This week’s Albion Press Conference

By Paul Healey

 Today’s Amex Stadium conference included the views of Assistant Manager Mauricio Tarrico and players Liam Bridcutt and Sam Vokes.

There is a common view that every game is going to be like a cup final ahead of play-off rival Middlesbrough’s visit on Saturday.

Mauricio said: “At the start of the season we wanted a good championship team. We had not considered…the play-offs…which are nice to be in.”

The team do not feel they are under particular pressure and will be urged to carry on playing their normal game.

When asked how the next opponents are expected to play he said “We will know at 3:05!”.

He has seen many teams change the way they play when they come to the Amex.

Cool heads need to prevail unlike the debacle at local ground Crawley Town this week which ended in a post-match scrap and five red cards.

Mauricio jokingly left the conference with: “Are you going to ask me about new signings?!” when Gus Poyet had already stressed in the week the main focus is now on finishing in the play-offs.

Liam Bridcutt confirmed it works for him to think about the next game to come and not to get carried away with the league position.

Sam Vokes was asked if like Norwich his team had what it takes to be in the premiership and was firm on the point that it really could happen.

He said: “We will carry on with the lone striker and two wingers style of play or switch it depending on which works”.

Gary Dicker is confirmed as in the squad and may feature in the next game.

Brighton v Portsmouth preview

By Ian Walker

Without a win in two games, Gus Poyet’s Brighton are hungry to get back to their winning ways.  Saturday sees the Seagulls taking on bottom of the league, Portsmouth; fans will be looking for a similar result to the away fixture, considering Portsmouth’s poor form this season.

No new team news ahead of Saturday’s southern stand off, Brighton are still anticipating the return of full-back Marcos Painter who is steadily on the mend after his hamstring injury put him out 18 weeks ago.  Meanwhile, Spanish midfielder Vicente Rodriguez is still short of match fitness however could return depending on training this weekend.  Midfielder Gary Dicker is edging slowly back to fitness and could also feature at the Saturday on Monday.

Meanwhile, 50 miles down the road, beleaguered south coast Portsmouth are riddled with woe, after administrators signed off captain Liam Lawrence to Cardiff last week, their peril continues.   Star Nigerian forward Kanu is out with a back problem and Kelvin Etuhu is also set to miss out with his ongoing hamstring problem.

Last year’s clash saw the Seagulls come away with victory at Fratton Park back in August, record signing Craig Mackail- Smith scoring his first goal for the Albion.  Portsmouth will be looking to grind out a victory, after their terrible seven game streak without a win.

Brighton on the other hand, are also suffering recently, after their fantastic start to the season, the Albion have only one win in the last six, Gus Poyet will be looking to leading scorer Ashley Barnes to put the Gulls back into the playoffs.

Ex-England goalie David James makes Brighton & Hove Albion history

David James created Brighton & Hove Albion history on Saturday by becoming the first player to play both at the Amex Stadium and the old Goldstone Ground.

By Liam Dawes

Image courtesy of mcolairo

Match Report: Brighton & Hove Albion 0-1 Burnley

By Jamie Spoor

A woeful display of refereeing cost Brighton & Hove Albion the chance to move back into the top six as their Championship clash with Burnley descended into farce.

Photo courtesy of James Boyes.

Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 Notts Forest Match report

By Liam Dawes

Substitute Will Buckley scored an injury time winner to give Brighton a third consecutive Championship win against Nottingham Forest at the Amex Stadium.

Image used courtesy of jamesboyes

Brighton and Hove Albion’s Gus Poyet says ‘anything can happen’ in Nottingham Forest Championship fixture

By Jamie Spoor – he knows the score

Brighton and Hove Albion manager Gus Poyet believes “anything can
happen” in one of the tightest Championship seasons in years- and simply wants his team to be “competitive”

Image Courtesy of bigjon

Match Report: Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 Coventry City

Romain Vincelot headed his first goal for Brighton to claim back-to-back victories at home and put the seasiders within a point of the play-off places.

Match Report: Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 Barnsley

By Paul Dantanus

After nearly two months and nine league games without a win, Brighton fans can finally let out a collective sigh of relief.

Goals from Gordon Greer and Ryan Harley either side of half-time ended the Seagulls’ winless drought dating back to September 10th.

Sports Comment: Brighton’s Withdean Dream Team

Brighton & Hove Albion‘s first game at their new AMEX Community Stadium has been announced for Saturday 30 July against this season’s Champion’s League Quarter-Finalists, Tottenham Hotspur.

Here, Tom Stewart picks his team to take on Spurs from the best players to feature for Albion during the Withdean era:

Goalkeeper: Ben Roberts

Roberts in action in the Play-Off Semi-Final shootout against Swindon in 2004 (Lee Mills)

Many Albion fans would go with crowd favourite Michel Kuipers, who played almost 250 games for the Seagulls at the Withdean. However, I am going for a player who played just one season for Brighton: Ben Roberts.

After being signed by Steve Coppell in 2004, he excelled between the posts and helped Albion gain promotion to Division One via the play-offs. His career was cruelly cut short by a back injury the next season, causing him to retire at just 29.

Right-Back: Iñigo Calderón

Calderón arrived at the Withdean from Spanish side Alavés having not played for over six months. He was one of Gus Poyet’s first signings and he quickly impressed with his rampaging runs up the right wing.

He further endeared himself to Seagulls fans when he stayed with the club this Summer, rather than join rivals Southampton. The decision paid off, as he contributed to the title-winning campaign with solid defending and an impressive eight goals.

Sport: Brighton & Hove Albion Bid Farewell to Withdean

Rich Hook  sat with the fans during the last game at Withdean:

Seagulls' fans packed in for the last-ever game at Withdean

It was a privileged position to sit right in the heart of the Albion fans as We Are the Champions rang around Brighton’s ‘temporary’ home for the last 12 years.

The hosts were beaten 3-2 by Huddersfield, but for Seagulls’ fans the occasion was more important than the result today.

Albion Life Chairman, Dick Knight, was celebrating both his birthday and the end of the Withdean era.

He said: “What a great way to finish, a full ground cheering on the champions!

“It’s never been a perfect ground, but the Withdean has provided some great moments over the years.”

Fans making their final trip down Preston Road agreed, 81-year-old Peter Moore was at the game with his grandson George.

He said: “I’ve come nearly every game since they’ve been here, but nothing can beat last week when Southampton started celebrating [their goal] and we replied by chanting ‘Champions’.”

Sport: Brighton Back In Championship

By Tom Stewart 

Brighton's players celebrate after a 4-3 win against Dagenham sealed promotion (Pic: Paul Hazelwood)

Brighton & Hove Albion won a 4-3 thriller against Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday (April 12) to secure promotion to English football’s second tier and cap off a remarkable season.

The promotion is the first of Gus Poyet’s managerial career and comes in Brighton’s final year at the Withdean Stadium before their move to the new 22,500 capacity Amex Community Stadium.

Poyet ranked the achievement as the proudest of his career:

“I believe in myself, I knew what I wanted to do but I needed to prove it and what we have done is much bigger than people think.”

Many of Albion’s wins this season have been built on clean sheets but things were different against Dagenham, as the Seagulls had to twice come from behind before claiming victory.