Post Match report for the Cardiff game - Saturday, 10th November 2018
PREMIER LEAGUE; Cardiff v Brighton
ALBION RAID UP THE TAFF BRINGS WELSH REVENGE
VENUE; City Stadium, Cardiff. Seventh away game of 12 fixtures.
RESULT; 2-1 ~ Dunk . (h-t 1-1) . SHAPE; 4-5-1 . REF; very experienced but just could be regarded as a homer.
OVERTURE; Brighton fans travelled from very early morning for Saturday sports entertainment at lunchtime in the Principality. The good news was transport routes were not at capacity.
An air of optimism prevailed prior to topping up fuel, food & beverage for post-contest return into merry England in time for vital Motd replays.
GATE; 29,402
CHRIS HUGHTON had Bruno, Jahanbakhsh and Locadia join the unavailable list. Otherwise usual suspects received ticks on the team-sheet, including Montoya & Knockaert, plus debutant U23 forward Gyokeres among substitutes.
TEAM; . . . . . . 1 Ryan
. . 22 Montoya, 4 Duffy, 5 Dunk (C), 3 Bong
. 11 Knockaert, 6 Stephens, 7 Kayal, 19 Izquierdo
. . . . . . . . . 20 March, . . . . . . 17 Murray
BENCH; 23 Steele, 2 Bruno, 30 Bernardo, 14 Balogun, 42 Gyokeres, 8 Bissouma (39), 10 Andone (63).
GOALS; 6 - 0-1. From a set piece by March, DUNK rose unchallenged in the six yard box and headed the ball down.
28 - 1-1. Lack of dealing with an attacking winger resulted in the cross being deflected for a very easy header on goal.
90 - 2-1. Backs to the wall in final moments was not enough to prevent frantic area pinball being converted into a winner.
INCIDENTS; 34 - Stephens was dismissed with a straight red card for studs up when stretching into a tackle.
YELLOWS; 95 - Bissouma showed truculence at another contentious decision.
SUBS; 39 - Bissouma replaced March after the red card incident. 63 - Andone came on for Murray as willing front runner.
ANALYSIS; strategy changed with the early sending off. But after visitors took an even earlier lead they were guilty of backing off and not putting deflated locals to the sword. Once hosts equalised there was likely to be a result and so it proved when the away outfit went so deep their box was crammed with players. It made for good television coverage to an apathetic afternoon audience but Brighton fans got poor opinion of their side on travels confirmed against relegation candidates.
Ten men were on a hiding to nothing and that is what evolved through individual error, lack of quality and average tactical ability. Having pace on flanks should be a means to an end... assuming these men capable of playing football at Prem level. It is no good moaning about harsh or off-side decisions, better teams win despite bad luck.
NUMBERS; shape 4141-4411, poss 61%-39%, on target 6-3, off target 9-2, corners 4-1, fouls 7-21, yellows 2-1, red 0-1, subs 3-2. MoM - Dunk.
Fatmanslims
SATURDAY TABLE:
Po . Pl . -GD . Pt
12 . 12 . -05 . 14 Brighton
13 . 12 . -04 . 12 West Ham
14 . 12 . -06 . 09 Newcastle
15 . 12 . -13 . 09 Burnley
16 . 11 . -08 . 08 Palace
17 . 12 . -13 . 08 Southampton
18 . 12 . -14 . 08 Cardiff
19 . 12 . -16 . 07 Huddersfield
20 . 11 . -18 . 05 Fulham
