Brighton v Leeds
PITCHSIDE NOTEBOOK; from Withdean
RESULT; 0-1 . (ht 0-0) . SHAPE; 4-4-2 . PITCH; mowed to perfection.
WEATHER; cool, dry, with sunny periods . GATE; 8691 . REF; P Taylor - cut out arguing and pressed his authority.
ATMOSPHERE; almost up to those erstwhile Champ's days.
TEAM; . . . . . . Kuipers
. . Whing, Elphick, El-Abd, Richards
. . Savage, Fraser, Hammond, Martot
. . . . . . . . Revell, Robinson
bench; Sullivan, Butters, Elder (83), Forster (88), Loft (88).
During a hyped build-up to this fixture, tickets sold-out days before and many went to Sussex Leeds fans to sit quietly in various south stand blocks. United came to town unbeaten and interested locals wanted to see if they would remain so. Brighton had also kept it tight at the back recently and it was no surprise to find a new ground attendance record had been set by 3pm. There was a minutes applause to remember Frankie Howerd, a true Albion hero from a past Goldstone playing and groundstaff era.
Cox was suspended and Wilkins introduced Martot on the left wing. O'Callaghan failed a fitness test on a thigh pull and Fraser got to do his job in central m-f instead. Otherwise the rest of our first eleven were as previously, which meant sub places for Butters and Forster.
GOAL; 78 min. A deep centre came into Albion's box. El-Abd missed clearing and Kuipers parried a bouncing ball. Leeds free-scoring striker accepted a gift. 0-1 - hard luck on Brighton to go behind in such a fashion.
DO THE MATHS; United playing in all yellow, would have accumulated 29 points beforehand but for FA subtractions. They opened up like table toppers, using slide rule precision, spot-on calculation and it began to add up. They'd reduced all these things to black and white.
POT SHOTS; Brighton were trying to match the northern outfit for class and stroked it about to effect. Martot, Robinson, Hammond and Revell all went close to woodwork but alas, no cigar. Chances went begging but we'd played like one would drop eventually and the sooner the better.
MoM FDM; Kuipers made several crucial saves or blocks, although Whites certainly weren't running this match. He dived to keep out a Carole blockbuster, which reminded him of training with the little French winger at Falmer in Champ's days of yesteryear. Also in the first period, our no.1 dived at feet when suffering two-on-one and came out with the ball in hands and his head still on his shoulders.
IT KICKED-OFF; United had a man down but Albion played on. Ref finally blew up and yellow and blue were steaming in to properly sort it out. Brighton fans were on their feet adding vocal encouragement or defamatory remarks, depending who Ref was talking to. On the track, Police were escorting an individual to Eldred Ave exits for a chance to grab an early burger for tea as well.
ALBI HOVE SAID, 'Leeds got lucky and Brighton paid dearly for missing several good opportunities to lead. All fairly useful League 1 fare and Wise must have been a happy man to continue their Championship bound 'big-club' winning streak. We will play worse than that and win in future. Front runners had done their bit and some, against a half decent defence supported by a tough midfield. Albion just couldn't unlock a solid rearguard and goalie had luck of the bloody devil and all'.
Fatman Slims
