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Forster's late penalty salvages a point
Albion 1, Leyton Orient 1
Nicky Forster showed nerves of steel to end his goal drought and rescue Albion from a harsh defeat.
Forster had not scored since the victory at Swindon in mid December, so he could have been forgiven for feeling a touch anxious about a last minute penalty.
Orient midfielder Adam Chambers literally handed him the chance with a softly conceded spot-kick and Forster took full advantage.
The captain's 13th goal of the season was no more than Albion deserved and it stretched their unbeaten home run in League One to seven games.
That looked in jeopardy when Jabo Ibehre, who turned down a move to the Seagulls 18 months ago, headed Orient into a flattering lead with ten minutes left.
The line-ups reflected the differing recent fortunes of the teams. Albion manager Dean Wilkins named the side which produced one of their best performances of the season in seeing off Oldham at Withdean.
Tommy Fraser recovered from a calf injury which forced him off in the first half of that match to take his place alongside Steve Thomson in the middle of the park.
Jonny Dixon was in the squad for the first time since his January move from Aldershot, the fit-again striker replacing Kerry Mayo on the bench.
Orient chief Martin Ling made a couple of significant changes following only one win in their previous seven matches.
Glenn Morris was preferred to Stuart Nelson in goal and top scorer Adam Boyd was only among the substitutes after a lean spell.
Sean Thornton came into the right side of midfield, with former Albion loan signing Wayne Gray switched up front alongside Ibehre.
Albion took ten points from five games in February, in spite of Wilkins having to rebuild during the January transfer window. The players are still bedding in together and two of the newcomers, Thomson and Glenn Murray, were not quite on the same wavelength as skipper Nicky Forster early on in the contest.
The Seagulls, nevertheless, had two good opportunities to take the lead in the opening 20 minutes.
Dean Bowditch, who by his own admission has not hit top form yet in his second loan spell from Ipswich, should have done better when Murray headed a free kick from Matt Richards into his path. A deft touch was required from around the penalty spot to lob the ball over Morris but Bowditch was uncharacteristically clumsy with his effort, which sailed well over the bar.
Murray was also wastefully high with a header when Forster nodded a cross from Dean Cox back into his path.
That was not the only time in the first half that Albion's £300,000 recruit from Rochdale threatened to add to four goals in his four previous home starts.
Murray also headed another Cox cross straight at Morris and was presented with the clearest opening of all in the 29th minute when Thornton's misplaced pass left him in the clear. He rounded Morris but was forced wide and the keeper recovered his position to parry Cox's ensuing shot for a corner.
Although Albion dominated the goalscoring opportunities, Orient demonstrated at times why they have been at the right end of the table all season, particularly during a bright start.
Tommy Elphick and Adam El-Abd had to defend stoutly to repel the danger posed by Gray and the robust Ibehre, never more so than immediately after Bowditch's lob which went awry. They broke smartly, Adam Chambers crossing for Gray to direct an angled header goalwards which Elphick nodded behind from virtually under the bar.
The back four offered solid protection for Michel Kuipers and Morris, recalled between the posts for the visitors after Nelson blundered for Nottingham Forest's winner at Brisbane Road last weekend, was much busier. He had to grab Bowditch's header from another centre by Cox.
Albion's little playmaker enjoys playing against the East Londoners. He scored in each of the previous three clashes between the teams and was a constant supplier in the first half.
Albion went in at half time wondering how on earth they were not in front, especially after another escape for Orient moments from the break.
Forster ran onto an inch-perfect pass from Bowditch and went around Morris, only for Samuel Oji to block his attempt to find the empty net from a tight angle.
There was not much wrong with Albion's first half performance, apart from the failure to establish the advantage their superiority warranted.
The fear was that they might pay for their profligacy, a feeling enhanced by their laboured start to the second half.
Orient, playing with the wind behind them and towards their supporters, enjoyed a far greater share of the possession than they had in the opening 45 minutes.
Kuipers continued to be well guarded, although he was called upon to hold a powerfully struck 20-yard volley from John Terry's brother, Paul.
Another chance went begging for Albion and Murray in the 63rd minute, when he dispossessed Oji inside the Orient penalty area. Keeper Morris was rounded for the third time in the match but Murray ran out of room and opted to feed Forster, who blazed wide.
The Seagulls' worst fears were confirmed as Ibehre went from villain to hero for Orient in a matter of minutes.
He spurned a glorious chance to put the visitors ahead, lifting the ball over the bar from seven yards when Terry's miscued shot landed at his feet.
Ibehre made amends by guiding a header past the diving Kuipers from a cross by Jason Demetriou.
Albion were contemplating a cruel defeat at that point until Chambers needlessly handled inside the box. Forster, cool as you like, sent Morris the wrong way from the spot to salvage a point for the Seagulls when they really should have collected all three.
They almost did deep into stoppage time, Terry clearing Elphick's header from substitute Jake Robinson's corner off the line and Morris holding onto sub David Martot's resulting low drive through a crowd of players.
Were you at today's match? What did you think of Albion's performance?
5:20pm Saturday 1st March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Wes, brighton on 7:06pm Sat 1 Mar 08
Happy to snatch a point late, although on chance we deserved to win. Thought the two centre halfs played well and although he spurned a few opportunities Murray looked a real threat. Luckily Tranmere lost so we are a point closer to the playoffs. The only negative for me was again Bowditch and Wilkins could possibly looking at dropping him for one of Robinson/Hart/Dixon on Tuesday.
Happy to snatch a point late, although on chance we deserved to win. Thought the two centre halfs played well and although he spurned a few opportunities Murray looked a real threat. Luckily Tranmere lost so we are a point closer to the playoffs. The only negative for me was again Bowditch and Wilkins could possibly looking at dropping him for one of Robinson/Hart/Dixon on Tuesday.
Posted by: Big Jon, London on 9:26pm Sat 1 Mar 08
Can we please have some 'burst the back of the bloody net' practice this week Dean? We have not unlocked an opposing defence SO many times this season and failed to even get a shot away. Much brighter performance; and good to see sprightly Dixon at the end. If we can't score more goals perhaps it is time to get Guy Butters back -hat trick hero midweek. Its looking better; Robinson actually won a header!
Can we please have some 'burst the back of the bloody net' practice this week Dean? We have not unlocked an opposing defence SO many times this season and failed to even get a shot away. Much brighter performance; and good to see sprightly Dixon at the end. If we can't score more goals perhaps it is time to get Guy Butters back -hat trick hero midweek. Its looking better; Robinson actually won a header!
Posted by: Clarkey on 8:18am Sun 2 Mar 08
no mention of what should have been two sendings off? their keeper handling outside the box and getting just a yellow (he actually was out the box kicking upfield which lead to their goal too) and Thomson raising his hands in the first half too and was lucky to escape. South stand was really quiet again too, sad really.
no mention of what should have been two sendings off? their keeper handling outside the box and getting just a yellow (he actually was out the box kicking upfield which lead to their goal too) and Thomson raising his hands in the first half too and was lucky to escape. South stand was really quiet again too, sad really.
Posted by: Martyn on 1:21pm Sun 2 Mar 08
Why does Wilkins persist with playing Bowditch out of position? He is a striker not a winger! Robinson should start on the wing instead.
Why was Butters not included on the subs bench ahead of Hart?
Lynch can count himself unlucky to not be in starting XI.
Why does Wilkins persist with playing Bowditch out of position? He is a striker not a winger! Robinson should start on the wing instead.
Why was Butters not included on the subs bench ahead of Hart?
Lynch can count himself unlucky to not be in starting XI.
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