Brighton
and Hove Albion 0 Southend United 2
Priestfield Stadium
Conditions: Rain intermittent & sunshine. (Sunny
and fine on the south coast).
Richie Barker returns as target man up front after missing the Exeter
match through injury.
Danny Hinchelwood (fullback) to make his first team debut. Jeff Minton
occupies Jamie Moralee's position behind the front two (will Graeme Atkinson
get forward on the left and cross with either foot?). Jamie Moralee's temporary
contract has expired and the player is absent because a new one has not
been settled.
Gary Hart (Albion) has recovered from illness.
News: Albion now expected to get back to Withdean on 9 January
1998 with the first match against Carlisle United (this is date expected
in the first place).
Keith Dublin (former Albion full back) on the bench for the visitors.
Southend are one of the fancied teams for promotion.
Chronic traffic problems delays the kick-off to 3.15 pm.
Brighton scores placed first.
Albion mount the first attacks.
Danny Hinchelwood (Albion) excellent cross.
Alex Burns (Southend) with a left foot shot forces a terrific block
from Mark Walton in the Albion goal.
Gary Hart (Albion) pulled down by the neck by Simon Coleman. Foul!
Albion playing in a settled style.
Ross Johnson (Albion) plays safe and concedes the first corner to the
visitors.
Gary Hart (Albion) heads softly straight at the keeper at the far post
from a Danny Hinchelwood cross.
Albion seem to need their fifth defender to nullify the Southend attacks.
25 mins.
Graeme Atkinson (Albion) fine defending.
Gary Hart (Albion) & Graeme Atkinson came close, the second shot
from a Danny Hinchelwood (not under pressure) cross that produced the danger.
Albion winning the headers in midfield - a good sign!
Southend enjoying lots of possession and building attacks. Albion not
looking quite so comfortable now. 30 mins.
Mark Walton (Albion) saves well again from Bobby Conlan (£90,000
signing for Southend from Manchester City making him the most expensive
player in Division 3).
0-1 Barry Conlan (Southend) slams the empty ball into the net
after it is unluckily dropped by Mark Walton. 42 mins.
Ross Johnson (Albion) hobbles back into play after an injury in stoppage
time.
Graeme Atkinson (Albion) fine defending. Mick Gooding (Southend) pressurises
the referee into giving the visitors a corner when it was an obvious goal
kick.
Albion playing below par, too eager to create chances and losing possession
as a result.
ht: 0-1
0-2 David White (Southend) scores after terrible Albion defending.
46 mins. Mark Walton argues with the referee.
Crowd get behind the Albion team. 47 mins.
Gary Hart (Albion) gets injured in the Southend box. Referee blows
up and stops a good chance for the Albion.
Heated exchanges in midfield. 50 mins.
Graeme Atkinson (Albion) puts in his first centre. 52 mins.
Jeff Minton (Albion) corner. 53 mins.
Ross Johnson (Albion) injured his ankle. 54 mins.
Peter Smith (Albion) and Gary Hobson (Albion) come on for Paul Armstrong
(tactical change) and Ross Johnson (injured). 55 mins.
Brighton lose possession in midfield but Derek Allan (Albion) saves
the day for the home team with an interception.
Jeff Minton (Albion) on a 50 yard solo run, finishing with a 20 yard
shot that went just wide.
Ian Culverhouse (Albion) reads the game well.
Southend corner.
Albion attacks breaks down on the edge of the box.
Albion attack breaks down with a poor final ball.
Alex Burns (Southend) gets the ball on his right foot and shoots wide.
Southend attacks now causing Albion trouble as the home team pushes forward
for an equaliser.
Albion crowd getting restless.
Jeff Minton (Albion) free kick in a dangerous central position in shooting
distance. Shoots just wide.
Gary Hart (Albion) heads just over from a Jeff Minton cross. (He is
too small and cannot stretch to reach anything other than precise crosses).
65 mins.
More Albion attacks.
Peter Smith (Albion) not in the game yet.
Ian Culverhouse (Albion) booked for a tackle that looked OK.
Scrappy play.
Peter Smith (Albion) crosses when not expected to, but the ball goes
to the Southend keeper, Martyn Margetson.
Andy Ansah (Albion) on for Ian Culverhouse. Tactical move. Attacker
for defender. 75 mins. 4-3-3 (interesting).
Jeff Minton (Albion) corner.
Jeff Minton (Albion) fouled but it is not given. Attack breaks down.
David White (Southend) shoots wide.
The match looks beyond any hope of redemption for Albion.
Peter Smith (Albion) crosses from a tight angle, after being clattered
into.
Graeme Atkinson (Albion) corner.
Andy Ansah (Albion) cross just too high for Gary Hart.
Graeme Atkinson's (Albion) good cross comes to nothing.
Richie Barker (Albion) spurns a chance.
Southend have a free kick in a dangerous position, but they use it
to waste time. 88 mins.
Richie Barker (Albion) heads over as David Morley (Southend) defends
well to put him off. 89 mins.
Peter Smith (Albion) cross is cut out by Martyn Margetson in the Southend
goal before it reaches Gary Hart. (too near the keeper?) 90 mins.
FT. 0-2
Albion Team:
Mark Walton
Danny Hinchelwood, , Ross Johnson, Ian Culverhouse (sweeper),
Derek Allan, Graeme Atkinson,
Paul Armstrong, Michael Bennett.
Jeff Minton,
Richie Barker, Gary Hart.
subs: Andy Ansah, Gary Hobson, Peter Smith.
Attendance: 3,830 (includes a large away contingent, 1000
?)
Referee: David Crick.
Argus MOM: Jeff Minton.
Forecast : 1-1 Banker score draw. Team that scores first
is favoured. Albion's poor scoring record, especially in the first half
has the home team disadvantaged.
How many goals will Barnet let in this week? They are at home
to Hull City. They win 4-1. Peterborough are away to bottom club Shrewsbury
1-1.
Albion closest geographical south coast rivals Portsmouth in Division
1 score 5 at home to Swindon. Score 5-2.
Albion are 15th with 10 points, 6 points ahead of bottom club Shrewsbury.
Darlington are top with 17 points.
Albion have scored a mere 9 goals in 10 games and conceded 12.
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