Post-match report for our last game: Tottenham, Tuesday, 17th April 2018
PREMIER LEAGUE; Brighton v Tottenham
ALBION TEST SPURS ON FLANKS
VENUE; the Amex, Falmer - 18th home match of 34 fixtures overall to date.
RESULT; 1-1 ~ Gross . (h-t 0-0) . SHAPE; 4-1-4-1 . REF; kept it moving and his watch ticking.
OVERTURE; due to imminent FA Cup semi-finals for opposition, Brighton fans were rescheduled at the community stadium on a prior Tuesday evening in lieu of Saturday.
However, home support did not underestimate the importance of this occasion with regard to an ongoing Premier League survival battle.
GATE; 30,440 . WEATHER; cloudy & mild.
CHRIS HUGHTON had several selection considerations following below par Saturday performances. In the event he kept faith with most of regulars.
TEAM; . . . . . . . . 1 Ryan
. . . 2 Bruno, 22 Duffy, 5 Dunk, 3 Bong
. 11 Knockaert, 6 Stephens, 7 Kayal, 19 Izquierdo
. . . . . 13 Gross, . . . . . 17 Murray
BENCH; 26 Krul, 21 Schelotto, 18 Goldson, 9 Baldock, 25 Locadia, 16 Ulloa (74), 20 March (77)
GOALS;
48 - 0-1. any number of attempts to clear the ball are wasted and inevitably it falls to opposition who clinically net.
50 - 1-1. a fast counter from k-o sees Izquierdo brought down in the box. GROSS levels scores with a low spot kick.
INCIDENTS;
45+ Ref allows stoppage to drag on while the crowd whistles with increasing volume. Ryan saves a late strike.
90+ Ref blows up for a melee in the area with Kayal decked, as March breaks forward with an empty field ahead.
YELLOWS; 11 - Dunk took his man out with a strong challenge.
SUBS; 74 - Murray was withdrawn in favour of Ulloa up front. 77 - Izquierdo came off for March patrolling down left wing.
ANALYSIS; a sound & disciplined defensive performance with flashes of abilities shown going forward. There were always two teams in this tactical contest, which ultimately felt better for hosts in restoring parity.
The fluid top-four outfit altered modus operandi during the second period when their striker dropped deep to feed channels. Albion mopped up most attacks and those that penetrated came to nought bar that gift of a goal.
1ST FAN; +that is Hughtons best eleven and they are actually improving by learning on the job during each & every fixture+
2ND FAN; +surely we are safe now. Those at the bottom will need top-six form to catch us if we slip up in the next four games+
3RD FAN; +it felt like a win as we held one of the best teams in this division who arguably are comparable to other top sides in European leagues as well+
Fatmanslims
MID WEEK MID APRIL TABLE:
. . . . Pl . GD . Pt
10 . 33 . -07 . 41 Newcastle
11 . 34 . -15 . 38 Bournemouth
12 . 34 . -18 . 37 Watford
13 . 34 . -15 . 36 Brighton
14 . 33 . -18 . 35 West Ham
15 . 34 . -27 . 35 Huddersfield
16 . 34 . -18 . 34 Palace
17 . 33 . -19 . 33 Swansea
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
18 . 33 . -20 . 28 Southampton
19 . 34 . -33 . 28 Stoke
20 . 34 . -25 . 24 West Brom
