Kuipers expecting a "tasty" battle

11:41pm Thursday 21st February 2008

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Michel Kuipers is expecting a "tasty" rematch with Oldham following the battle of Boundary Park.

Albion's imposing Dutch goalkeeper is ready for anything the visitors throw at him after the Seagulls' unlikely draw in Lancashire six weeks ago.

They played most of the match with ten men, Dean Hammond seeing red early on, but escaped with a point thanks to an injury time equaliser by substitute Nathan Elder.

That infuriated Oldham. Players clashed in the tunnel after the final whistle and Albion abandoned their customary post-match warm-down.

Hammond and Elder have both left the club since then but Kuipers is prepared for an Oldham backlash as they try to settle a score in much the same way Albion did themselves with Tuesday's late comeback at home to Cheltenham avenging a stoppage time defeat in Gloucestershire ten days earlier.

Kuipers said: "It was quite feisty at Oldham and they will be wanting to take revenge on us in the same way we did to Cheltenham.

"I expect quite a tasty game and I look forward to those. After the game there was some disagreeing going on, so bring it on tomorrow and let us see how tough they will be. They weren't happy that we equalised, because they had ten against 11 for a very long time. I am sure they are out for revenge but we are out hopefully to prove that if we had 11 men we would have beaten them."

Oldham's visit is the middle fixture of five at home in succession for Albion.

Kuipers was denied a hat-trick of clean sheets at Withdean when Steve Brooker struck from outside the box early on for Cheltenham but the significance of Tuesday's recovery is evident from the League table.

Without late goals by Glenn Murray and Joel Lynch the Seagulls would have stayed in 17th place, in increasing danger of being dragged into a relegation dogfight.

Instead they are 14th, seven points off the play-offs with a couple of games in hand. Thay also have one match more to play than Oldham, who are four places higher but just a point better off.

Kuipers said: "It was a massive result for us. We have got five home games in a row at the moment and four points out of the first two is quite a good return.

"We would probably have taken that beforehand and it's important we back it up with a good result against Oldham.

"If we get a good result tomorrow then we will have to see how we get on against Leyton Orient and Gillingham but I think this mini-run of home games could have a massive and positive influence on the outcome of the season.

"The performance against Cheltenham was not as good as it was against Tranmere but we got three points and sometimes you have to win ugly if that is what it takes.

"Arsenal played beautiful football against AC Milan on Wednesday but they drew. We are in a results business and three points is the ultimate goal."

Albion have managed a maximum return only twice in their last nine outings.

Kuipers is confident that modest win ratio will improve now that the injury crisis has eased. Jonny Dixon, injured since signing from Aldershot last month, is added to the squad along with Adam El-Abd, who missed the Cheltenham victory through suspension.

Kuipers said: "We've got David Martot, Tommy Fraser and Joel Lynch back and Jonny Dixon is available, so everything is looking rosy at the moment.

"I like Jonny. He looks a good player and I think he could do really well for us. He was unlucky to get injured but I am looking forward to seeing him out there in the first team.

"Everybody is motivating each other and helping each other. I am sure tomorrow we will see a more confident team out there but the main thing is that we get the three points."