Post Match report for the Everton game - Saturday, 29th December 2018
PREMIER LEAGUE; Brighton v Everton
ALBION XMAS TIN ABUNDANT BUT FOR TOFFEES
VENUE; the Amex, Falmer - tenth home match of 20 fixtures to date.
RESULT; 1-0 ~ Locadia . (h-t 0-0) . SHAPE; 4-5-1 . REF; lenient to a degree but went by the book on important matters.
PREAMBLE; Xmas was a fast fading memory as fans turned up for regular Saturday fare. It was the first of reciprocal games and beginning of second half of the season, if not quite yet a new year. Fortress Amex needed to start an impregnable period for blue & white support.
GATE; 30,597 . WEATHER; cloudy but dry with cold breeze.
CHRIS HUGHTON was obliged to change the keeper due to Ryan disappearing into Asia. Button therefore made his PL debut. Dunk was back from suspension, so Balogun dropped to the bench. Andone was now preferred at point.
TEAM; . . . . . . . 27 Button
. . 22 Montoya, 4 Duffy, 5 Dunk, 30 Bernardo
. 20 March, 6 Stephens, 24 Propper, 9 Locadia
. . . . . . . . 13 Gross, . . . . . . 10 Andone
BENCH; 23 Steele, 3 Bong, 14 Balogun, 7 Kayal, 8 Bissouma, 42 Gyokeres, 17 Murray (74).
GOAL; 59 - 1-0. At a corner by Gross the ball went deep but returned goal-wards via a visiting head. Locadia smashed it into the net from five yards. Ref walked over and consulted lino, who had raised a flag.
INCIDENTS; 29 - Button was put to the test when spilling a low centre and throwing himself at the loose ball - cleared off the line as the flag was raised. He immediately saved a drive at the very next attack.
61 - Button went down to parry a shot from within the area onto an upright.
87 - At a set piece Toffees came unstuck when the deep centre was headed onto the crossbar with Button statuesque.
YELLOWS; none. Everton had two booked during a competitive exchange - when Albion played on with a visiting man down and a little later as Bernardo got chopped.
SUBS; 74 - Murray replaced hard working Andone. The veteran strikers guile & cunning took over from speedy kick & rush.
ANALYSIS; it was a very open contest from word go and kept pundits, purists & thrill seekers alike entertained - but for slightly different reasons. The resulting clean sheet was worth three valuable points, as opposition incurred worst of official decisions but not best of luck. Play was on a knife edge throughout and a match with possibly nil-nil predominately forecast on the scoreboard overall, almost teetered on the verge of restoring parity until ninety minutes elapsed.
Seagulls long ball game emerged as a modus operandi in lieu of serious counterattacking at pace and the hustle & bustle with added argy-bargy plus nip & tuck up front went down a treat. Central midfield actually appeared creative, while wingbacks put in a shift to support colleagues back & front.
MoM - Locadia.
1ST FAN; +the squad has definitely improved now this years signings have bedded in. But lets hope for more quality in the January window+
2ND FAN; +Chris Hughton has proven his managerial qualities over the four years he has been here. He must be in the top three Albion gaffers since Brian Clough sold us out+
3RD FAN; +so 2018 ends in a blaze of glory! We understand the Premiership much more after those last twelve months and may footy next year be onwards & upwards+
Happy New Year
FS
