Post-match report for our last game: Barnsley, Saturday, 28th April 2012
Barnsley 0 : 0 Brighton
Albion went up north to complete a Championship programme most Brighton fans would think was pretty useful. Those bad old times of struggle at constrained Withdean, punching above our weight and pot-less to boot, really seemed a thing of the past. Tony Bloom and Gus Poyet masterminded progress into a positive future and continued excellent work initiated by Dick Knight, Martin Perry and various managers from days of yore. BHA would now finish inside top half of the level-two table and we woulda taken that result at beginning of this season. Plans had just been officially approved for expansion of capacity at the Amex, where up to 30k crowds are expected next term. Go to our Archive section on the Stats page for further information about bosses, squads, stats, clubs and Falmer chronicles.
Gus Poyet made two changes from our final fixture at the Amex, bringing back David Gonzalez between posts and restoring Gary Dicker to midfield. Everybody wanted Vicente Rodriguez to sign on again but realistically, was prepared to accept him performing magic displays on another stage from next August.
Gonzalez, Calderon, Dunk, El-Abd, Mattock, Dicker, Bridcutt, Vicente, Buckley, Mackail-Smith, Barnes.
2 min. the home outfit had survived at this level yet again and pushed ahead from word go, breaking well.
5. play settled down and Vicente got on the ball trying to make things happen but Albion are not into stride.
7. visitors probe down left flank, then play switches right and Calderon feeds Barnes - he is caught off-side.
10. neither outfit assumed superiority from opening exchanges, although there has been plenty of activity.
13. Vicente is decked so home fans howl, Seagulls cannot take advantage and the game needs some incidents.
16. Brighton defends and corner to Barnsley is flicked away again. Gonzalez takes the second set piece easily.
19. travellers counter attack following a dangerous home move but forward probes slow and it all peters out.
21. Vicente wins the ball, sets off up field and works a pass or two in direction of front runners but again no go.
24. Gonzalez comes out to a thru ball down the middle, with locals looking lively and backed by noisy support.
27. Yorkshiremen counter from good old Sussex all at sea again and have a pop from down range - no probs.
29. Vicente fires over a cross that Buckley nods over to onrushing Barnes. His dig is inches wide of an upright.
33. rain is falling at Oakwell but the surface is ok for football, with both sides playing properly on the floor.
35. corner to Brighton gets nothing. Home fans boo when Bridcutt challenges strongly but his opponent dived.
38. Mattock gets well forward down left wing and floats one over for Barnes to head a chance high and wide.
40. corner to Barnsley gets cleared by Mattock as floodlights illuminate the scene amid grim northern weather.
41. Vicente does well to put Buckley away and his centre is spot on for Dicker advancing in space - er, whoops!
45+ Brighton finish the half well, although the home keeper has prevented them being ahead on occasions and perhaps, lack of a real cutting edge from strikers.
46. Calderon is fouled and roundly booed by Tykes on terraces. Ref shows a yellow and not before time either.
48. Dicker is carded from a late challenge, home fans cough up phlegm and still further stretch vocal cords.
51. corner to visitors after a great run by Vicente is headed behind. Barnsley defends again and clear up field.
54. Brighton build-up is once more via Vicente but comes to nought. The home unit make a change of player.
58. Albion are in possession but too many moves break down and BHA cannot take control of the match as yet.
60. second Tykes sub. Assulin and Navarro replace Buckley and Dicker in a trademark double swop by Poyet.
65. Seagulls absorb some pressure from set pieces and Gonzalez is called into action - makes a routine catch.
70. this match has begun to drift toward stalemate, where neither team appears able to convert their chances.
73. third Barnsley sub. Ref lectures Vicente via translation from Calderon. Brighton needs action above words.
77. Vicente heads on to CMS and the ball goes out wide, he runs for the return but goalie collects too easily.
80. Barnsley blast wide following a slip by Dunk who gets booked. Tykes are dangerous in the final third.
81. Vicente fires over from a characteristic left footed strike. He is then fouled when play resumes.
85. the game is scrappy and a bit end of season, although both elevens could snatch a win at the death.
86. El-Abd is booked when Ref trails play and arrives to see a guy writhing on the floor - it makes his mind up.
90+ Albion have played out a goalless draw. Vicente puts the ball into row Z from a f-k which by his standards did not do him justice. But the season ends with hope for the future.
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