Sunderland - Home, Falmer Years
Season1 23/8/11 (H) League Cup round2 - 1-0 aet ~ Mackail-Smith
Brighton had drawn a Premiership side at the Amex a couple of weeks after hosting Gillingham in LCr1 there for the very first evening match. Seventeen thousand attended on an average August night weatherwise following a day of rain. This was our fourth home game in a month since start of the season and Albion were also unbeaten H&A in kicking off a Championship campaign. It was two competitive matches a week and our feet hadn't touched bottom yet, in a whirlwind opening to life at higher level in a super stadium of near sell outs.
Gus Poyet gave Ryan Harley a debut but only tinkered with midfield by selecting Navarro. Albion started smartly, although the Prem outfit were content to hold off early doors. They soon bossed most of the first half, with BHA defending and relying on breaks up-field from Noone. Vincelot replaced Greer at beginning of the second period but he was later injured and Taricco came on - Calderon going to c-d (76min). Harley got cramp and LuaLua took to the field with Albion now going for broke (88m). Visitors had become less of a threat, while Seagulls were flying with Noone, Barnes and CM-S getting chances to scare Black Cats rigid. CM-S hit a post and the ball went right across the goalmouth and out of play. In extra time, CM-S notched the winner from a cross by Navarro. Sunderland finished with four strikers looking to equalise but they had come a very long way to get nowt. Brighton fans were in seventh heaven, having witnessed a thoroughly deserved victory from a pulsating cup tie.
Ankergren, Calderon, Greer (Vincelot, Taricco), Dunk, Painter, Noone, Bridcutt, Navarro, Harley (LuaLua), Barnes, Mackail-Smith