11:00am Saturday 20th March 2010
By Andy Naylor
If Albion get back on the scoresheet away from home at Oldham today there is a pretty good chance Elliott Bennett will be involved.
The blank at Colchester on their last away outing was the first time the Seagulls have failed to score on their league travels since the opening away game of the campaign at Brentford back in August.
It was not for the want of trying on Bennett’s part. He provided three free-kicks at Colchester which could, perhaps should, have led to goals.
The dead ball deliveries of the former Wolverhampton Wanderers winger have become increasingly influential.
Bennett provided assists for Tommy Elphick from a corner against Exeter and Glenn Murray for his opener from a free-kick against Brentford at Withdean on Tuesday.
He was also on target himself at Charlton with a well-struck shot and against Norwich, direct from another free-kick.
“We practise them a lot,” he said. “The gaffer is quite big on it. You can win or lose a game on them.
“The other night, without those late goals, we would have won on a set piece.
“They are really important and me, Seb (Carole) and a few others have been practising quite a bit, putting ball into the right areas. It seems to be paying off at the moment.
“I practised them before as well under Russell Slade but the gaffer has been working on little routines.
“I aim to put it in the right area. We have a few different corners and I know where I have got to try to put them.
“From free-kicks the gaffer has just been telling me to hit the target, so that if it misses everyone it goes in, like against Norwich.”
Since leaking two late goals in the defeat by leaders Norwich, Albion have taken 11 points from six tough games, four of them against the sides immediately below the Canaries.
Bennett said: “It looks a lot better now, 15th in the league and five points clear (of relegation), because Exeter won the other night.
“Obviously we are not safe yet and we are under no illusions. We know we still need a few more wins yet before we are in that situation. I don’t think we should look too far ahead.”
Bennett is happy to look ahead in terms of his own form. Ever-present in the league since Slade bought him in August, he has been one of the success stories of the season but there is plenty more to come.
“I think I have got a lot more to offer,” he said. “I am only 21 and I’ve got loads to learn. You never crack this game.
“I’ll put a lot of hours in on the training ground and then hopefully I can show fully what I am about.
“I started off quite well, had a little bit of a dip, came back, then I’ve had another little dip.
“That is the way wingers are really and if you are not like that then you are Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Real Madrid.
“I don’t mean to do it but I think everyone goes through a part of the season when you are not playing as well as you would want.
“When that happens you have just got to work as hard as you can for the team and maybe sacrifice some parts of your own game.”
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