Post Match report for the Tottenham game - Wednesday, 16th March 2022

PREMIER LEAGUE 21/22: Brighton V Spurs - 16/3/22 P29.


* * * * * ALBION SOFT TOUCHES AS SLIP STAYS ON SKIDS * * * * *


RESULT: 0-2 . (h-t 0-1) . . . . SHAPE: 5-3-2


VENUE: the Amex, Falmer - fifteenth home match of twenty-nine fixtures to date . Wed 7:30pm.
PRE-MATCH: this rearranged night game halted a short sequence of three home kickoffs on Saturday afternoons, following a long string of domestic evening contests going back into last October.
Brighton fans assumed these latest daylight disasters were merely a factor from loss of form and not conducive to underperforming when the sky was grey or blue rather than black. Bizarrely our only other Sat 3:00pm Amex kickoff had also ended as goalless defeat; in August during those halcyon days of summer optimism.
WEATHER: dry after rain . . GATE 31,141 . . ATMOSPHERE: like flogging a dead horse.

GRAHAM POTTER took full responsibility for strategy, selection and tactics and sounded reasonable and logical in responses to media interest. But he realises club ethics, man management, coaching and motivation will only go so far to confines of the technical area at kickoff. It is the players who confirm his acceptability to lead, by getting positive results.
GP fielded another altered starting eleven, seeking a formula that would prevent a row of ducks in line getting longer.
INJURED: 4 Webster, 14 Lallana . SQUAD: 28 Roberts.

TEAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Sanchez
. 20 March, 34 Veltman, 24 Duffy, 5 Dunk, 3 Cucurella
. . . . 13 Gross . . . . 8 Bissouma . . . . . 10 Mac Allister
. . . . . . . . 9 Maupay . . . . . . . 11 Trossard

SUBS: 18 Welbeck (62), 2 Lamptey (78), 15 Moder (78).
BENCH: 23 Steele (gk), 12 Mwepu, 17 Alzate, 25 Caicedo, 42 Leonard, 60 Sarmiento.


GOALS: 0-0 - 37 . a deflected punt snuck inside a post with Sanchez already on his knees going the other way.
0-2 - 57 . at a classic counterattack Sanchez stayed rooted in his area when left one on one to the final ball chaser.


NOTED: a lack of self confidence, belief, impulse, drive, initiative, creativity, movement, nous, anticipation, willingness...

YELLOWS: Veltman, Maupay.

CHANGES: 62 Welbeck for Bissouma . 78 Lamptey & Moder for Veltman & Gross.


FIRST HALF: hosts nerves were obvious from the get go but gradually locals got some sort of a game going. And then for the sixth contest running opposition took a lead.
Heads did not drop but the psychological impact was felt akin to a physical blow that expanded like a nuclear shock wave.
SECOND HALF: after turnaround Seagulls flattered to deceive and in almost comical circumstances conceded a second on transition, with VAR appearing to be selective as to what was actually being checked at each end of the pitch.
Visitors knew too much to let locals back into proceedings and proved professional in all senses, whether within rules or bending them to suit.
It was similar to previous seasons when we were typical bottom six fodder competing against a big six outfit.
The gulf in skill levels, application of desire, will to win, decision making, strength & determination, blah, blah, blah is huge.


NUMBERS: poss 48%-52%, on target 0-7, off target 15-10, corners 6-3,
fouls 11-9, yellows 2-2, subs 3-3, shape 532-3421 . . . . . . gd-10 pt33 po13

FS


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