The good, the bad and the downright ugly.

Albion reporters Andy Naylor and Brian Owen reflect on a season of struggle for the Seagulls.

Finest hour and a half

AN: Beating Ipswich 3-2 at the Amex in Chris Hughton's second home game.

They were the only top six side Albion defeated.

Good game against good opposition, a cracking goal by Sam Baldock and an important result after losing to Brentford four days earlier.

BO: The 2-0 win at Leeds with new boys Joao Teixeira and Danny Holla. Albion passed the ball with the precision and confidence we had become accustomed to in recent years. That was the evening we all thought to ourselves: “Everything’s going to be fine after all.”

Darkest day

AN: Has to be Sami Hyypia's last home game in charge against Millwall.

A dismal 1-0 defeat against one of the teams relegated was overshadowed by a toxic atmosphere and poisonous abuse for the manager.

BO: Results do not get worse than losing to the bottom team (Blackpool). Or a team who had gone ten months without a home win (Birmingham). Or six months (Wigan). But defeat at home to Millwall ranks below all those. I’ve never experienced such hostility towards an Albion boss as that we saw and heard for Sami Hyypia. Albion were five points adrift of the Lions that night. They would have bitten your hand off for 20th place.

Most enjoyable game

AN: The 2-0 win at Fulham at Christmas under Nathan Jones.

Big away following, my first visit to Craven Cottage for donkeys years, good performance and a reviving second league win in 20.

Not forgetting an array of sweets in the media suite. Like kids in a candy shop!

BO: Tottenham and Arsenal for the simple fact they felt like big occasions. There is a buzz behind the scenes about these games. As for the league, games at Leeds and Norwich stand out although I missed a couple many people would give as their highlights.

Least enjoyable game

AN: Blackpool to end a busy and eventful January, six days after Arsenal's FA Cup visit.

Such a long journey, cold, awful pitch, awful game, awful result. What was there to like?

BO: After about an hour at Blackpool I thought: “The only saving grace from this trip would be an Albion win.” Then they went and lost. The game itself – on a mudheap which cut up badly about five minutes into the warm up - barely deserves to be called a football match. And it was unbearably cold.

Best and worst teams seen

AN: Interesting this as none of the top six really stood out for me in their matches against Albion.

I am going for Derby. They demolished the naive Seagulls at home in December and were unlucky losers at the Amex in March.

Still scratching my head at Steve McClaren's failure to at least keep them in the play-offs.

Worst has to be Blackpool, who still managed to take four points off Albion. Birmingham were poor in Albion's first away game and yet managed to beat them too, which was an early alarm bell.

BO: Derby at the IPro Stadum were the best. They only played at top gear for half an hour but that was all they needed. We saw plenty of teams who were able to turn short periods of control into points and that is an art in itself. Charlton at the Valley were the worst opponents I can remember.

Player of the season

AN: Lewis Dunk. Travesty really that he didn't win it, probably because his form dipped in the voting period.

Came of age as Matt Upson's replacement and finished top scorer, which is extraordinary for a centre-half. Still bags of room for improvement as well, ie not going to ground so easily in the tackle.

BO: Lewis Dunk was not perfect but the way he ousted a notable summer signing and established player in Aaron Hughes, kept his place and chipped in with goals make him my choice. He signed off at Middlesbrough with a performance which encapsulated the best defensive aspects of his season.

Alternative player of the season

AN: Beram Kayal, because he offers a ray of hope. Would surely have been a contender if he had arrived earlier than January.

Has an edge to his game in and out of possession, with a hint of leadership qualities. Already looking a bargain by for £325,000.

BO: Joao Teixeira was involved in key moments during Albion’s biggest results at home. He had too many anonymous displays to be player of the year but it wasn’t his fault he was often the only potential source of wizardry in the line-up. A mention for Bruno, who played more games, scored more goals, did more defending and covered more distance than in either of his previous seasons.

Best goal by Albion

AN: Rohan Ince's volley at Swindon, not just because of the stunning volley at the end of it. The build-up to it was impressive as well.

BO: You mean best goal NOT scored by Rohan Ince at Swindon? That was the clear winner but I also enjoyed the way the man who found him that night, Adrian Colunga, eased around the goalkeeper at Bournemouth after Joao Teixeira turned sharply and slid a perceptive pass through the back line.

Best goal against Albion

AN: Not many stand out, due to so many being aided by mistakes.

I may have overlooked a couple. One that has stuck in the back of the mind is Albert Adomah finishing off a clinical breakaway to double Middlesbrough's lead at the Amex in October.

I'm going for Giles Coke's sparkling 20-yard curler on the opening day for Sheffield Wednesday. We should have known then the season would turn flat.

BO: It has been a good year for defenders from Sussex, including Russell Martin at Norwich. He won’t hit many shots like that rocket past David Stockdale - as Sami Hyypia ruefully reflected afterwards.

Best opposing player

AN: Old-fashioned target man Daryl Murphy. There are more accomplished candidates but he scored 27 goals for Ipswich, six more than anyone else in the division. Albion could not stop him at Portman Road or at the Amex - and they could certainly have done with him.

BO: Given that I concentrate more on Albion during games, it tends to be strikers and goalkeepers who take my eye. I didn’t see a better display than Igor Vetokele’s two-goal showing for Charlton at the Amex.

Games to look forward to next season

AN: QPR, Bristol City, MK Dons. Hopefully Brentford, Aston Villa, Leicester, Swindon to accompany Charlton, Fulham and Reading. Guess you've spotted the travel sickness theme.

BO: If a big club we have not visited in the league come down – Villa, Sunderland or Newcastle - I’ll go for them, home and away. Burnley away? Well, if it’s a midweek game it will be interesting to see if we get back before 6am this time!