 67%-33%, on target 3-2, off target 6-4, blocks 5-2, o/s 3-2, crosses 48-6, corners 12-2, tackles 15-14, fouls 3-6, yellows 0-2, subs 3-3 . MoM - Dunk . Gate - 31,888, away 2863 . Weather - wet. 1 Ryan, 21 Schelotto (11 Trossard 75), 15 Webster, 4 Duffy, 5 Dunk, 33 Burn, 18 Mooy, 8 Bissouma Y, 24 Propper Y, 17 Murray (44 Connolly 75), 7 Maupay (30 Bernardo 93) . Subs - 27 Button, 13 Gross, 16 Jahanbakhsh, 20 March. Squad - 3 Lamptey, 10 Mac Allister, 22 Montoya, 25 Kayal, 46 Alzate . Injured - 6 Stephens, 19 Izquierdo. Prem: P27 . W4 D6 L3 . F17 A14 . W2 D4 L8 . F15 A25 . Pt28 Po15 = 1.03pt/gm. Wins = 22.2%, Loss = 40.7% Seasons 7-8 (1st-2nd) - not Premier League. * * * * * Sheff Utd - away, Falmer years: Championship Seasons 1-6 - no visits. * * * * * See Withdean Era tab & Clubs scroll in Archive: Seasons 4 02/3, 6 04/5, 7 05/6 - Championship. Withdean era: Blades v Albion 2-1, 1-2, 3-1 . . . W = 1 D = 0 L = 2 memorable match: Season6 (A) - a late smash & grab that older fans recall. Noughties last there - 21/1/06 (A) C'ship. Our last visit to Bramall Lane during this decade and would not go there again until 2020 in the Prem. see: Seasons 4, 6, 7 for club & stadium info. Also Richard Carpenter, Leon Knight & Colin Kazim-Richards.
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Previous encounters (Sheff U )
SHEFFIELD UTD - Home, Falmer Years: 19/20 - 20/21 Prem, seasons 9 - 10. Albion record @ Amex: W = 0 D = 1 L = 1 Manager; Paul Heckingbottom (2021), previously Slavisa Jokanovic (2021), Chris Wilder (16-21) - Wins = 50.7% @ Aug '20 . Ground: Bramall Lane 32k . Nickname: Blades . Shirt: red & white stripes. Prem record from 11/12 to 22/23; (3, 5, 7, 5, 11, 1 @ League One) / (10, 2 @ C'ship), 9, 20, (5, 2 C) @ 27/1/23. C21; Prem, top ten - '20 . Relegated - '07, '21. Prem points: - - - - - - - - 54 23 -. Recent Managers; Chris Wilder (16-21), Nigel Adkins (15-16), Nigel Clough (14-15), Danny Wilson (11-13). UNITED away: Prem. Seasn . W D L . F A GD . . . Pt Po pt/gm %Pt . W% L% 21/22 - 22/23 not Premier League. 20/21 - 2 1 16 . 08 36 -28 . 07 20 = 0.36 30.4 . 10.5 84.2 - P Heckingbottom & C Wilder. 19/20 - 4 9 06 . 15 24 -09 . 21 09 = 1.10 38.8 . 21.0 31.5 - C Wilder, finish 27/7/20. 11/12 - 18/19 not Premier League. Albion v Sheff Utd (H) from 17/18: -, -, 0-1, 1-1, -, - . . W = 0 D = 1 L = 1 . F1 A2 scorers: Welbeck. memorable match: Season9 - our first hosting since Withdean and another shock. For Away Falmer Years results and reports scroll further below. Seasons 11-12 (4th-6th) - not Premier League. Season10, 4th Premier League (H) Sun 20/12/20 - 1-1 ~ Welbeck. Coronavirus restrictions - attendance selected by ballot for 2000 home fans as per Tier 2 rating in Sussex. (Tier 3 = 0). Just like Albion did in days of yore, Blades came from lower levels to reach the promised land after struggles evolved over time this century. The trick now for both clubs was to find a pathway ahead for consolidation in the elite. Both managers had gotten through their baptisms of Prem fire, albeit by different means of progress. Graham Potter belatedly gained the necessary qualifying certificate, after interrupted trials & tribulations eventually turned into him seeing light at end of a dark tunnel. His mission was to turn Potter ball strategies into positive results and climb the table of relative success. So far this was once again proving a tough seasonal challenge. Meanwhile ex-Albion Withdean days loanee Chris Wilder was already struggling just to keep United in the Prem, which latterly appeared the much bigger task. * match report: Albion's search for an initial home win this term continued after finishing this tough match that they should have won but almost lost. Blades were reduced to ten men five minutes before halftime when Ref consulted the pitchside monitor following VAR intervention at a Utd yellow card. Hosts should have been ahead by then anyway but couldn't find the net. The second half was also one way traffic but again, although sticking the ball away proved problematic. United netted first at a counter and 2000 selected Brighton fans inside the Amex were momentarily stunned (63min). Potter had gone for broke with three attacking subs and it was Welbeck who rescued a point with time fast running out (87min). At the death Seagulls were going for a winner in a very congested area but hit the bar. It's never over until it is, so each side eventually got a point apiece. Therefore two points were lost by Albion today due to lack of finishing - see stats below. We were also merely two points above the drop zone and something had to be done to stop the rot asap & pdq to boot. Stats: ht 0-0, goals 87-63, poss 73%-27%, on target 5-3, off target 16-2, o/s 1-2, corners 14-2, fouls 9-11, yellows 1-5, red 0-1, subs 3-3. Weather: dry. Team: 26 Sanchez, 34 Veltman (16 Jahanbakhsh 46), 3 White (29 Zeqiri 72), 5 Dunk Y, 4 Webster, 20 March, 8 Bissouma, 14 Lallana, 7 Connolly, 9 Maupay (18 Welbeck 66), 11 Trossard . Bench: (from 9 subs) 23 Steele, 33 Burn, 49 Molumby, 10 Mac Allister, 17 Alzate, 13 Gross. Squad: 1 Ryan, 19 Izquierdo, 24 Propper . Injured: 2 Lamptey, 21 Andone . MoM: March. Prem: P14 . W0 D4 L3 . F7 A11 . W2 D2 L3 . F9 A11 . Pt12 Po17 = 0.85pt/gm. Wins = 14.2%, Loss = 42.8% Quatr: Pl . W D L . . . F A GD . . Pt Po pt/gm . . W% L% Total: 38 . 07 02 29 . 20 63 -43 . 23 20 = 0.60 . 18.4 76.3 - P Heckingbottom 3qtrs: 29 . 04 02 23 . 16 50 -34 . 14 20 = 0.48 . 13.7 79.3 Hfwy: 19 . 01 02 16 . 10 32 -22 . 05 20 = 0.26 . 05.2 84.2 Start: 10 . 00 01 09 . 04 16 -12 . 01 20 = 0.10 . 00.0 90.0 - C Wilder. EFL Cup: Burnley 5pen4 (1-1) (A) R2. FA Cup: Chelsea 2-0 (A) q-f, Bristol City 1-0 (H) R5, Plymouth 2-1 (H) R4, Bristol Rov 2-3 (A) R3. Nov: at end of the first quarter, Utd were 20th and at foot of the table. Jan: at the halfway stage Blades were still bottom and well adrift. Mar: threequarters completed, still bottom as time fast runs out. Wilder parts company with club owners, leaves job. May: relegated by mid April, always in bottom place. Season9, 3rd Premier League (H) Sat 21/12/19 - L 0-1. This was the last home pre-Xmas fixture, during that usual Prem six-game December slog. BHA hadn't hosted United at the Amex beforehand during six Championship seasons here from 2011. Our last level2 meetings went right back to open-air days at Withdean sports complex, from those early noughties at the theatre of trees (see WE tab previous encounters). During that interim decade or more Albion went from gutter to the stars, fulfilling prospects previously denied this catchment area during those frustrating days of planning, protests, paper-work and public enquiries. Now this really was the big time and apart from entertaining those top-six elite we had also met past combatants like United. Both clubs wanted to establish in the Prem and to date were making a fist of it prior to undertaking all 19 reciprocal fixtures from New Year. * match report: Albion crashed to defeat from a no-show in front of goal, posting another poor performance against a side not exactly playing typical Prem-style footy. But visitors solid defence throughout and true Yorkshire grit when up the other end gave them so much more than just an edge. Individually and as a team Seagulls were not at the races, failing to capitalise on 70/30 possession and merely appearing paper tigers - as the pre-match media hype got exposed to be based in literal bullsh!t. VAR came into effect on more occasions than actual goals recorded but BHA couldn't use these multi incidents as any sort of excuse for not scoring. In truth hosts woulda been beaten by three but for ultra-modern technology advice. And they gave away the winning goal as an early Xmas Prem present to the ex-lev2 outfit, who never remotely looked like conceding afterwards (24min). Potter put on Murray & Connolly immediately after the interval and very soon following that double swap Bissouma got on - BHA going to 343 in an attempt to up the ante. But it was like pi$$ing into the gale-force s-w wind we know so well during Sussex winters. Look at the detailed stats below for dry facts & figs, should you doubt written responses to this latest Amex debacle. Potter said, 'we were not good enough and that includes me. We must all hold our hands up. United were better in everything they did.' The sad thing is, no matter how well Potter-ball magic gets perceived thru entertainment value, comparing actual points obtained at this festive moment 12 months ago, Albion are coming up short. Is it cause for concern? Well, Brighton fans must remember opening months of 2019... we don't want a repeat by any stretch of footy realism. Stats: shape 433-451, ht 0-1, goal 24, poss 69%-31%, on target 2-2, off target 4-5, blocks 3-0, o/s 2-3, corners 4-3, crosses 22-9, tackles 7-22, fouls 6-11, yellows 1-3, subs 3-3 . MoM - Connolly . Gate - 30,505 away 3008 . Weather - rain. 1 Ryan, 22 Montoya (8 Bissouma 55 Y), 15 Webster, 5 Dunk, 33 Burn, 13 Gross (17 Murray 45), 6 Stephens, 24 Propper, 18 Mooy, 11 Trossard (44 Connolly 45), 7 Maupay . Subs: 27 Button, 4 Duffy, 30 Bernardo, 46 Alzate. Squad - 3 Bong, 14 Balogun, 16 Jahanbakhsh, 21 Schelotto . Injured - 19 Izquierdo, 20 March. Prem P18 . W3 D3 L3 . F12 A11 . W2 D2 L5 . F9 A15. Pt20 Po13 = 1.11pt/gm. Wins = 27.7%, Loss = 44.4% Quatr: Pl . W D L . . . F A GD . . Pt Po pt/gm . W% L% Total: 38 . 14 12 12 . 39 39 00 . 54 9 = 1.42 . 36.8 31.5 - C Wilder, finish 27/7/20 3qtrs: 29 . 11 11 07 . 30 25 05 . 44 6 = 1.51 . 37.9 24.1 PREM SUSPENDED Hfwy: 19 . 07 08 04 . 23 17 06 . 29 6 = 1.52 . 36.8 21.0 Start: 10 . 03 04 03 . 09 08 01 . 13 7 = 1.30 . 30.0 30.0 - Chris Wilder. EFL Cup: 3rd rnd - Sunderland 0-1 (H), 2nd rnd - Blackburn 2-1 (H). FA Cup: Arsenal 1-2 (H) q-f, Reading 1-2 aet (A) R5, Millwall 0-2 (A) R4, Fylde 2-1 (H) R3. Aug: doing much better than anticipated and zero gd that adds to points cushion. Oct: claiming a top ten slot and getting the job done ok by end of start Q1. New Year: in 8th pos and thru to FAC4. March: 7th position when Prem suspended. Into FAC last eight. July: didn't make the top six but creditable effort in their first year back. Seasons 7-8 (1st-2nd) - not Premier League. SHEFF UTD Previous Prem: Seasn . W D L . . F A GD . . Pt Po pt/gm . W% L% 21/22 - 22/23 not Premier League. 20/21 - 07 2 29 . 20 63 -43 . 23 20 = 0.60 . 18.4 76.3 - R Heckingbottom & C Wilder @ 24/5/21 Manager bailed out before run in (sacked) with club already in dire trouble and soon relegated thereafter. 19/20 - 14 12 12 . 39 39 00 . 54 09 = 1.42 . 36.8 31.5 - C Wilder. PL SUSPENDED, complete @ 27/7/20 Manager did a superb job considering his starting point from lower leagues. 11/12 - 18/19 not Premier League. FA CUP; from 11/12 - 4th rnd, 4th, s-f, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, 5th, 3rd, q-f, q-f, 3rd. LEAGUE CUP; from 11/12 - 2nd rnd, 1st, 1st, s-f, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 3rd, 2nd, 3rd, 1st. * * * * * Sheff Utd - home, Falmer years: Championship from 2011 to 2017, Seasons 1-6 - no meetings. * * * * * Previous EFL: 12 seasons from 1999 - 2011. See Withdean Era tab & also Clubs scroll in Archive: Seasons 4 02/3, 6 04/5, 7 05/6 - Championship. Withdean era: Albion v Blades 2-4, 1-1, 0-1 . . . W = 0 D = 1 L = 2 memorable match: Season4 (H) - a new manager on board but could it get worse? see: Seasons 4, 6, 7 for club & stadium info. Also Dick Knight, Steve Coppell & Micky Adams.
Sheff Utd - Away, Falmer Years: 19/20 - 20/21 Prem, seasons 9 - 10. Albion record @ Blades: W = 0 D = 1 L = 1 UNITED @ Home: Bramall Lane. Seasn . W D L . . F A GD . . . Pt Po pt/gm %Pt . W% L% 21/22 - 22/23 not Premier League. 20/21 - 05 1 13 . 12 27 -15 . 16 20 = 0.84 69.5 . 26.3 68.4 - P Heckingbottom & C Wilder. 19/20 - 10 3 06 . 24 15 09 .. 33 09 = 1.73 61.1 . 52.6 31.5 - Chris Wilder, finish 27/7/20. 11/12 - 18/19 not Premier League. Sheff Utd v Albion (A) from 17/18: -, -, 1-1, 1-0, -, - . . W = 0 D = 1 L = 1 . F1 A2 scorers: Maupay. memorable match: Season9 (A) - revisiting Bramall Lane since our last trip in 2006. For Home Falmer Years results & reports scroll further up. Seasons 11-12 (5th-6th) - not Premier League. Season10, 4th Premier League (A) Sat 24/4/21 - L 1-0 Covid restrictions: no fans attending (post-lockdown3, Tier 3/4/5). Many Brighton fans wondered how we'd been struggling to maintain a regular place in the Prem for these last four seasons, while ex-Championship United had last term thrust up this division like a blade thru butter from their very first strike in decades. Tony Bloom next wanted midtable mediocrity and elite consolidation but it would seem to be via a process of evolution for Seagulls, rather than revolution as enountered during other periods of BHA success this century. However, now heat was on to turn performances into points and thus justify survival expectation by getting results. And on paper no better opportunity than today appeared against Blades - who had fallen on their sword this campaign, to say least. The Yorkshire outfit had proved to be merely a flash in the pan after two seasons in the elite and were surely there for taking having been the first club officially relegated thus far. * match report: Albion crashed to defeat on yet another day in the Prem when failing to find the net. This was the third fail to score stat in a row which highlighted a very average display of intent but alas no end product. Seagulls are not clinical enough, especially competing against lower order clubs, who look on us as easy touches for a point or more. Any will to win was not backed up by what happened in front of goal, where bad decisions, wrong choices and lack of footy finishing skills exposed a powder puff attack of fragile attitude. After BHA defensive mistakes, Blades scored (19min) and rest of the first half was poor as we chased the game again. Second period action was more like that required to attempt a leveller but it all fell in a heap after VAR ruled o/s had occurred prior to the ball crossing the home line. Albion went thru motions, moved players about, put on subs but missed every trick in front of posts as opportunities got presented to convert and at least equalise. It was a bad show and Brighton fans were once more this term left frustrated and irritated by an ongoing goal drought. One factor in this continuing conundrum is that we don't have players who have scored goals in sufficient numbers to make an impact at Prem level. We've got a team of personnel who've hit the net previously lower down the pyramid, in lesser leagues abroad or during academy development. It is a different matter to rack up good numbers in the elite and BHA just don't have regular goal scorers from around the pitch to back up intermittent strikers. At end of the day, or perhaps we should say season, this needs to change or Seagulls stay in the PL shall inevitably become shorter as the law of diminishing returns takes effect in the drop zone. Stats: ht 1-0, goal 19, poss 32%-68%, on target 3-4, off target 1-8, blocks 3-5, crosses 12-24, corners 2-12, o/s 0-1, tackles 24-11, fouls 13-7, yellows 3-0, subs 2-3, shape 3412-3412 . Weather: dry Team: 26 Sanchez, 4 Webster, 5 Dunk, 34 Veltman, 13 Gross (16 Jahanbakhsh 67), 8 Bissouma, 14 Lallana, 15 Moder (7 Connolly 67), 9 Maupay, 11 Trossard (19 Izquierdo 82), 18 Welbeck . Bench: 23 Steele, 17 Alzate, 24 Propper, 29 Zeqiri, 33 Burn . Squad: 6 Karbownik, 22 Tau . Injured: 2 Lamptey, 20 March . Ban: 3 White . Prem: P33 . W2 D8 L6 . F16 A19 . W5 D5 L7 . F17 A20 . Pt34 Po17 = 1.03pt/gm. Wins = 21.2%, Loss = 39.3% Season9, 3rd Premier League (A) Sat 22/2/20 - 1-1 ~ Maupay. This PL fixture was scheduled following the new winter break. We'd not met Blades here since those earlier times of level2 matches back in the noughties, so hoped it had been worth the extra wait, both short (in Prem days) & long (in football years). Albion were struggling again this term in another bid to beat the drop, while Blades were going great guns in their first season at elite level since long lost days of yore. On the road Brighton were pretty dismal with a record of w2 d3 l8 f14 a24 gd-10. Apart from a four goal beating at Man City early in the campaign, other defeats had been by the odd goal or two. Unfortunately scoring goals consistently was a problem yet to be overcome. And keeping clean sheets also seemed difficult to boot. Graham Potter had tried numerous shapes & tactics and was never shy of changing things around during play but so far had not found a working method to get vital goals and wins. BHA were short on striker options, so had to rely on other players getting goals to supplement meagre ongoing totals. Performances varied regularly and fans were never quite sure what to expect on any given appearance. Albion were often chasing the game, which more or less decided allocation of points from that initial opening score. That said, there was still hope today somehow would be a going one... survival depended on it after all. * match report: In the event Albion rescued a point from a hard fought battle. They went back to basics, packed defence as in Chris Hughton's reign and held out against the odds. United opened the scoring with a snap shot following a corner (26min). Very soon afterwards Maupay levelled it when heading home from a f-k that was nodded back across the area (30 min). Potter put on two attacking subs and went to 433 for last phases of a dour contest. Blades continued to cut & thrust but visitors parried all further blows by putting bodies on the line. Potter was pleased with the performance and said, 'we are now fighting for everything.' Travelling support were realistic about todays outcome and happy not to have got beat again. Brighton fans checked other results and found BHA had gained a little bit on lesser rivals who had lost. It is never over until it is but so far so good and all to play for. Stats: shape 352-532, ht 1-1, goals 26-30, poss 67%-33%, on target 3-2, off target 6-4, blocks 5-2, o/s 3-2, crosses 48-6, corners 12-2, tackles 15-14, fouls 3-6, yellows 0-2, subs 3-3 . MoM - Dunk . Gate - 31,888, away 2863 . Weather - wet. 1 Ryan, 21 Schelotto (11 Trossard 75), 15 Webster, 4 Duffy, 5 Dunk, 33 Burn, 18 Mooy, 8 Bissouma Y, 24 Propper Y, 17 Murray (44 Connolly 75), 7 Maupay (30 Bernardo 93) . Subs - 27 Button, 13 Gross, 16 Jahanbakhsh, 20 March. Squad - 3 Lamptey, 10 Mac Allister, 22 Montoya, 25 Kayal, 46 Alzate . Injured - 6 Stephens, 19 Izquierdo. Prem: P27 . W4 D6 L3 . F17 A14 . W2 D4 L8 . F15 A25 . Pt28 Po15 = 1.03pt/gm. Wins = 22.2%, Loss = 40.7% Seasons 7-8 (1st-2nd) - not Premier League. * * * * * Sheff Utd - away, Falmer years: Championship Seasons 1-6 - no visits. * * * * * See Withdean Era tab & Clubs scroll in Archive: Seasons 4 02/3, 6 04/5, 7 05/6 - Championship. Withdean era: Blades v Albion 2-1, 1-2, 3-1 . . . W = 1 D = 0 L = 2 memorable match: Season6 (A) - a late smash & grab that older fans recall. Noughties last there - 21/1/06 (A) C'ship. Our last visit to Bramall Lane during this decade and would not go there again until 2020 in the Prem. see: Seasons 4, 6, 7 for club & stadium info. Also Richard Carpenter, Leon Knight & Colin Kazim-Richards.
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