Post-match report for our last game: Colchester, Monday, 8th March 2010

Colchester 0 : 0 Brighton

It was a Monday night in Essex and if dry, it was also very cold. Satellite TV wanted to cover this basic fixture and many rescheduled Brighton fans didn't travel too far after knocking off from work. A typical tier-three battle was forecast and both sides had something to prove. Saturday results left Albion in seventeenth, while United retained fourth spot, following Swindon's lack of points at home. The Community Stadium pitch was considered playable, which had to be a big plus because when wet, it turned readily to mud. Gus Poyet went with an unchanged team on a decent run of form, although Kuipers wasn't in reserve due to a broken finger. A 451 formation seemed to fit with Seagulls flying displays, where plenty of ball in the air could be anticipated.

Brezovan, Calderon, Elphick, El-Abd, Painter, Bennett, Crofts, Navarro, Dicker, LuaLUa, Murray.

A minutes silence preceded kick-off.
1 min. U's k-o and Albion's defence are in play immediately. Goal-kick to visitors. BHA then go forward.
3. f-k by Bennett swings in toward Murray, whose free header is off target. Colchester counter asap.
5. opening skirmishes allow Brighton fair share of possession. Bennett takes a corner and Crofts has a dig.
7. Ref blows up and United mount an attack from their f-k that is eventually snuffed out.
10. Albion break from defence and wingers work both flanks with fullbacks going on in support.
12. f-k to B'ton when Murray is fouled. Brighton keep pressure on but can't get a telling ball forward from m-f.
15. Colchester push up and probe for an opening using an orthodox 442 shape. Brezovan called on to catch.
18. U's have stepped up big time and they say size matters at end of the day. They have a team of giants.
21. Calderon booked for a hands-on challenge. United's bench over-react, using cynical gamesmanship.
25. match is full of pace and hard running but not many threats on goal. Play is peppered with stoppages.
30. general play is drifting toward a pattern of stalemate. B'ton build and Murray can't quite connect.
31. El-Abd gets his head to a f-k and it counts for a chance at the back stick. Murray is then pulled down.
35. corner to Brighton comes to nought. Murray is on the floor once more but Ref doesn't react.
37. goalie saves from Calderon on the overlap, by pushing his effort over the bar.
40. visitors routinely soak up home outfits long ball tactics. But are getting a regular kicking up the other end.
45+ Murray booked when many feel he is more sinned against than actually sins.

46. Brighton are threatened early but clear their lines after a lively restart from Colchester, winning a couple of troublesome corners.
50. Murray gets a half-chance from Bennett's centre but keeper collects.
53. Albion advance up-field, having weathered United's second period opening gambit.
55. Bennett is crunched by a home boot. Ref books another man in consequence. Our f-k offers a chance which is wide of the mark.
58. play meanders from end to end, with neither side managing to hold possession for too long.
61. Holroyd is on for LuaLua and tries to get up to speed. But Brighton are on the back foot.
65. Gus Poyet demands Albion get a grip, while red&black defenders continue to do jobs under pressure.
69. the ball is going up and coming back, with each defence stopping strikers from breaking through.
70. Navarro is working hard in a holding role, dropping deep when necessary to tidy up in rear.
75. Brighton get a chance but Murray steps over and it peters out tamely.
78. Colchester mop up a corner a little too easily following good approach work by BHA.
80. Bennett and Murray are in there and was it a pen? Ref couldn't possibly comment.
83. Dicker booked for an illegal challenge.
86. Albion blot out more United set pieces with resolute rearguard action.
89. Both teams readily go forward in search of a first goal.
90+ Brighton have seen out a goal-less draw.

Media man