Post Match report for the Huddersfield game - Saturday, 2nd March 2019

PREMIER LEAGUE; Brighton v Huddersfield

ALBION PUT BITE ON TERRIERS IN PROLONGED DOG FIGHT

VENUE; the Amex, Falmer - fourteenth home match of 28 fixtures.
RESULT; 1-0 ~ Andone . SHAPE; 4-3-3 . REF; in attendance for most decisions but nonplussed at each incident.

PREAMBLE; the wait for a first Prem victory during 2019 had extended into March and Brighton fans arrived at the community stadium in good voice, ready to be a twelfth man and prevent possible freefall into a relegation battle.
Seagulls would surely not have a better opportunity than today to show they had the mental & physical qualities to remain above the danger-zone of this elite division.
GATE; 30,182 . WEATHER; cold breeze, cloudy but dry.

CHRIS HUGHTON checked the injury list to find Balogun & Gross unfit. He selected a starting eleven which reflected pragmatism for circumstances involving use of his all round players skill-sets.

TEAM; . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Ryan
. . 22 Montoya, 4 Duffy, 5 Dunk, 30 Bernardo
. . . . 8 Bissouma, 6 Stephens, 24 Propper
. 11 Knockaert, 17 Murray, 16 Jahanbakhsh

BENCH; 27 Button, 3 Bong, 33 Burn, 7 Kayal (85), 20 March, 19 Izquierdo (78), 10 Andone (57).


GOAL; 1-0 - 79. ANDONE finished a cross from Knockaert with a high header. At a f-k Bernardo played in newly arrived Izquierdo, who promptly fed his fellow winger for the centre.

INCIDENT; 39 - Jahanbakhsh cut inside from left flank and unleashed a pot shot that dipped very late and struck the crossbar.

YELLOWS; 45+ Murray got an unnecessary card for an elbow. 80 - Andone, pumped by scoring, celebrated to excess.

SUBS; 57 - Andone replaced Murray up front. 78 - Izquierdo got on for Jahanbakhsh. 85 - Kayal was inserted but Bissouma withdrawn.
The initial alteration was significant in upping the ante at point. The second provided the breakthrough. The third tightened screws in midfield.


ANALYSIS; it was a hard-fought single goal victory that is the final measure of which way fine lines register in this division. Supporters stayed on side as stalemate ground out, while after turnabout the sand timer slowly drained back down to a mere few grains remaining at the deciding climax.
Adding a clean sheet to stats will do wonders for the holy trinity in last line of defence, apart from the warm feeling the whole squad gets from gaining a very precious three points. We are where we are and it was hardly a classic display but some credit must go to dogged visitors for delaying the inevitable goal against as long as possible.
It is easy to criticise with benefit of hindsight but overall it was actually a disciplined & patient offensive action during the second half that overcame resolute travellers.
Both keepers kept the score goalless and then in correct balance from late exchanges. Seagulls defence was solid throughout, midfield industrious and practical in possession, while a slightly blunted attack transformed with substitutions.
Those players introduced with a minority of apps can only get better for the experience with regulars, consequently the team should benefit for better league placing through the run-in.
MoM - Bernardo, good work at both ends down left hand sides.


1ST FAN; +we kept the faith and Chrissy Hughton believed in his flock, guiding them with a divine wisdom worthy of worship+

2ND FAN; +nearly thirty thousand fans rose as one when the ball entered the net. And it was one of the best we have seen since December+

3RD FAN; +hahaha, the result was never in doubt! It was just a question of waiting for the opportunity to arise and on this occasion taking it+

FS