Ulloa double as Albion turn on the style

2:11pm Sunday 17th March 2013 in Sport By Brian Owen

Leo Ulloa celebrates his second goal (photos Simon Dack) Leo Ulloa celebrates his second goal (photos Simon Dack)

Albion re-ignited their play-off push in spectacular style – by putting their derby rivals to the sword.

Leo Ulloa scored twice and David curled in a perfect free-kick as the Seagulls thumped Crystal Palace 3-0 before 28,499 at The Amex.

The result avenges the Seagulls’ defeat by the same scoreline at Selhurst Park earlier in the season and, more importantly, takes them level on points with sixth-placed Leicester.

Ulloa made the breakthrough in the 44th minute with a far post header after his initial flick on had released Will Buckley to provide the cross from the right.

Buckley was then fouled for a free-kick which David curled over the wall and in off the underside of the bar in added time.

Ulloa eased any fears of a comeback by Palace – whose double half-time substitution included the introduction of Kevin Phillips – by adding his second in the 51st minute.

The big striker was left all alone to volley in Andrea Orlandi’s header after Liam Bridcutt had crossed.

Julian Speroni denied Ulloa a hat-trick by saving a well-struck drive.

Albion keeper Tomasz Kuszczak also played a part.

His alert save to his right to prevent a Matt Upson header going into his own net at 0-0 was a key moment against a Palace side who looked very bright for most of the first half.

Albion, though, were in full cry once ahead, helped by a sparkling display down the left by the recalled Kazenga LuaLua.

Comments(24)

russellsnr2 says...
2:21pm Sun 17 Mar 13

What can you say?
So many words but none to say how good this makes a person feel.

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MrHove says...
2:25pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Amazing!!

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mr punch says...
2:31pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Its Paddy's Day here in Ireland and everone is wondering why I am starting so early!!! Fantastic!!!!

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pebble counter says...
2:47pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Brilliant game, best I've seen Albion play so far. Lua Lua played his heart out and put in three or four identical crosses in the second half, a committed and professional display. Third goal was sublime. Grand day out.

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Alan G Skinner says...
2:59pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Fantastic performance and result. Let's regroup, rest and get ready for the next game.

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jazzgrove says...
3:10pm Sun 17 Mar 13

The support was superb. It was like a Barcelona game in there. Prems here we come (soon)

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mr punch says...
3:12pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Just one question? Why was there an empty seat? lol UTA!!!!

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MrHove says...
3:19pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Everyone was class today, kaz worked his heart out and likewise buckley, this has shown that if we take our chances we will win games against the bigger teams without much fuss.
Ulloah looks class, not the quickest but seems to be in the right place and some of his build and hold up play is imense - i dont think we are seeing the best of him yet either as hes still adapting to this league and our game.
Special praise for poyet as he made a brave decision in playing buckers and kaz when he easily could have stuck hammond or crofts in to cope with zaha and bolaise. Atmosphere was buzzing.
Lastly, the back 4 looked as solid as ive seen them all season and apart from the one chance in the firsy half i dont remember palace creating much.
UTA!!!!!!!

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old codger75 says...
3:24pm Sun 17 Mar 13

No mention on here today of a certain GM - but then why should there be, he had so few touches of the ball you hardly knew he was playing. To be fair though, at the end a very nice touch - he went over to the Albion players he knew from the past to congatulate them: Greer, Calderon etc.
On today's performance though we now know which is the better player technically: Ulloa or Murray and for my money it isn't Murray

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Grendel says...
3:29pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Now let's forget Glenn Murray. We've got Ulloa.

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Sevensisters says...
3:43pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Please Gus do not change a winning team! Cant wait for the Forest game. Just for info, with all supporters walking to the right at the Amex today it was so much easier an quicker to get out. Maybe they should do this for every match.

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Far gull says...
3:46pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Great game,great result.
Lualua best whole game he has played in an albion shirt.
Amazing what we can achieve Gus , with only one defensive midfielder on our side from the start! that to my knowledge is a first this season, i will stop short of saying most regulars have been asking for this at home all season. But we have and this is the result.
Entire side gave there all , ulloa is a find lets all hope he can stay fit .
season still alive .
Agree with previous poster feel happy today.

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pablobrowno says...
3:58pm Sun 17 Mar 13

So this must prove to gus that lua lua should play. Also that we CAN play two wingers at the Amex. Such an attacking formation with no crofts or Hammond in first 11! Well done gus and well done the lads. A point a forest followed by two home wins will put us in great shape for a play off spot.

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Andy Structible says...
4:01pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Vital win, not just for bragging rights, but for the fact that we are now WELL in the play off hunt. Ulloa is and will be a Brighton legend! Who needs Murray??

UTA

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helmstone says...
4:11pm Sun 17 Mar 13

never been so pleased to get home like a drowned rat!!! Not a day for scootering but who cares, brilliant atmosphere, brilliant all round unity and some super individual performances, Kaz the enigma stood out miles for me.....if Zaha and his pram are worth 17 million then what is our squad worth...surely there must be funds available following that to secure a striker for the run in...Ulloa cant do it every game...or can he??? There is a strong rumour that Gus is in talks with QPR about a loan deal...possibly BOTHROYD>

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RottingdeanBAH27 says...
4:18pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Great result I thought palace actually had a better first half and more possession but the two late goals killed them. Murray was kept quiet by a strong back four. I said in the week that I would love to see Kazenga and Buckley both start and I got my wish. In my opinion LuaLua should of been man of the match. Also like to mention that the police and club put in more effort to separate fans after game and reduced the chance of trouble. Last season was crazy. Four arrests according to the Argus today. Well done. Another 12 points would do nicely.

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fansince57 says...
4:23pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Agree totally with Fargull and pablobrown. I never thought Gus would play 2 wingers & only 1 defensive midfielder but he did today - and it worked. Must mention David Lopez - had my doubts at start of season when he played out right, looked good at right back but today in centre of midfield was immense.... and that free kick was sublime. And what a difference it makes having a CF who can head the ball. Happy happy day!

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JollyRoger says...
4:48pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Fantastic result and great performance from everyone. Wasn't sure that two wingers really made as big a difference as I was expecting because we weren't exactly getting to the byline and getting crosses into their box, but 2-0 up at half time was beyond my wildest dreams.

There is still a long way to go and as we have learnt all season, one great result does not mean we have turned the corner.

We need consistency and performances like this week in and week out.

All the same, 3-0 - brilliant!

UTA!

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Spike Milligan's old piano legs says...
6:03pm Sun 17 Mar 13

That's the sort of result achieved without the slow thinking and wasteful players in the squad playing. No Hammond or Crofts or Dicker or Barnes. Long may it continue.

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Neville says...
6:14pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Thought whole team played really well and it was Lua Luas best game this season.Bridge class and the decision to play 2 wingers was exactly right as it stopped their attacking full backs getting forward to support their front three.If we can maintain momentum and reach play offs todays police limit on the crowd will be exceeded unless we play CP again. Only gripe there were no pies available at all 30 mins before kick of and had to have a dreadful hot dog for £3.80, this catering needs to be sorted especially as bumper crowd was known about. Finally nice to see Murray acknowledge previous team mates.

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Tony the tiger eastbourne says...
6:26pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Murray is a quality player, and has done well for palace, but let's all move on to worship his replacement LEO ULLOA!!

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jarmonesque says...
8:05pm Sun 17 Mar 13

All week I've been reading the 'regular' moaners on here, vegas, MBTS etc and they were all banging on about Murray (7 goals last season!) and slagging Poyet. Funny how quiet they are when we win. True fans? No, we read their cr*p and laugh, we have been supporters our whole lives and know

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Spike Milligan's old piano legs says...
8:43pm Sun 17 Mar 13

jarmonesque wrote:
All week I've been reading the 'regular' moaners on here, vegas, MBTS etc and they were all banging on about Murray (7 goals last season!) and slagging Poyet. Funny how quiet they are when we win. True fans? No, we read their cr*p and laugh, we have been supporters our whole lives and know
Well said sir!

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VegasSeagull says...
1:33pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Spike and or Jar, tell me what I moaned about, put up or shut up, sir!.

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