Tag Archives: orlandi

Brighton 2 Derby 1: Brighton remain undefeated in 2013

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

PUBLISHED:

17:51 GMT, 12 January 2013

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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

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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.

Martin Keown says that teams are taking the FA Cup seriously again

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Martin Keown: New trend: taking the FA Cup seriously… apart from Cardiff

By
Martin Keown

PUBLISHED:

23:55 GMT, 6 January 2013

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UPDATED:

00:22 GMT, 7 January 2013

It was nice to see a lot of Premier League teams taking the FA Cup seriously, including the champions Manchester City.

Outside the Premier League, though, Malky Mackay made 11 changes to his Cardiff side and it backfired, with Macclesfield knocking them out. Yet Cardiff might not mind.

The Championship leaders have been top before, only to fade — they want promotion this time. So maybe the sacrifice of going out of the Cup is bearable.

Cardiff's chopping and changing caused their downfall

Knocked out: Cardiff's chopping and changing caused their downfall

Brighton are bright

A look at the quality in Brighton’s line-up means their win over Newcastle should not have been such a surprise. They have Wayne Bridge, Andrea Orlandi, who was at Swansea, and David Lopez, who has played more than 100 games for Athletic Bilbao.

They are talented. The Newcastle players wanted to come in and make a mark. Instead, they have just been part of a disastrous result.

Andrea Orlandi's finish stole the show against Newcastle

Spanish style: Andrea Orlandi's finish stole the show against Newcastle

Dickov kops good news

What a weekend for Paul Dickov. When his backroom staff were put on gardening leave it sent out the message that he would likely be next with the team struggling near the bottom of League One.

But his squad responded by posting one of the most impressive wins of the weekend away at Nottingham Forest. It went slightly unnoticed, but Dickov will now be relishing the visit of Liverpool.

Dickov's Oldham stunned Alex McLeish and his new club Nottingham Forest

what a peformance! Dickov's Oldham stunned Alex McLeish and his new club Nottingham Forest

Ryan passes ever test

Ryan Giggs has been excellent of late and his pass to set up the Manchester United equaliser for Robin van Persie was sublime.

It probably secured him another year at the club. Giggs has been playing back out wide again recently. He doesn’t try to beat people for fun like he used to, he just hits fantastic diagonal balls. He doesn’t expect too much of himself.

Giggs once again proved his worth setting up Robin Van Persie for United's equaliser

Old age no barrier: Giggs once again proved his worth setting up Robin Van Persie for United's equaliser

A right Royals booster

Reading’s win at Crawley could give them the confidence they need to kickstart their Premier League campaign. It could have all gone wrong for Brian McDermott after his side fell behind so early, but they have good spirit at that club and stayed calm.

Going out could have been a major embarrassment and impacted on their chances of survival but they just got on with it and will fancy their chances of reaching the fifth round.

Reading went behind after just two minutes to Crawley but knuckled down to win

Keeping the faith: Reading went behind after just two minutes to Crawley but knuckled down to win

Gibbs proves his class

I hope Kieran Gibbs got home and watched a re-run of his performance against Swansea. If he did, Gibbs would see just how well he played. The left back is such a good player and can be even better if he continues to perform at this level.

He took the game to Swansea, got a deserved goal, and you can see there is so much more to come from him. In the past he has seemed a little apologetic to be in an Arsenal shirt. He shouldn’t feel like that.

Kieran Gibbs put himself back in the mind of Roy Hodgson

England ambitions: Kieran Gibbs put himself back in the mind of Roy Hodgson

Brighton 1 Watford 3 – match report

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

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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

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

PUBLISHED:

17:27 GMT, 1 December 2012

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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.

Brighton 2 Bristol City 0 – match report

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Brighton 2 Bristol City 0: Hammond and Orlandi open accounts to keep run going

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UPDATED:

22:17 GMT, 27 November 2012

Dean Hammond and Andrea Orlandi opened their accounts for the season to stretch Brighton`s unbeaten run to seven games.

Hammond nodded home a cross early on from close range to put the home side ahead before Orlandi swung in a free-kick which went through a crowded area to make it 2-0.

Despite the best efforts of the visitors Albion chalked up just their second clean sheet in eight games and picked up three more points.

Opening an account: Dean Hammond scored his first goal of the season

Opening an account: Dean Hammond scored his first goal of the season

MATCH FACTS

Brighton: Kuszczak, Bruno, Greer, Dunk, Painter (Calderon – 84' ), Hammond, Orlandi, Bridcutt, Buckley, Hoskins (Crofts 77), Dobbie (Mackail-Smith 59),

Subs not used: Brezovan, El-Abd, David Lopez, Barnes

Goals: Hammond 6, Orlandi 26

Bristol City: Heaton, Foster, Fontaine, Bryan, Bates, Kilkenny (Reid 86), Pearson, Elliott (Baldock 80), Adomah, Danns, Davies (Taylor 46),

Subs not used: Gerken, Carey, Wilson, Woolford

Referee: Whitestone

Attendance: 24,044

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Brighton boss Gus Poyet shuffled his
strikers after Saturday`s 1-1 draw with Bolton. Will Hoskins and Stephen
Dobbie were given the nod with with Ashley Barnes and Craig
Mackail-Smith dropping to the bench.

The visitors, buoyed by a shock 3-1
win at Middlesbrough, made two changes with Steven Davies, who stepped
off the bench to score at the Riverside, and Matthew Bates, back from
injury, being recalled to the starting line-up.

It was the home side who started the
brighter and took an early lead after just six minutes. Will Buckley won
a free-kick on the right which was taken short by Orlandi and clipped
into the box by Liam Bridcutt for Hammond to head home.

And 20 minutes later Brighton`s
advantage was doubled from another set-piece. Orlandi`s inswinging
free-kick caught out Tom Heaton completely and the ball went through the
keeper's legs before ending up in the back of the net.

Orlandi, having opened his Seagulls
account for the season, then tried his luck with a curling effort from
the edge of the box that flew inches past the post.

Gotcha: Will Hoskins (top) is tackled by Matthew Bates

Gotcha: Will Hoskins (top) is tackled by Matthew Bates

In the 36th minute City carved out
their first real chance of the match when Stephen Pearson, who netted in
Saturday`s victory, crashed a left-footed effort off Tomasz Kuszczak`s
crossbar from 20 yards out after being teed up by Marvin Elliott.

Just four minutes later Derek
McInnes` men had another big chance to get back into the match but Neil
Danns` effort was cleared off the line by Gordon Greer after the
Leicester loanee was picked out at the back post. And when the ball fell
back to Danns again he was denied by Kuszczak.

Brighton started the second half as they had the first and created two great chances shortly after the break.

First Hoskins nodded Buckley`s ball
down to Orlandi who fired over before Hoskins ran onto Dobbie`s through
ball and his low shot was kept out by Heaton.

Audacious: Hoskins tries an ambitious overhead kick

Audacious: Hoskins tries an ambitious overhead kick

City continued to pile on the
pressure as they looked for just their third away win of the season with
Albert Adomah and Neil Kilkenny both trying their luck from long-range
but to no avail.

Hoskins, making his first start for
the club since January, had the Seagulls` next chance at the end of a
flowing move with an acrobatic effort in the 76th minute which was well
blocked by Bates.

The 395 travelling fans almost had a late goal to cheer about but half-time substitute Ryan Taylor headed Kilkenny`s cross wide.

Wolves 3 Brighton 3: match report

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Wolves 3 Brighton 3: Johnson rescues home side late in the day after Henry sees red

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UPDATED:

17:37 GMT, 10 November 2012

Roger Johnson scored a dramatic late equaliser for Wolves to deny Brighton in a six-goal thriller which saw the hosts play with 10 men for the entire second half.

Bakary Sako opened the scoring for Stale Solbakken's men when he fired the ball past Tomasz Kuszczak after some superb build-up play.

Craig Mackail-Smith pulled Brighton level on 43 minutes, before Karl Henry was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Liam Bridcutt on the stroke of half-time.

On our way: Bakary Sako (right) celebrated striking Wolves' first goal at Molineux

On our way: Bakary Sako (right) celebrated striking Wolves' first goal at Molineux

MATCH FACTS

Wolverhampton: Ikeme, Foley, Johnson, Berra, Ward,
Pennant (Sigurdarson 58), Edwards (Davis 82), Henry, Sako, Doyle, Ebanks-Blake (Doumbia 46).

Subs Not Used: De Vries, Stearman, Batth, Forde.

Sent Off: Henry (45).

Goals: Sako 22, Doumbia 61, Johnson 90.

Brighton: Kuszczak, Saltor, Greer, Dunk, Bridge (Calderon 34),
Crofts (Buckley 65), Bridcutt, Dobbie, Orlandi, David Lopez (Barnes 64), Mackail-Smith.

Subs Not Used: Ankergren, Hammond, Hoskins, Dicker.

Goals: Mackail-Smith 43, Buckley 72, Dobbie 89 pen.

Attendance: 21,203

Referee: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire).

Click here for latest Championship results, fixtures and table

Wolves were back in front against the
run of play on 61 minutes with a 25-yard strike from substitute Tongo
Doumbia, but a 12-yard drive from Will Buckley levelled things again.

Brighton took the lead for the first
time with a Stephen Dobbie penalty in the 89th minute, but Johnson had
the final say when he headed the ball in from a Sako free-kick just a
minute later.

The Seagulls enjoyed lengthy spells
of possession in the opening 15 minutes, but Wolves fought their way
back into the match and, after 22 minutes, it was the hosts who opened
the scoring. Sako received the ball from Kevin Doyle at the end of a
superb passing move and slotted it past Kuszczak from 12 yards.

After withstanding considerable pressure from the home side, Mackail-Smith pulled the Seagulls level in the 43rd minute.

The frontman received the ball from
Bruno Saltor in the penalty area, before firing into the top-left corner
of the net from 12 yards.

The goal prompted Solbakken to punch a
hole in the roof of the home dugout, but he probably should have saved
his outburst for a couple of minutes later as things were about to get
much worse for the Wolves boss – Henry receiving a straight red card for
a poor challenge on Liam Bridcutt.

Off: Karl Henry was red-carded, leaving his team-mates to play the entire second half with just 10 men

Off: Karl Henry was red-carded, leaving his team-mates to play the entire second half with just 10 men

Brighton started the second half
brightly as they tried to make their one-man advantage count, and twice
went close with efforts from David Lopez and Dobbie.

The latter continued to challenge Carl Ikeme in the Wolves goal as the half continued, but was unable sneak an effort past him.

Ten-man Wolves then regained the lead
against the run of play in the 61st minute – substitute Doumbia making
the most of an advantage played by referee Scott Mathieson to fire in a
superb 25-yard effort.

Brighton pushed to pull themselves level again and, on 72 minutes, they succeeded with a low 12-yard drive from Buckley.

However, there was more drama to
follow when Christophe Berra was controversially judged to have handled
the ball in the penalty area on 89 minutes, giving Dobbie the
opportunity to fire the ball past Ikeme from the penalty spot.

Johnson then rose superbly to meet a
Sako free-kick and head the ball into the back of the Brighton net to
earn his side a hard-fought point and score his first goal for Wolves.

Derby 0 Brighton 0: Seagulls fluff their chances in lacklustre draw

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Derby 0 Brighton 0: Seagulls fluff their chances in lacklustre draw

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UPDATED:

18:27 GMT, 6 October 2012

Derby and Brighton played out a lacklustre goalless draw at Pride Park in a game where the visitors enjoyed plenty of possession which they failed to convert into goals.

Brighton manager Gus Poyet

Tense draw: It was a frustrating afternoon for Brighton boss Gus Poyet as he watched his side waste a hat-full of chances

For Gus Poyet's men it's a third game without a victory following their five-match winning streak which had seen them lead the way in the npower Championship during September.

But aside from a 20-minute period after the interval where Brighton had a series of good chances, they were unable to find the net as they badly missed injured top scorer Craig Mackail-Smith.

Match facts

Derby: Legzdins, Brayford, Keogh, Buxton, O'Connor, Coutts, Hendrick, Hughes (Jacobs 46), Bryson, Sammon, Robinson (Davies 76).

Subs Not Used: Deeney, Tyson, Bennett, Gjokaj, Freeman.

Booked: Keogh.

Brighton: Kuszczak, Saltor, Greer,El-Abd, Bridge, Bridcutt, Buckley (Dobbie 34), David Lopez, Dicker, Orlandi (Hammond 61), Barnes.

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

Booked: Bridcutt, Bridge.

Att: 22,059

Ref: Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire).

Click here for the latest npower Championship results, fixtures and table

The home side struggled to break down
a stubborn Albion backline who have now conceded just three times in
five away league games this season, this despite having nine corners in
the game.

Brighton looked a real threat early
on with their patient passing game, but the best they could manage was
Andrea Orlandi trying his luck twice from distance.

The first goalkeeper to be called
into action was Derby's Adam Legzdins, who had to be alert to save David
Lopez's free-kick which he managed to get up and over the wall and saw
it bounce awkwardly in front of the Rams shot stopper.

Derby struggled to get a foothold in
the game in the opening quarter and their first shot only came on 21
minutes when Paul Coutts dragged a right-foot shot wide from 20 yards
out.

Orlandi then headed over the crossbar
at the far post after a deep cross, before the visitors were forced to
make a change as Tuesday night's late goal hero in the 1-1 draw against
Ipswich, Will Buckley, hobbled off injured to be replaced by Stephen
Dobbie – who struck an effort wide just before the break after a flowing
move.

After a disappointing first half,
Albion hit the crossbar minutes after the restart when Liam Bridcutt's
left-foot shot from the edge of the area took a deflection and had
Legzdins rooted to the spot as it came back off the woodwork.

The Rams defence then backed off to allow Dobbie the chance to turn just outside the area and send his shot just over the bar.

The visitors were doing all the
pressing at the start of the second half as they bossed possession and
Lopez was next to go close but steered just wide of the left post after a
neat lay-off by Dobbie.

Brighton were the team looking most
likely to break the deadlock and Gary Dicker's inswinging corner from
the left was met by the head of substitute Dean Hammond but Legzdins
parried away before Gordon Greer headed the rebound wide from six yards
out.

This seemed to wake the hosts, who up
to this point had barely had a shot on goal but then forced Brighton
goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak into two fine saves in a matter of a minute -
the Pole tipping shots from distance by John Brayford and then Craig
Bryson behind for corners.

Both teams endeavoured to find a late
winner and the home side enjoyed a five-minute period of pressure
without ever further troubling Kuszczak as the game ended without a goal
being scored.

Brighton 1 Ipswich 1

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Brighton 1 Ipswich 1: Seagulls knocked off perch despite Buckley's late leveller

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UPDATED:

21:04 GMT, 2 October 2012

Will Buckley climbed off the bench to grab a point for Brighton and deny Ipswich a much-needed victory.

But the Seagulls still slipped off the top of the npower Championship while Town avoided tumbling to the bottom.

Daryl Murphy fired the lowly Tractor Boys into the lead in the first half, but they were denied a first win in eight games, and some breathing space for under-pressure boss Paul Jewell, when Buckley struck from close range with 10 minutes to go.

Level: Will Buckley rescues a point for Brighton at home to Ipswich

Level: Will Buckley rescues a point for Brighton at home to Ipswich

Match facts

Brighton: Kuszczak, Calderon, Greer, El-Abd, Bridge, Hammond (Dicker 63), Bridcutt, Orlandi (David Lopez 76), Barnes, Dobbie, LuaLua (Buckley 62).

Subs Not Used: Ankergren, Dunk, Harley, Painter.

Booked: Hammond, Bridcutt, El-Abd.

Goal: Buckley 80.

Ipswich: Loach, Edwards, Chambers, Higginbotham, Cresswell, Drury, N'Daw, Martin, Emmanuel-Thomas (Carson 84), Chopra (Scotland 64),
Murphy.

Subs Not Used: Lee-Barrett, Luongo, Ellington, Smith, Ainsley.

Goal: Murphy 27.

Att: 24,736

Ref: Fred Graham (Essex)

Latest Championship results, fixtures and table

Brighton could have gone ahead after just 30 seconds when some neat play from Ashley Barnes and Stephen Dobbie teed up Kazenga LuaLua but the former Newcastle winger scuffed his shot wide.

Barnes then played in Dobbie, still looking for his first goal since joining from Swansea, but his low shot was saved by Scott Loach.

Ipswich were looking dangerous as well, though, and Tomasz Kuszczak kept out a drive from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas before Murphy headed a Carlos Edwards cross wide.

And in the 27th minute it was the visitors who took a shock lead when another deep Edwards deep cross to the far post again found Murphy, who this time stooped to plant his header past Kuszczak.

Brighton almost pulled one back before the interval but Wayne Bridge's shot was deflected narrowly wide.

Yet just after the break Ipswich were agonisingly close to doubling their advantage, again through Murphy.

Michael Chopra's cross fizzed across the Brighton goal and Murphy's shot was kept out by the legs of the diving Kuszczak.

But the Seagulls bossed the majority of the second half and Dobbie's deflected shot looped over, LuaLua was denied by Loach and a smart turn and shot from Barnes flew inches wide.

Boss Gus Poyet threw on Buckley and Gary Dicker just after the hour mark, and the substitution paid dividends 18 minutes later.

They finally drew level after Inigo Calderon's persistence down the right was rewarded when his cross-shot ricocheted to Buckley, who was in the right place to tap the ball in from a yard out.

Ipswich had a chance to go back into the lead moments later when Jason Scotland curled the ball towards goal and although Kuszczak fumbled the shot, Brighton cleared the danger.

Brighton went for the win during five minutes of stoppage time, with Buckley the driving force, but his curling cross was just too far in front of Barnes as the hosts had to settle for a point.

Brighton 3 Sheffield Wednesday 0: Wayne Bridge on target as Seagulls go top

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Brighton 3 Sheffield Wednesday 0: Bridge on target as Seagulls go top

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UPDATED:

20:57 GMT, 14 September 2012

Craig Mackail-Smith claimed his fifth goal in three games as Brighton moved to the top of the npower Championship table.

Gus Poyet's in-form side handed Sheffield Wednesday a sound beating
after taking a first-half lead through Wayne Bridge's deflected
free-kick.

Hands up: Craig Mackail-Smith celebrates his goal

Hands up: Craig Mackail-Smith celebrates his goal

MATCH FACTS

Brighton: Kuszczak, Saltor, Greer,El-Abd, Bridge, Hammond, Bridcutt, Dicker, Buckley (Orlandi 77),Mackail-Smith (Dobbie 69), Barnes (David Lopez 82).
Subs Not Used: Ankergren, Dunk, Calderon, LuaLua.

Booked: Saltor.

Goals: Bridge 24, Mackail-Smith 54, Buckley 58.

Sheff Wed: Kirkland, Mattock, Taylor, Llera, Beevers, Antonio, Semedo, McCabe, Jermaine Johnson (Pecnik 64), Bothroyd (Madine 87), Rodri (Barkley 46).
Subs Not Used: /09/14/article-2203442-1504EB3D000005DC-225_468x286.jpg” width=”468″ height=”286″ alt=”Hit man: Wayne Bridge fires in the first goal for Brighton” class=”blkBorder” />

Hit man: Wayne Bridge fires in the first goal for Brighton

Buckley forced a sharp stop from Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland
at the end of a 15th minute counter-attack he instigated when a pass to
the unmarked Mackail-Smith might have been the better option.

The visitors weathered some pressure immediately after this chance but fell behind in the 24th minute.

Bridge initially fainted to strike the dead ball from the edge of the
area and, with the Wednesday wall attempting to reorganise, he hit a
shot that looped off Rhys McCabe and beyond Kirkland into the far
corner.

Bruno unconvincingly cleared McCabe's cross as Wednesday sought a
response – something that looked most likely when the lively Jermaine
Johnson was in possession.

Five minutes before half-time, Buckley's surge at the Owls defence forced Mattock to clear his low centre from the goalmouth.

Group hug: Bridge is mobbed by team mates

Group hug: Bridge is mobbed by team mates

On-loan Everton youngster Barkley was introduced in place of Rodri at
the interval as Jones sought a spark, only for Brighton to double their
lead nine minutes into the second period.

Bruno wormed his way through challenges to get inside the box from the
right and his low cross allowed Mackail-Smith to stroke home.

Albion goalkeeper Thomasz Kuszczak was scrambling as a curling Johnson
effort flashed narrowly wide – a brief respite before Brighton made the
points safe in sumptuous fashion.

Bruno's lofted diagonal ball caught out Wednesday's defence and found
the rampaging Buckley, whose excellent first touch set up a cool,
chipped finish.
It was almost four with an hour gone when Kirkland produced a superb reaction save from Mackail-Smith's header.

Wednesday belatedly tested Kuszczak inside the last 15 minutes – the
first stop displaying excellent reflexes to thwart Bothroyd's close
range header before Mattock's stinging drive was touched to safety.

Brendan Rodgers rues Swansea"s defending

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Rodgers rues Swansea's defending as Wolves stage stunning fightback

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UPDATED:

22:37 GMT, 28 April 2012

Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers was left to rue costly defensive errors after his side were denied victory by a thrilling Wolves fightback in a breathless 4-4 draw at the Liberty Stadium.

There had seemed little prospect of anything other than a comfortable home win when Swansea took a 3-0 lead inside 15 minutes.

Midfielder Andrea Orlandi opened the scoring with his first goal in two years after just 25 seconds, with Joe Allen and Nathan Dyer also finding the net.

Defensive disaster: Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers was frustrated with his sides defending

Defensive disaster: Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers was frustrated with his sides defending

But relegated Wolves rallied as Steven Fletcher and the outstanding Matt Jarvis struck either side of Danny Graham grabbing Swansea's fourth goal.

And Terry Connor's side completed their comeback in the second half as David Edwards and Jarvis found the net.

The standard of defending from both sides was woeful on occasions and the watching Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson would doubtless have noted Swansea's defensive frailties ahead of next Sunday's meeting between the sides at Old Trafford.

At least the Swans go into that game mathematically safe from relegation thanks to the point picked up here.

Rodgers said: 'I thought that in the first half going forward we were good, but there is disappointment at our defensive display.

Comeback: Wolves players celebrate their fourth goal

Comeback: Wolves players celebrate their fourth goal

'We gave away poor goals, I said to the players that for the majority of the first half we played as a team. For the first 30 minutes and with the structure we had we created plenty of chances and got the goals. We had three but we could have scored more.

'But we gave away a disappointing goal from a cross when Fletcher scored and then Jarvis scored as well and it gave Wolves oxygen.

'The game should have been dead at 3-0 and in the second half I felt there were too many individuals and we did not play as a team.

'We have shown over the season how well we defend so to concede four goals at home was incredible really. You don't want too many of those as a coach or manager.'

Swansea's impressive maiden Premier League campaign has been based around their solidity at the back, keeping 13 clean sheets so far this season.

Showing some fight: Wolves manager Terry Connor saw his side come from behind

Showing some fight: Wolves manager Terry Connor saw his side come from behind

But Rodgers was adamant that the poor defensive display on this occasion was not down to the decision to start with a 3-4-3 formation, as opposed to Swansea's usual 4-3-3 set-up.

'It was with the conventional system we had problems,' he said.

'We played 3-4-3 in the first 35 minutes and when we conceded the first goal we closed the last 10 minutes of the half in a 4-3-3, and in the second half we played it for the entire half.

'Our system worked brilliantly early on, it got us in front which is what you look for.

'Some of the football was fantastic but we didn't defend. It was about individual defending and mistakes.

'But give credit to Wolves, I warned in the week that they are a team with spirit and I know how competitive they are, it was never going to to be an easy game.'

Wolves boss Connor was delighted with the character his side showed to recover from their nightmare start, just a week after having their relegation confirmed with defeat against Manchester City.

Connor, who is still waiting for a first win after 11 games in charge, said: 'It was two teams with different styles trying to play football and it made for an entertaining game.

'Looking back now the opening spell was maybe a little hangover from the disappointment of last week.

'Once the players cleared their heads we were good enough to get a goal back and they grew in confidence and belief and showed our true qualities and possibly could have ended up winners.'