Tag Archives: crofts

Brighton 2 Derby 1: Brighton remain undefeated in 2013

Posted on by

Brighton 2 Derby 1: Barnes and Orlandi see Seagulls continue fine run

PUBLISHED:

17:51 GMT, 12 January 2013

|

UPDATED:

17:52 GMT, 12 January 2013

Brighton maintained their 100 per cent start to 2013 with a 2-1 npower Championship victory over Derby.

Inigo Calderon made an impressive return from injury with a hand in both of Albion's goals, which were scored by Ashley Barnes in the second minute and Andrea Orlandi after 25.

The Spaniard might have got on the scoresheet himself at the start of the second half but his glancing header went wide.

Derby manager Nigel Clough, who this week celebrated four years in the job, saw his side create very little as the Rams slipped to an eighth away league loss of the season.

Jeff Hendrick did pull a goal back midway through the second half but the Rams never really looked like rescuing anything from the game.

Undefeated so far: Brighton have to lose in 2013

Undefeated so far: Brighton have to lose in 2013

MATCH FACTS

Brighton: Kuszczak, Calderon, Greer, El-Abd, Bridge, Orlandi (Dicker 76), Hammond, Bridcutt, Buckley (LuaLua 76), David Lopez (Crofts 88), Barnes.

Subs: Ankergren, Dunk, Hoskins, Vicente.

Booked: Orlandi, Bridge

Goals: Barnes 2, Orlandi 25

Derby: Legzdins, Brayford, Keogh, Roberts, Coutts, Davies, Hendrick, O'Brien (Robinson 87), Hughes (Ward 45), Sammon, Freeman (Jacobs 62).

Subs: Fielding, Tyson, O'Connor, Bennett.

Booked: Freeman, Davies, O'Brien, Jacobs.

Goals: Hendrick 70

Referee: Iain Williamson

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LATEST CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE, FIXTURES AND RESULTS

Brighton boss Gus Poyet made three changes to the side that started the FA Cup win over Newcastle last weekend.

Tomasz Kuszczak replaced Casper
Ankergren in goal while Calderon returned at right-back following a knee
problem, so David Lopez moved back into midfield with Gary Dicker
dropping to the bench.

Leading scorer Craig Mackail-Smith missed out due to a hamstring injury but Will Buckley was fit to return to the side.

Vicente was in the Albion squad for the first time since the opening week of the season following a persistent thigh problem.

Kieron Freeman started for Derby in the only change made by Clough.

Freeman made only his second start – and
a first in his preferred position of right-back – as John Brayford was
moved into a five-man midfield. The switch saw Michael Jacobs miss out.

Jacobs was joined on the bench by forward Jamie Ward, who has struggled with a hamstring problem for the past three months.

Less than 80 seconds were on the clock when Brighton took the lead with a beautifully crafted goal.

Calderon spotted Lopez breaking into the
right-hand side of the penalty area and Lopez picked out a low pass
which set up Barnes to tap in from very close range.

Soon afterwards, the hosts extended their lead with a goal made in Spain.

Lopez teed up Calderon who whipped in a
cross from the right and Orlandi got in front of his marker to thump a
header into the roof of the net, leaving Rams goalkeeper Adam Legzdins
with no chance.

The roles were almost reversed three
minutes after the break when Orlandi's cross was headed wide by
Calderon, who failed to make proper contact with the ball.

Ward, introduced in first-half injury
time after Derby's highly-rated teenager Will Hughes hobbled off, sent a
20-yard shot narrowly over the crossbar in the 52nd minute.

Brighton almost went 3-0 ahead after 63 minutes, hitting the visitors on the counter-attack.

Lopez, on the right, released Buckley with a perfectly-timed diagonal pass but his shot was blocked by Legzdins.

The Albion striker was denied by
Legzdins again soon afterwards, this time from point-blank range, before
the rebound was scrambled off the line by a defender.

What had looked like a stroll in the
rain suddenly turned into a nervous finale for Poyet's side when
Hendrick got a touch to Ward's driven free-kick to divert the ball past
Kuszczak.

Derby piled players forward in search of an equaliser without really threatening Kuszczak's goal.

Brighton saw out the game and potential
new Albion signing Leonardo Ulloa, watching from the directors' box,
would have been impressed by just about every aspect of the afternoon –
except perhaps the weather.

Brighton 1 Watford 3 – match report

Posted on by

Brighton 1 Watford 3: Vydra brace sinks Seagulls on south coast

|

UPDATED:

21:57 GMT, 29 December 2012

Matej Vydra scored twice as Watford cemented their place in the npower Championship play-off places with an impressive win at Brighton.

The Czech striker took his tally for the season to 12 goals with two in the space of two second-half minutes to shoot down the Seagulls.

Brighton boss Gus Poyet was going head-to-head with his old Chelsea team-mate, Watford chief Gianfranco Zola, but a dour first half in the pouring rain left both sets of fans feeling the Blues.

Star: Vydra's brace earned three points for Watford on the south coast

Star: Vydra's brace earned three points for Watford on the south coast

Match facts

Brighton: Kuszczak, Saltor, Greer, El-Abd, Bridge, Crofts (Hoskins 75), Orlandi (Barnes 59), Bridcutt, Mackail-Smith, David Lopez (Dobbie 75), LuaLua.

Subs Not Used: Brezovan, Hammond, Dunk, Dicker.

Booked: El-Abd.

Goals: David Lopez 65 pen.

Watford: Almunia, Hall (Neuton 42), Pudil, Hoban, Ekstrand, Chalobah, Hogg, Anya (Mujangi Bia 73), Abdi (Battocchio 80), Vydra, Deeney.

Subs Not Used: Bond, Yeates, Geijo, Forestieri.

Booked: Abdi, Mujangi Bia.

Goals: Deeney 54, Vydra 68, 69.

Att: 26,727

Ref: Oliver Langford (W Midlands).

Click here for the latest Championship table, fixtures and results

However, the game came to life after
the break when Troy Deeney grabbed his 50th career goal and David Lopez
equalised for Brighton with a penalty before Vydra had the final word.

Watford could have gone ahead at the beginning and the end of that scrappy opening period.

Daniel Pudil gave Wayne Bridge the slip from Almen Abdi's early corner but put a free header over the crossbar.

And in stoppage time Albi's deep cross was met by Deeney but, once again, the striker could not get his header on target.

In between time, Vydra was denied by
Brighton goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak while, for Brighton, Kazenga LuaLua
stung Manuel Almunia's palms with a fierce, angled drive and Andrew
Crofts blazed over.

Mercifully, the second half was a far more entertaining affair with Watford breaking the deadlock after nine minutes.

Pudil's diagonal ball played in
Deeney, who had peeled off his marker Adam El-Abd, and his low shot was
powerful enough to fizz through Kuszczak's legs via his heel and into
the back of the net.

At it again: Vydra also scored twice when Watford beat Nottingham Forest before Christmas

At it again: Vydra also scored twice when Watford beat Nottingham Forest before Christmas

But out of almost nothing Brighton managed to hit back 10 minutes later.

LuaLua had been forced away from goal
and towards the corner of the penalty area by Almunia, but Tommie Hoban
saw fit to barge the winger over and referee Oliver Langford pointed to
the spot.

Spaniard Lopez stepped up to score his second penalty in as many matches.

Reunion: Former Chelsea teammates Poyet and Zola were in opposite dugouts

Reunion: Former Chelsea teammates Poyet and Zola were in opposite dugouts

But Brighton were level for barely two minutes before Watford got a big slice of fortune.

Vydra was allowed to run unchecked
towards the Brighton area but his shot took a huge deflection of El-Abd
to loop over Kuszczak and into the net.

However, there was nothing lucky
about Watford's third goal a minute later as Deeney, inside his own
half, lifted the ball into the path of Vydra who outstripped the
Brighton defence before coolly beating Kuszczak.

Crystal Palace 3 Brighton 0 match report: Glenn Murray and Owen Garvan on target

Posted on by

Crystal Palace 3 Brighton 0: Murray hits two against former club as Eagles reach summit

PUBLISHED:

17:27 GMT, 1 December 2012

|

UPDATED:

17:38 GMT, 1 December 2012

Glenn Murray scored twice against former club Brighton to clinch a memorable derby victory which sent Crystal Palace to the top of the npower Championship.

The game-changing moment came after just eight minutes at Selhurst Park as Seagulls defender Lewis Dunk lost possession and saw red for bringing down the impressive Yannick Bolasie.

Owen Garvan hit the resulting free-kick against the crossbar but it was only a matter of time before the dominant Eagles broke the deadlock as Murray, who switched between the fierce rivals 18 months ago, headed home Bolasie's corner.

Coming back to haunt his former club: Glenn Murray hit two goals to down Brighton

Coming back to haunt his former club: Glenn Murray hit two goals to down Brighton

Match facts

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Ward (Moritz 54), Ramage, Delaney, Parr, Dikgacoi, Garvan, Jedinak (Moxey 85), Zaha, Murray (Wilbraham 74), Bolasie. Subs not used: Price, Easter, O'Keefe, Gabbidon.
Booked: Dikgacoi.

Goals: Murray 38, 54 (pen), Garvan 71 (pen).

Brighton: Kuszczak, Saltor, Greer, Dunk, Calderon, Buckley (Dicker 77), Hammond, Bridcutt, Orlandi (Crofts 45), Barnes, Mackail-Smith.
Subs not used: Brezovan, Hoskins, Dobbie, Harley, David Lopez.

Sent off: Dunk (8).

Booked: Orlandi, Kuszczak, Bridcutt, Hammond.

Att: 20,114.

Ref: Mick Russell.

The latest Championship table, results and fixtures

Craig Mackail-Smith should have
levelled matters immediately after half-time but could only hit a post
when clean through, and the miss proved crucial as Tomasz Kuszczak
brought down Murray in the penalty area and the striker stepped up to
fire home his 17th goal of the season from the spot.

Matters went from bad to worse for
the Seagulls in the 71st minute as Gordon Greer fouled Murray in the
area, and with the Palace striker having previously missed two penalties
this season when looking for a hat-trick, it was Garvan who converted
from 12 yards.

Close to 50 miles may separate the
two sides, who had only met six times in the past 10 years before today,
but that will not ease the pain of defeat for Brighton, who have also
seen their seven-match unbeaten run come to an end.

Impressive Palace, meanwhile, have
now lost only one of their last 17 and are unbeaten on home soil since
the opening day, with Eagles fans able to enjoy top spot for at least 24
hours until second-placed Cardiff host Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow.

There can be no doubt the early dismissal played a huge part in the game.
The visitors dallied with the ball at the back and paid the price as
Bolasie nicked in to grab possession, with Dunk sent off for
subsequently bringing down the Palace forward when clean through.

Garvan almost doubled Brighton's punishment but his resulting free-kick hit the top off the crossbar.

As you would expect, Palace were
doing all of the pressing and Bolasie and Garvan both tried their luck
from distance before Kagisho Dikgacoi fired straight at Kuszczak.

In on the joke: Ian Holloway and Gus Poyet share a moment at Selhurst Park

In on the joke: Ian Holloway and Gus Poyet share a moment at Selhurst Park

Palace's pressure finally paid off in the 38th minute.

Bolasie's inswinging corner was met
by the head of an unmarked Murray, back from a one-match suspension, and
he made no mistake from close range.

Julian Speroni had had next to nothing to do all half but he reacted superbly to keep out Ashley Barnes' flicked header.

Brighton's best chance came with just
62 second-half seconds on the clock as Wilfried Zaha, for all his
impressive trickery, lost the ball in the middle of the park and
Mackail-Smith was sent clear but could only find the outside of a post.

And the miss proved crucial as Palace doubled their advantage after 54 minutes.

Kuszczak brought down Murray in the penalty area and the striker picked himself up to score from the spot.

Murray headed narrowly over with a
hat-trick at his mercy but it was soon three-nil as Greer inexcusably
hauled down Murray, leaving Garvan to fire home the resulting penalty
from 12 yards.

Leicester 1 Brighton 0 match report: Kasper Schmeichel saves Foxes perfect home record

Posted on by

Leicester 1 Brighton 0: King takes lead but Schmeichel saves perfect home record

|

UPDATED:

21:39 GMT, 23 October 2012

It took a stunning penalty save from Kasper Schmeichel to protect Nigel Pearson’s unblemished home league record at the King Power Stadium.

The keeper, who has struggled manfully to step out of the shadow of his illustrious father, pulled off a superb stop to deny Ashley Barnes on an evening when the Championship leaders almost proved their own worst enemies.

Leading thanks to Andy King’s tenth-minute goal, Leicester became complacent and allowed Gus Poyet’s Seagulls a route back into a game that should have been put beyond them.

Regal: Andy King (right) nets against Brighton

Regal: Andy King (right) nets against Brighton

Match facts

Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet (Moore 56), Morgan, Whitbread, Konchesky, Knockaert, King, Drinkwater, Dyer, Waghorn (Marshall 71), Nugent (Vardy 68). Subs not used: Logan, James, Schlupp, Futacs.

Booked: De Laet.

Goals: King 10.

Brighton: Kuszczak, Saltor, Greer, El-Abd, Bridge, Bridcutt, Dicker (Dobbie 59), Crofts (Hammond 77), Buckley, Barnes, Mackail-Smith. Subs not used: Ankergren, Dunk, Calderon, David Lopez, LuaLua.

Booked: Bridcutt.

Att: 25,726.

Ref: Neil Swarbrick.

Latest Championship results, fixtures and table

And it seemed that Poyet’s team were
about to stop a run of four matches without victory by becoming the
first team this season to earn a point from a trip to the east Midlands.

But Schmeichel had other ideas,
blocking Barnes’s effort as Leicester looked to build on a top spot
gained after last weekend’s draw against Birmingham at St Andrew’s.

But while the Dane did his job at one
end of the field, it was left to King to separate the sides with a
strike that will have left Poyet fuming.

The midfielder’s effort owed a debt to
forward David Nugent. The former Portsmouth forward has looked a
different player since his goal-drought came to an end last month.

The striker, famously capped once for England by Steve McClaren, turned Liam Bridcutt on the left touchline.

Brighton’s defence stood statically on
the edge of the area. With King at his shoulder, Nugent powered
forward, leaving Bridcutt in his wake.

Eventually, one of Poyet’s defenders sensed there might be some danger and Nugent off-loaded the ball to his team-mate.

The first shot by the Wales
international was blocked. The ball bounced untidily back into the
midfielder’s path and he claimed his third goal of the season, rapping
home from close-range.

Top man: Andy King is grabbed by Lloyd dyer and Danny Drinkwater

Top man: Andy King is grabbed by Lloyd dyer and Danny Drinkwater

Martyn Waghorn blazed over at the near
post and then Anthony Knockaert forced Tomasz Kuszczak into a fine stop
after a well-struck drive from distance.

It was too easy for the Foxes and they
lost urgency, allowing Brighton back into the game. They should have
heeded the undoubted warning from boss Nigel Pearson at the interval.

But Zak Whitbread was guilty of a rash
decision in the 52nd minute when he ploughed into Will Buckley as the
Brighton man attempted to reach the byeline.

Ashley Barnes shouldered the responsibility but Schmeichel was equal to the task, saving to his left.

Right-back Ritchie de Laet bravely
threw himself at the rebound, injuring himself in the process, and was
substituted for his trouble.

Leicester almost grabbed a second goal
after a cross from Lloyd Dyer found substitute Jamie Vardy, but his
headed effort was wide.

The Seagulls kept the pressure up, attackingly strongly in the closing ten minutes.
Striker Craig Mackail-Smith came close in the 87th, but his effort was comfortably saved by Schmeichel.

Barnes then fired off a hopeful shot outside the area, but it was to no avail.

Brighton 0 Middlesbrough 1 – match report

Posted on by

Brighton 0 Middlesbrough 1: Dutch of class from Emnes seals Boro win

|

UPDATED:

16:44 GMT, 20 October 2012

A deflected first half strike from Dutchman Marvin Emnes was enough to give Middlesbrough their fourth successive away win – in manager Tony Mowbray's 100th match in charge.

Striker Emnes enjoyed a fair slice of good fortune in notching his fourth goal of the campaign, his 21st-minute effort from the edge of the penalty area taking a wicked deflection to wrong-foot Brighton's Polish international keeper Tomasz Kuszczak.

It proved to be the only goal of the game as Middlesbrough extended their impressive record against the Seagulls to 10 matches in all competitions.

Flying Dutchman: Emnes (centre) celebrates his goal

Flying Dutchman: Emnes (centre) celebrates his goal

MATCH FACTS

Brighton: Kuszczak, Saltor, Greer, El-Abd (Dobbie 69), Bridge,
Hammond, Bridcutt, Crofts (Buckley 69), Barnes, David Lopez (LuaLua 82), Mackail-Smith.

Subs Not Used: Ankergren, Dunk, Calderon, Dicker.

Booked: Greer.

Middlesbrough: Steele, Parnaby, Bikey, Woodgate, Friend,
McEachran (Miller 73), Bailey, Leadbitter, Haroun, Emnes (Smallwood 80), McDonald (Reach 85).

Subs Not Used: Leutwiler, Thomson, Ledesma, Hines.

Booked: McDonald.

Goals: Emnes 21.

Attendance: 26,293

Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex).

Click here for the latest Championship results, fixtures and table

In contrast Gus Poyet's men have
tumbled from their lofty early-season heights. They topped the
Championship after a five-match winning sequence, but have now taken
just two points from a possible 12.

Yet they will feel they should have
drawn level just after the hour mark. A shot from Moreno David Lopez was
bravely blocked by Jonathan Woodgate, outstanding Boro keeper Jason
Steele then kept out a header from Ashley Barnes, before Craig
Mackail-Smith sent his header from six yards over the top instead of
into the back of the net.

Brighton had also enjoyed most of the
possession in the early stages of the game at the Amex Stadium. That
was mainly down to mistakes in Boro's midfield, with stray passes from
Nicky Bailey and Josh McEachran, but Grant Leadbitter produced a good
tackle inside the penalty area to deny a clear chance for Mackail-Smith.

But Boro looked dangerous on the counter-attack and Dutch attacker Emnes silenced the home crowd by making the breakthrough.

Brighton tried to hit back and in the
28th minute an outswinging corner from the left by Lopez was met by
Dean Hammond but his header from six yards flew over the crossbar.

Profligate: Brighton have failed to score in their last five league games

Profligate: Brighton have failed to score in their last five league games

Profligate: Brighton have failed to score in their last five league games

Two minutes later striker Craig
Mackail-Smith latched onto a low ball sent in from the left but his 12
yard shot was superbly turned over the top by Steele.

The Seagulls kept pressing and 10
minutes before half-time midfielder Andrew Crofts was presented with a
good opportunity 10 yards out, in a central position, but he sent his
header over the top.

Stuart Parnaby started a league game
for Boro for the first time since 2006, replacing Justin Hoyte who
suffered a pulled hamstring at Watford two weeks ago, and he and his
fellow defenders managed to keep Brighton at bay in the second half.

Poyet sent on attacking substitutes
Stephen Dobbie and Will Buckley – and both players went close to
levelling matters, before Boro keeper Steele pulled off a fine save to
push away an Ashley Barnes effort from 25 yards.

The Seagulls did have other chances,
particularly through Mackail-Smith, but they failed to score for the
fifth Championship match in a row.

Chris Coleman thrilled with Wales display against Belgium

Posted on by

Coleman thrilled with Wales display despite defeat against group favourites Belgium

|

UPDATED:

22:00 GMT, 7 September 2012

Chris Coleman was delighted with his Wales players despite seeing them begin their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-0 defeat against Belgium.

Goals from defensive duo Vincent Kompany and Jan Vertonghen ensured Marc Wilmots' men made the perfect start to their Group A campaign in Cardiff.

Injury-hit Wales showed a steely determination in the early running against their opponents but their good work was undone when James Collins was shown a straight red for a reckless lunge on Guillaume Gillet after 25 minutes.

Unlucky: Wales, including Gareth Bale, were impressive despite defeat

Unlucky: Wales, including Gareth Bale, were impressive despite defeat

Wales had been heavy underdogs coming
into the game, with Coleman not being helped by an injury list that
included Joe Allen, Craig Bellamy, Wayne Hennessey, Neil Taylor, Andrew
Crofts and Jack Collison.

Yet Coleman was happy to take the positives after the defeat.

'I'm very, very proud of the players first and foremost. We knew it was going to be a tough game,' said the Wales boss.

'Coming into this game at full strength would have been tough but we weren't at full strength and then we go down to 10 men.

Proud: Chris Coleman was happy with the performance

Proud: Chris Coleman was happy with the performance

'One or two questionable decisions went against us to say the least but the players, to a man I thought, were absolutely magnificent.

'They dug deep, showed a lot of passion, a lot of organisation. We had to.

'We conceded just before half-time which is disappointing because we've done very well from set plays of late.

Dismissed: James Collins was sent off

Dismissed: James Collins was sent off

'But we were in the game and we had to play counter because we were a man short but we saw two or three at the end had no more to give, they were limping but we couldn't take them off because we'd used all our substitutes.'

Coleman was unhappy with Collins' sending-off, believing referee Stefan Johannesson reacted too rashly to the West Ham defender's challenge on Gillet.

'For me it's not a sending-off, it's not,' he added.

'There
were one or two challenges on our boys as well that went unnoticed. The
free-kick at the end that they scored from wasn't a free-kick so maybe
the referee just had one of those nights.

'He certainly could have been kinder for us but they're a good team.'

Manchester
City skipper Kompany, who headed Belgium into the lead with a near-post
header from Dries Mertens' corner, believed the dismissal of Collins
made life harder for the visitors.

'I sometimes wondered if it would
have been best for us because we struggle against teams who are very
organised and just sit behind,' the defender told Sky Sports 1.

'Wales were very organised, fighting for every ball and they just made it tough for us. It was a very tricky game.'

Kompany added Belgium, who are favourites to qualify from Group A, were below par but was delighted to emerge from Cardiff with three points.

'I think over the years, this team has played very well without getting the result but today was not our best performance but two-nil in Wales is a great result,' he said.

Wales 0 Belgium 2: Vincent Kompany and Jan Vertonghen strike

Posted on by

Wales 0 Belgium 2: Premier League stars Kompany and Vertonghen slay 10-man hosts

|

UPDATED:

20:56 GMT, 7 September 2012

Superb goals from Vincent Kompany and Jan Vertonghen gave Belgium victory in Cardiff over 10-man Wales in their opening World Cup qualifier.

Injury-hit Wales had made a solid start against the Group A favourites but their good work was undone when James Collins was shown a straight red for a reckless lunge on Guillaume Gillet after 25 minutes.

Manchester City skipper Kompany capitalised to give the visitors the lead with a header three minutes before the break, with Vertonghen sealing the three points with an unstoppable free-kick late on.

Thunderous: Vincent Kompany (left) powers his header home

Thunderous: Vincent Kompany (left) powers his header home

Take that: Jan Vertonghen smashes in the second goal

Take that: Jan Vertonghen smashes in the second goal

MATCH FACTS

Wales: Myhill, Gunter, Matthews, Collins, Williams, Bale, Blake, Edwards (King 79), Ramsey, Church (Robson-Kanu 71), Morison (Vokes 71)

Subs not used: Brown, Price, Davies, Ricketts, Richards, Vaughan, Williams, Earnshaw

Booked: Williams, Vokes

Sent off: Collins

Belgium: Courtois, Gillet, Vermaelen, Kompany, Vertonghen, Witsel, Fellaini, Hazard, Mertens, Dembele (De Bruyne 64), Mirallas (Lukaku 45)

Subs not used: Mignolet, J-F Gillet, Ciman, Alderweireld, Van Buyten, Lombaerts, Defour, Simons, De Camargo, Benteke

Goals: Kompany 42, Vertonghen 82

Booked: Gillet, Vertonghen

Ref: Johannesson

There are positives for manager Chris
Coleman to take into Tuesday's next fixture in Serbia, but Wales are now
on a worrying run of four defeats without scoring a goal.

Wales had been heavy underdogs coming
into the game, with Coleman not being helped by a an injury list that
included late withdrawal Joe Allen, Craig Bellamy, Wayne Hennessey, Neil
Taylor, Andrew Crofts and Jack Collison.

But they had made a good start, with a
disciplined defensive display frustrating the classy visitors while
also looking potent on the break.

Wales fashioned the first real chance
as Gareth Bale's cushioned header fell for David Edwards via a
deflection off Vertonghen, but the Wolves man could only find the
side-netting.

Bale carved out another chance after 18 minutes, ghosting past Dries Mertens, but his cross was too high for Simon Church.

The host had a lucky escape at the
other end as Collins brilliantly denied Vermaelen a point-blank header,
before Mertens deflected effort rolled just wide of the far post.

Agony: Guillaume Gillet writhes after being slide tackled by James Collins, who is sent off (below)

Agony: Guillaume Gillet writhes after being slide tackled by James Collins, who is sent off (below)

Off: Collins is dismissed

Annoyed: Collins stomps off

But Welsh hopes crumbled when Collins,
playing his first international since March 2011, saw red after his
terrible challenge on Gillet.

The West Ham defender and his
team-mates seemed exasperated by the decision, although replays did not
suggest he had any grounds for complaint.

His dismissal prompted a reshuffle
from Coleman as Ashley Williams dropped back from midfield into a more
familiar role in the centre of defence alongside Darcy Blake.

Belgium soon began to exploit the
extra space and Mertens should have given Marc Wilmots' side the lead
after 35 minutes, but the PSV Eindhoven winger fired narrowly wide after
cutting in from the left.

Well done: Belgium celebrate with scorer Kompany

Well done: Belgium celebrate with scorer Kompany

Rivals: Aaron Ramsey gets to grips with Mousa Dembele

Rivals: Aaron Ramsey gets to grips with Mousa Dembele

Bale continued to pose Wales' best
attacking threat and another purposeful surge from the Tottenham man
came so close to finding the opener, but Church saw his shot blocked by
Gillet.

And the miss was punished when skipper
Kompany got the better of Blake to head in at the near post from
Mertens' pin-point corner to give Belgium the lead in the 42nd minute.

Belgium looked comfortable and camped
on the edge of the Wales box from the off at the start of the second
half, with Axel Witsel blazing over and Mertens shooting straight at
Boaz Myhill.

Jan Vertonghen with Dries Mertens on his back

Gareth Bale and Mertens

Contrasting fortunes: Club-mates Jan Vertonghen and Gareth Bale

Adam Matthews denied substitute Romelu
Lukaku an easy finish with a fine defensive header, while Vertonghen
hit the side-netting after linking wonderfully with Eden Hazard.

Wales were clinging on bravely, and
only a sharp save from Thibault Courtois denied them an equaliser from
Bale's fierce free-kick, before Williams headed narrowly wide from the
resulting corner.

Wales were fortunate to escape
punishment when Edwards and Matthews misplaced passes in quick
succession, but on both occasions Lukaku could not control balls into
his feet.

But Belgium put the seal on the win in
the 83rd minute when Wales captain Aaron Ramsey fouled Lukaku;
Vertonghen stepped up to hammer the free-kick beyond Myhill and end home
hopes of salvaging a point.

Tussle: Bale goes in on Dries Mertens

Tussle: Bale goes in on Dries Mertens

Eden Hazard

Mousa Dembele

Star names: Eden Hazard and Dembele featured for Belgium but neither were on top form

Brighton 5 Barnsley 1: Ashley Barnes and Craig Mackail-Smith

Posted on by

Brighton 5 Barnsley 1: Two each for Barnes and Mackail-Smith in Seagulls romp

|

UPDATED:

17:06 GMT, 25 August 2012

Ashley Barnes and Craig Mackail-Smith both scored braces as Brighton broke their goal duck in style by thrashing Barnsley in the npower Championship.

The Seagulls had not found the net in their previous three matches this season, prompting manager Gus Poyet to step up his search for a new striker.

But his current frontline sent a message to the boss with Barnes opening and completing the scoring and Mackail-Smith grabbing his brace either side of half-time.

High five: Wayne Bridge celebrates his goal

High five: Wayne Bridge celebrates his goal

MATCH FACTS

Brighton: Kuszczak, Bruno, Greer, El-Abd, Bridge, Crofts (Harley 70), Dicker, Bridcutt, Noone (LuaLua 70), Mackail-Smith, Barnes (Agdestein 84).

Subs Not Used: Ankergren, Dunk, Calderon, Barker.

Booked: Barnes.

Goals: Barnes 4, Bridge 14, Mackail-Smith 38, 50, Barnes 81.

Barnsley: Gonzalez, Foster, Wiseman, Stones (Hassell 55), Golbourne (Cranie 55), Dawson, Etuhu, Cywka, Mellis, Harewood, Davies.
Subs Not Used: Lidakevicius, Collins, Dagnall, Clark, Rose.

Booked: Golbourne, Stones, Foster.

Goals: Davies 35 pen.

Attendance: 24,594

Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire).

And on what was obviously the day to end
goal droughts, Wayne Bridge scored his first league goal in nearly nine
years as Brighton finally got their season up and running.

The 30-year-old defender, on loan with the Seagulls from Manchester
City, struck a long-range effort as Poyet's side picked up their first
win of the Championship campaign.

Former Brighton striker Craig Davies did pull one back from the penalty
spot but the Tykes were well beaten and slipped to a second straight
defeat.

The previously shot-shy hosts got off to the perfect start with a goal after only four minutes.
Barnsley goalkeeper David Gonzalez, who had a spell with the Seagulls
last term, spilled Craig Noone's free-kick and Barnes was on hand to
half-volley the ball into the net.

Eleven minutes later Bridge collected a pass from Liam Bridcutt and, as
Barnsley back-tracked, the former England left-back crashed in a 25-yard
drive which flew through a sea of bodies and low into the corner of the
net.

It was Bridge's first league goal since he found the net for Chelsea against Portsmouth in December 2003.

Barnsley were thrown a lifeline after 34 minutes when Andrew Crofts
brought down Jacob Mellis in the area and Davies converted the penalty,
despite Tomasz Kuszczak getting a touch.

Contrasting emotions: Brighton manager Gus Poyet (left) and Barnsley boss Keith Hill (right)

Contrasting emotions: Brighton manager Gus Poyet (left) and Barnsley boss Keith Hill (right)

Contrasting emotions: Brighton manager Gus Poyet (left) and Barnsley boss Keith Hill (right)

Football League blog

But three minutes later the hosts restored their two-goal cushion when Spanish full-back Bruno raided down the right.

His cross was missed by the unconvincing Gonzalez and Mackail-Smith was on hand to tap in at the far post.

Barnsley have not come from behind to win an away game since they beat
Blackpool in December 2009, and their faint hopes of doing so
disappeared three minutes after the interval.

John Stones was muscled off the ball by the diminutive Noone and his
cross was headed on by Barnes for Mackail-Smith to tuck in his second.

And 10 minutes from time, substitute Kazenga LuaLua reached the byline
and crossed for Barnes to fire his second and Brighton's fifth.

Brighton 0 Cardiff 0 – match report

Posted on by

Brighton 0 Cardiff 0: Kuszczak saves Seagulls a point with stunning stops

|

UPDATED:

21:15 GMT, 21 August 2012

Goalkeepers Tomasz Kuszczak and David Marshall ensured an entertaining game ended goalless with a series of top-class saves as Brighton registered their first point in the npower Championship this season.

Brighton goalkeeper Kuszczak, a free summer signing from Manchester United, and opposite number Marshall were both in imperious form as their respective sides created a hatful of chances in either half.

The pick of Kuszczak's efforts was a double save in the 77th minute to deny Cardiff substitutes Joe Mason and Etien Velikonja, while Marshall kept out goalbound efforts from Brighton pair Craig Mackail-Smith and Saltor Bruno among others.

Stalemate: Brighton and Cardiff could not be separated at the Amex

Stalemate: Brighton and Cardiff could not be separated at the Amex

MATCH FACTS:

Brighton: Kuszczak, Bruno, Greer, El-Abd, Bridge, Crofts, Dicker (Harley 82), Bridcutt, Barnes (LuaLua 63), Noone (Vicente 82), Mackail-Smith.

Subs Not Used: Ankergren, Dunk, Calderon, Agdestein.

Cardiff: Marshall, McNaughton, Taylor, Hudson, Turner, Whittingham, Cowie, Gunnarsson, Mutch (Mason 46), Helguson (Velikonja 77), Bellamy (Conway 73).

Subs Not Used: Lewis, Kiss, Earnshaw, Blake.

Booked: Mutch.

Attendance: 25,518

Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Check out all the latest, stats, facts and table from the Championship

Both managers named unchanged sides
at the Amex Stadium, Gus Poyet fielding the same Brighton XI that
started in Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Hull and Malky Mackay keeping faith
with those that had earned a 1-0 win over Huddersfield last Friday.

Bluebirds defender Ben Turner saw his
goalbound header from Peter Whittingham's seventh-minute corner blocked
by Brighton striker Mackail-Smith, while returning hero Craig Bellamy
crashed a 30-yard shot straight into the hands of home goalkeeper
Kuszczak.

Brighton took a little longer to get
going, but Marshall was forced to hold Ashley Barnes' angled drive in
the 12th minute before the visitors threatened again.

Cardiff defender Andrew Taylor swung
over a decent cross, but Bellamy's strike partner Heidar Helguson
steered the ball tamely over the bar.

Mackail-Smith went close to giving
the Seagulls the lead in the 22nd minute. His first shot was deflected
for a corner and when the ball was played back in the Brighton forward
was quickest to react, only to see Marshall parry the ball to safety at
full stretch.

Marshall then kept out Craig Noone's
angled effort from inside the penalty area before the action shifted to
the other end, where Whittingham's excellent free-kick from 25 yards –
after he was fouled by Brighton defender Gary Dicker – brought the best
out of Kuszczak.

Cardiff midfielder Jordon Mutch was
forced out through injury at half-time and replaced by Mason, but it had
little effect on the visitors, who threatened first after the break
through Whittingham's curling effort that flew just wide.

At the other end Brighton went closer
to breaking the deadlock, first through winger Andrew Crofts – whose
shot was blocked by Turner – and then Spanish defender Bruno, whose
effort from the subsequent corner was superbly saved by Marshall.

Brighton boss Poyet sent on Kazenga
LuaLua for Barnes in the 63rd minute and, after midfield team-mate Craig
Noone had fired a shot straight at Marshall, opposite number Mackay
responded by withdrawing Bellamy and sending on Craig Conway.

Conway's midfield partner Don Cowie
let fly from 30 yards, but was thwarted by Kuszczak as both sides went
in search of the winner.

Kuszczak came to Brighton's rescue
again with a fine double save to deny Mason and substitute striker
Velikonja, who had replaced Helguson moments earlier, in quick
succession with 15 minutes left.

The goalmouth action dried up in the
closing stages as both sides settled for a point at the end of a
thoroughly entertaining goalless draw.

Wales 0 Bosnia-Herzegovina 2: Chris Coleman suffers defeat in first match on home soil

Posted on by

Wales 0 Bosnia-Herzegovina 2: Coleman suffers defeat in first match on home soil

|

UPDATED:

20:52 GMT, 15 August 2012

Wales' preparations for their World Cup qualification campaign ended on a sobering note with defeat against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Llanelli.

Goals from Vedad Ibisevic and Miroslav Stevanovic gave the visitors, inspired by a terrific performance from Manchester City's Edin Dzeko, a deserved win.

The closest Wales came to a goal was when Joe Allen hit the crossbar in the first half, while Gareth Bale also threatened sporadically, but it was a dispiriting night for the hosts.

More to follow….

Net result: Stevanovic scores their second goal to confirm victory for the visitors

Net result: Stevanovic scores their second goal to confirm victory for the visitors

Match facts

Wales: Myhill, Gunter, Blake, Williams, Taylor, Bale, Ramsey, Allen, Crofts, Church, Vokes.

Subs: Brown, Lynch, Ricketts, Matthews, Ledley, Edwards, Bellamy, Morison, Earnshaw,
Robson-Kanu, Fon Williams.

Bosnia-Herzegovina: Begovic, Pandza, Spahic, Mujdza, Salihovic, Pjanic, Zahirovic, Stevanovic, Lulic, Ibisevic, Dzeko.

Subs: Avdukic, Sunjic, Vrancic, Besic, Svraka, Ognjen Vranjes, Sesar.

Referee: Marco Borg (Malta)

Who's the Bos Vedad Ibisevic opens the scoring for the visitors

Who's the Bos Vedad Ibisevic opens the scoring for the visitors

Who's the Bos Vedad Ibisevic opens the scoring for the visitors

XXX

Falling flat: Bale and Allen were in action for Wales who lost their first game on home soil under Coleman

Falling flat: Bale and Allen were in action for Wales who lost their first game on home soil under Coleman

Falling flat: Bale and Allen were in action for Wales who lost their first game on home soil under Coleman