Brighton’s trip to Plymouth was the second and final part of the 2 game, 1100 mile adventure across the country in 4 days. The Seagulls went to Home Park on the back of successive clean sheets knowing that victory would put them into the top two of NPower League One.
Poyet made two changes to the team that battled hard for a 0-0 draw at Carlisle just 3 days earlier. Kishishev and LuaLua were dropped from the starting 11, making way for Ashley Barnes and Liam Bridcutt, who was making his first start for the Albion.
Despite making a shaky start, The Seagulls began to click after 15 minutes. They were knocking the ball around well from back to front and keeping procession of the ball for long periods of time, much to the annoyance of the home fans.
There were no shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes, but that was to change after 22 minutes. A 15 pass move across the back line and into midfield and back, resulted in a free kick being awarded, as Marcos Painter was fouled as he advanced down the left wing.
Elliott Bennett produced a deadly in swinging free kick into the six yard box, where defender Tommy Elphick was unmarked to volley home from close range to score his first goal of the season. For the rest of the half Albion dominated, by keeping procession with a succession of one and two touch passes.
Despite two of Plymouth’s Internationals making their starting 11, the only real bright spark was Craig Noone who looked dangerous running at The Seagulls defence with lots of pace. It was Brighton’s dominance that soon told as the doubled the lead.
Elliott Bennett ran down the wing to latch onto a clever Murray flick on, and his low cross was smashed home from close range by former Argyle player, Ashley Barnes. He was getting stick from the Home Park crowd, and he reacted back when he scored, which infuriated the fans in the stand behind the goal he just scored in.
Albion defended resolutely in the second half, and despite a barrage of Plymouth corners, Ankergren’s goal never really looked under any threat. After that Brighton could have scored on the break on three or four occasions. Calderon and Dicker went close. Sandaza, making his debut made a hash of a one on one opportunity. He was clean through on goal, and rather than opting to shoot, he seemed to be looking for a penalty.
Kazenga LuaLua was a great threat when he came on, putting in two or three dangerous crosses. He fizzed a shot just wide of Larrieu’s goal after cutting in from the left wing, and he could have scored right at the death when his explosive pace put him clean through. His shot was charged down by the keeper, but it was a well earned 3 points.
That 3 points put Poyet’s men 2nd in the table on goal difference behind Huddersfield Town and made the 338 travelling Brighton fans journey home that much sweeter.
Next up is the home game against Paul Dickov’s Oldham Athletic, followed quickly by Brentford’s visit to Withdean 3 days later.
Player Ratings
Casper Ankergren
Inigo Calderon
Marcos Painter
Tommy Elphick
Adam El Abd
Elliott Bennett
Gary Dicker
Matt Sparrow
Liam Bridcutt
Glenn Murray
Ashley Barnes
Kazenga LuaLua
Fran Sandaza
