BFTG - Brighton

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Agree with LWJ. Came away from that feeling we should have won. They were hanging on for dear life at the end and we had countless good opportunities. How Vydra missed that chance I'll never know.

Actually thought they were quite cynical at times. Quite a few bad challenges from them esp. first half. The fact their fans were blowing for the whistle tells you all you need to know really. Midfield not as good without Tish for me.

[bobby1413]

A point is fantastic.

BHAFC were really solid and surprised me. I had read people on here saying they hadn't played many top sides.

Whatever the case, they are a really decent side. Id bet they get promoted as they look solid and decent.

Very happy to earn a draw. Some saying Blackman diving or going to ground a lot. Not sure as I didn't notice ... Anyone Else see that?

[Winchester Royal]

Odd game. We could have won had we been more clinical but were playing against a Brighton side that appeared happy to let us have the ball and try to break down their well organised defence. Blackman was marked out of the game, our finishing was generally woeful and with those chances on another day, we could have won by a couple. On the other hand, we could lost had it not been for a fumble by their 'keeper, so I suppose it's just one of those days where neither side will be too unhappy with the draw. Both sides will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season but for either to get into the top two, they will need to show more in attack than was shown today. Only 2 points from the last 9 is concerning, we've fallen away a bit so will need to have a run of good results now to get back to where we were after the Charlton game.

And wtf was Hector doing when he passed it back past Al Habsi?

[St Pauli]

They were very well organised, but I thought we were unlucky not to win.

The 3-1 should have been buried, not sure if it was a penalty but we shouldn't have needed one. That said they came back briefly after our goal and had we scored the three on one there's no guarantee they wouldn't have gone up a gear, they seemed to sit back and be happy with the one goal lead.

Agree with the cynicism. At one point we put one of their defenders on his arse in the last ten and he put his hand out to grab the ball as I think Blackman looked to surge through the gap. Ref didn't see it naturally.

I was unusually sat in Y19 and was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere there normally being in Y26. Mrs St Pauli had her first reading game today and only second live football game. She said the atmosphere at the ground compared well to an Arsenal 5-0 drubbing of someone, said it was a lot more tense.

[Royal_jimmy]

Good game. An ok result against a very decent Brighton side who will finish in the top 6. A draw was probably a fair result though we could have nicked it. Blackman MoM again. 3 points on Tuesday night please.

[Gunny Fishcake]

Fair result vast improvement on second half performance last week, good game with two sides having a go though not many clear chances . Hector needs a rocket up his arse he thinks he's Rio Ferdinand or Franz Beckenbuaer he's not he's got great potential but he's also a big liability with his woeful 60 yard passes and constant gaffs , it's also rubbing off on Gunter . Blackman continues to astound and improve while Sa spends more time on his arse falling over and diving like a big embarrassing Jessie.

[tidus_mi2]

Couple points I saw with regards to the fans.

1) What were we booing in the second half? I assumed it was because the players somehow oxf*rd up a 3 vs 1 so badly they didn't even have a shot but reading here people are saying there could have been a penalty in the build up.

2) What the oxf*rd was with Brighton's glory glory Brighton and Hove Albion song? I get why Spurs and Man Utd sing it but Brighton have won oxf*rd all, what glory do they have to sing about?

[marlowuk]

Well that was an entertaining game between two good sides. Brighton came out of the traps fast and dominated the first 10 minutes but, slowly, we came back into the game and were (relatively) in control by half time. Even then, though, Brighton had shown themselves to be very quick and dangerous on the break but the defences were on top for both sides.

We started the second half well but they got ahead from (if I remember correctly) a defensive error, but it was a well-worked goal for Murphy. I feared for us then. After the Fulham result I feared our heads would drop and I couldn't see us turning it around against such a well organised team. To be fair to Brighton, for the next 10 minutes or so they strove to increase their lead and we were under pressure. But, as in the first half, we regained control and were an almost constant threat on their goal. Blackman was playing extremely well, showing some dazzling footwork, but Brighton had at least 2 men on him whenever he threatened. He was bundled over many times and I felt the ref could and should have protected him more.

In the event it was his shot that was too hot for Stockdale to handle, Vydra slotted in the rebound and we were in for 18 minutes of excitement (ultimately frustrating excitement!) as Reading poured on the pressure in an almost constant assault on Brighton's goal.

A fair result? Probably although if any team deserved to win it was Reading. We had a great 3 on 1 (ultimately 5 on 2) chance and really should have scored. But we were lucky with a Hector well-disguised backpass which very nearly beat Al Habsi!! In fact Hector had a poor game by his high standards, often losing the ball or misplacing passes.

Men of the Match were Blackman, who seemed to be everywhere on the pitch, and McShane who was a rock in defence and seemed to be dictating the mid-field too instead of Norwood. McShane is a great header of the ball and won several aerial battles with Zamora when the veteran striker was brought on for the final 15 minutes.

The stats show we had 21 shots on goal (5 on target) to their 10 shots (2 on target) although too many of our shots (particularly from set pieces) were ballooned over the bar as happened against Charlton recently. But no red or yellow cards to either side was good. Taylor also did pretty well at LB.

So it was good to show that we could come back from going behind; that the Fulham game was, hopefully, a one-off; that Vydra has at last got on the score sheet. Let's hope we can get back to winning ways on Tuesday!

[Winchester Royal]

Couple points I saw with regards to the fans.

1) What were we booing in the second half? I assumed it was because the players somehow oxf*rd up a 3 vs 1 so badly they didn't even have a shot but reading here people are saying there could have been a penalty in the build up.

2) What the oxf*rd was with Brighton's glory glory Brighton and Hove Albion song? I get why Spurs and Man Utd sing it but Brighton have won oxf*rd all, what glory do they have to sing about?

I assume their number 7 who took ages to go off?

[tidus_mi2]

Couple points I saw with regards to the fans.

1) What were we booing in the second half? I assumed it was because the players somehow oxf*rd up a 3 vs 1 so badly they didn't even have a shot but reading here people are saying there could have been a penalty in the build up.

2) What the oxf*rd was with Brighton's glory glory Brighton and Hove Albion song? I get why Spurs and Man Utd sing it but Brighton have won oxf*rd all, what glory do they have to sing about?

I assume their number 7 who took ages to go off?

Nah that was a different incident, I definitely heard booing from Y20 after we messed up the 3 v 1.

[marlowuk]

And, for the record, I saw, with my own eyes, Piazon make a tackle and win the ball from an opponent!!!

[wingnut]

I think it was some were calling for a handball then booed the ref for not giving it.

[Glory Boy]

Entertaining game and draw a fair result but if anyone deserved to win it was Reading. Brighton are a decent, efficient hardworking outfit but was more impressed with Middlesborough.

[Moonfish]

Some saying Blackman diving or going to ground a lot. Not sure as I didn't notice ... Anyone Else see that?

Yeah, noticed this at least twice today and on numerous occasions over the course of this season. It seems whenever he's lost control of the ball, and knows he's given up possession, he has a habit of throwing himself to the ground to try to win a free-kick. It's not right, and I don't like to see it, but if he continues to be clever with it and doesn't overstep the mark it could pay off a couple of times this season.

Whilst on Blackman, I thought there were a couple of moments today where he looked too greedy, not playing the final pass when it was clarify advantageous to do so, and instead choosing to send in speculative efforts that at times killed off good momentum. That said, with everything else going right for him at the moment, and with a stack of credit with the fans to use up, can I really be annoyed when he tries to unleash one from 25yards out instead of passing?

[CountryRoyal]

A point against top of the table after the back of a loss and a few lacklustre performances. Happy days, roll on a very winnable game against Huddersfield and hopefully a return to winning ways.

[RoyalBlue]

Well as Hector did for the goal he was a fcuking liability at the back. Looks like Chelsea were robbed when we sold him to to them.

Nonsense, he's just quickly adapting to Chelsea's style of play. He should fit in well!

[JimmytheJim]

Took a arsenal supporting mate with me today and he thought Blackman was a class above.

I felt we were much the more dangerous team. Apart from their one - admittedly very slick - move leading up to the goal, they created nothing. We, on the other hand, spurned numerous chances and showed constant threat throughout.

Blackman and Williams were outstanding. Mccleary was a bit rusty but he'll be a huge asset once he gets back to match fitness. Hector's passing was 'ambitious' at times and he didn't inspire much confidence defensively, but as others have said, he did superbly in the buildup to our goal.

[RG7Fan]

And, for the record, I saw, with my own eyes, Piazon make a tackle and win the ball from an opponent!!!

Was that the one i saw where he came from behind and round the left of the opponent and cleanly (and easily) took the ball from him? That was class.

[RG7Fan]

Big shout out for the ref. didn`t get a decision wrong all afternoon and let the game flow , top class

Were you at the game today or somewhere else? One of the better refs this season certainly, but seemed inconsistent. Should have been quicker on the cards for some time wasting from BHA.

[St Pauli]

I think it was some were calling for a handball then booed the ref for not giving it.

It appeared from Y19/the North that their keeper took down one of our forwards which is why we couldn't rescue the 3v1 after we screwed it up. The boos were at the ref for not giving what appeared to many to be an obvious penalty.