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Murray hits four to move Albion out of drop zone (From The Argus)
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Murray hits four to move Albion out of drop zone
5:04pm Monday 28th December 2009
Glenn Murray celebrated his return to the starting line-up with four goals as Albion beat fellow strugglers Wycombe Wanderers 5-2 to move out of the relegation zone in League One.
Murray was only back in the side as a result of Liam Dickinson's late booking on Saturday which earned him a one-match ban.
But the striker took his chance in style, scoring three in the second half as the Seagulls fought back from 2-1 down at the interval.
With Leyton Orient losing 2-1 at Southend, Albion have moved above them on goals scored.
The first half was best forgotten with the deadlock being broken in the 27th minute, perhaps against the run of play. The goal was bizzarre as Adam El-Abd made a super block on Kevin Betsy's shot but his follow-up clearance hit Gavin Hoyte, cannoned off Peter Brezovan and fell nicely for Jon-Paul Pittman to squeeze home a low shot.
Nine minutes later Albion were level with a piece of opportunism from Murray who met Elliott Bennett's right-wing cross with an overhead kick which dropped into the far corner.
However, a horrible mistake from Brezovan ensured parity lasted just three minutes. Tommy Doherty's free-kick on the edge of the box spun off the top of the wall and provided a simple catch for Brezovan but the Albion keeper dropped it and John Mousinho forced the ball home from a yard out.
Gus Poyet looked stony-faced as he went in at half-time and whatever he said made an impact as Albion turned the game on its head with two goals within 11 minutes of the restart.
Forster made it 2-2 on 49 minutes, steering home Gary Dicker's teasing cross for his 13th goal of the season and then seven minutes later Forster hooked the ball over from the right and Murray headed home from close range.
Murray completed his hat-trick with another smart finish 20 minutes from time. Nicky Forster did the spade work with a fine run in the inside right channel, his cross was held up but Murray seized on it and took a touch to make space for himself before firing low into the far corner.
It was certainly Murray's day and he headed his fourth ten minutes from time from Dean Cox's cross which keeper Scott Shearer missed.
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Your Say YourArgus
Ontariogull, Aurora, Ontario, Canada says...
5:19pm Mon 28 Dec 09
Perkino, Henfield says...
5:40pm Mon 28 Dec 09
Ontariogull wrote:I don't.
I think the canny Gus kept Murray back on Saturday so he would be fresh today.
I think Murray was dropped on Saturday because he hasn't looked interested, he hasn't been putting in the performances to warrant a starting place.
and as Dickinson was man of the match on saturday there is a high chance that he would have started today if not suspended
klemaniac, Eastbourne says...
5:52pm Mon 28 Dec 09
Jimmy Langley, Hove says...
6:07pm Mon 28 Dec 09
driverB, eastbourne says...
6:28pm Mon 28 Dec 09
McKenzie, Llangenny says...
6:52pm Mon 28 Dec 09
SEAGULLS
deancoxissexy, Southwick says...
7:39pm Mon 28 Dec 09
I don't think Poyet will be fooled by such a good 2nd half when so much of the previous 23 and a half games has been tripe. We have 24 points from 24 games so I still expect big changes in January, notably at the back.
Judging by the way he gave his shirt to the fans and waved (goodbye?), it looks like Virgo is leaving, which should free up plenty of cash for wages even if we don't get much of a transfer fee.
1 change that doesn't need any investment is Kuipers back in goal. Surely he has to be our 1st choice.
Mrs Doyle, Hurst says...
8:24pm Mon 28 Dec 09
Perkino, Henfield says...
8:38pm Mon 28 Dec 09
Mrs Doyle wrote:I spoke to Kuipers on Saturday and he said he was still struggling.
Yes, amazed Kuipers wasn't back today. Brezovan is a huge improvement on Smith, and when fully match fit will be a useful addition to the squad, but even my son, who is not as big a fan of Michel as I am,can't understand why he is not playing. Went to the game on Saturday, blimey, it was poor, this one sounded much more entertaining.
Brezovan has done well and I think he is Poyet's number 1
bda, bermuda says...
10:16pm Mon 28 Dec 09
jaque au lait, brighton says...
6:17am Tue 29 Dec 09
B-hove, says...
10:27am Tue 29 Dec 09
Our midfield looked lost without Gary's distribution against the Os.
Kuipers back in goal when fully fit, please.
mark5, findon says...
12:55pm Tue 29 Dec 09
B-hove wrote:Agreed, Dicker is probably our most influential player and without his playmaking against Orient we were a shadow of the forward playing team we have been under Gus so far. This suggests we need another player of his sort of class to strengthen the midfield in January. Hope Murrays performance will renew his interest in putting in more for the second half of the season too. Let's get those new players in soon so that we can all look forward to a brighter 2010 for the Albion-onwards and upwards!
What a difference Gary Dicker makes. While Glenn Murray will take all the plaudits, the difference for me in the second half was Gary playing further forward, running with the ball deep into oppo's half. This allowed Bennett, Fozzie and Murray to do their stuff. Our midfield looked lost without Gary's distribution against the Os. Kuipers back in goal when fully fit, please.
namgo49, bognor regis says...
1:03pm Tue 29 Dec 09
bda wrote:What a cynical comment, my thoughts exactly!!
great win is murray trying 2 inpress because transphere window opens friday
mark5, findon says...
1:11pm Tue 29 Dec 09
namgo49 wrote:He has probably left it a bit late to impress enough to get a move in January so your cynicism, although understandable in Murray's case, is probably off the mark. If he has a good second half to his season, and still wants out(hopefully not) then he will go in the summer, along with many others, I suspect!
bda wrote: great win is murray trying 2 inpress because transphere window opens fridayWhat a cynical comment, my thoughts exactly!!
Gentleman Jim, North Brighton says...
3:00pm Tue 29 Dec 09
I trust the directors will not be tempted to cut the amount of cash available for new signings as a result of our win.
Dean Cox leaps on four goal Glenn Murrays back
Glenn Murray scores his third
The Albion fans enjoy the day after they endured traffic problems getting to the match
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Ken dodds dads dog died, says...
5:10pm Mon 28 Dec 09