Match reports 2006/2007
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Match report: Albion 1 Oldham 2
Dean Wilkins, Dick Knight and the rest of the Albion players should give a big pat on the back to little Dean Cox.
One stunning swish of his right boot five minutes from the end not only ended a collective home goal drought spanning more than six hours, it also saved the Seagulls from the embarrassment of another frosty farewell from the suffering supporters.
The booing which accompanied the previous Withdean debacle against Bradford would, you sensed, have been repeated without Cox dipping in a delicious strike from 20 yards to raise his debut season tally into double figures.
In that instant he did not just half the deficit, he also changed the mood of fans long since resigned to witnessing another painful home defeat.
It was, I am afraid, by no means for the first time this season a case of boys against men. Wilkins admitted as much afterwards when he spoke about the way Sean Gregan, Oldham's experienced defender, "bullied some of our players".
At the end of last season, following relegation from the Championship, Wilkins' predecessor Mark McGhee sent the younger members of the squad to former local boxer Scott Welch.
This summer the players will be given a strength and conditioning programme to help them grow up and toughen up. It can only help but will not, in isolation, make a substantial difference to Albion's prospects next season.
Honest endeavour and flashes of quality - there was plenty of the former on Saturday, not much of the latter - is nowhere near enough to prosper in the rough and tumble of League One.
It is one thing for Wilkins' kids to thrive in the FA Youth Cup against opponents of similar age and sometimes weaker physique, quite another when they come up against hardened pros like Oldham had in the shape of Gregan, Simon Charlton, Richie Wellens and Andy Liddell, all still with a hunger inspired by the chase for a play-off place.
Oldham, in fact, have a good blend for Albion to aspire to. Neal Eardley and Chris Taylor are promising rookies, Chris Porter the type of goalscorer the Seagulls so desperately need.
There is an awful lot of rebuilding and replenishing to be done by Wilkins in the summer to turn Albion from where they are now into where Oldham are now.
The absent Dean Hammond and Joel Lynch will make a difference, assuming the player of the season and classy young defender are not prised away by other clubs.
So too will Adam Hinshelwood and Paul Reid if they are as good as new after their knee injuries. Charlie Oatway, out for so long with his broken ankle, deserves a mention too because Albion are sadly lacking in the kind of steel and competitive cajoling he provides.
But make no mistake, Wilkins has a huge job on his hands, working within a budget described by Knight earlier this month as "healthy". The chairman has subsequently admitted it is less than McGhee kicked off with at the start of the season.
Knight really does not help matters by peddling the myth of Albion being a big club'. They could eventually become one, a few years down the line, if they ever get to Falmer. For the time being though they are penniless tenants.
Meanwhile, Albion's very own spin doctor plays his very own version of fantasy football. Now that Wilkins has agreed a new three-year contract Knight talks of plotting with the manager "a serious challenge to get back to the Championship", which raises expectations among fans to unrealistic levels.
Knight ended a pre-match speech by urging season ticket holders to take advantage of some "fantastic offers". Quite what they are is hard to tell, given that Albion have failed to win 18 of their 23 home games this season and failed even to score in seven of the last ten.
Supporters would not think any less of Knight if he told it how it really is, far from it. They have, down the years, built a healthy reputation for rallying round when the club needs them.
The fans need much more goalmouth excitement than Albion were able to provide against an Oldham side quite content to sit on the two-goal lead they had established by half-time.
Yet again the Seagulls started slowly. The visitors looked much more threatening going forward and it came as no surprise when Porter gave them an 18th-minute lead with a majestic header from Eardley's cross, his 22nd goal of the season.
Oldham's second goal, five minutes before the break, was every bit as good as Cox's, Liddell arrowing a right-foot drive into the top corner from just outside the box.
The most frustrating aspect of Albion's performance was their abject failure to seriously test Les Pogliacomi, Oldham's Australian goalkeeper.
Recalled in place of ex-Seagull Alan Blayney, he had been substituted at half-time on his previous appearance after a couple of costly mistakes in a home defeat by Cheltenham.
He caught one early cross and after that Albion did little to examine Pogliacomi's fragile confidence. His vulnerability was exposed when he came for a cross from Cox which Alex Revell headed against the bar but he subsequently had just a couple of routine saves to make .
Cox offered an uplifting finale but it cannot disguise a disturbing truth. Albion have been saved from a nervy final day at Cheltenham by Bradford's ineptitude. They were incapable of saving themselves.
What positives can be taken from Albion's season?
10:41pm Sunday 29th April 2007
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CommentPosted by: David, Hove on 2:16pm Mon 30 Apr 07
[bold]What positives can be taken from Albion's season?[/bold] I am now positive Albion are a team playing in Englands third devision and struggling to stay there and half a new stadium will not improve them until we buy 4 or 5 players capable of playing week after week
What positives can be taken from Albion's season? I am now positive Albion are a team playing in Englands third devision and struggling to stay there and half a new stadium will not improve them until we buy 4 or 5 players capable of playing week after week
Posted by: bruceb, NYC on 4:28pm Mon 30 Apr 07
One win in 12 home games - and no goals in the majority of them - would get most managers the sack rather than a three-year contract. The jury is still out on Dean Wilkins' managerial capabilities but the Dick Knight-in-shining-armour image continues to be tarnished. Brighton USED to be a big club in the glory days of the Goldstone. I like to think of it as a 'sleeping giant' these days and I cling to the belief that if we ever get our own ground, we will once again see crowds of 20,000 and, at the very least, a Championship-level team. The only trouble is I've now been waiting 10 years and I'm beginning to wonder whether it will ever happen in my lifetime. I'm Brighton til I die ... I just want to see the Seagulls soar again before I kick the bucket!
One win in 12 home games - and no goals in the majority of them - would get most managers the sack rather than a three-year contract. The jury is still out on Dean Wilkins' managerial capabilities but the Dick Knight-in-shining-armour image continues to be tarnished. Brighton USED to be a big club in the glory days of the Goldstone. I like to think of it as a 'sleeping giant' these days and I cling to the belief that if we ever get our own ground, we will once again see crowds of 20,000 and, at the very least, a Championship-level team. The only trouble is I've now been waiting 10 years and I'm beginning to wonder whether it will ever happen in my lifetime. I'm Brighton til I die ... I just want to see the Seagulls soar again before I kick the bucket!
Posted by: mark collins, sussex on 8:24pm Mon 30 Apr 07
Dick Knight as the boss had to make some fantastic offers for next season but hasn't. It is a shame because he can't say we are slightly below average Div 3 strugglers with no ground but hey pay even more, it is just bad business.I know the mess we are in but empty seats bring in no revenue do they?
A free under 16 ticket with an adult ticket might fill up the ground and retain the youngsters we need to survive under the concerted Lewes Council attack.
Next season will hopefully see a second victory with Falmer and a torturous crawl to 52 points again, no more sadly.
Oh and even great away support because thats where the value and fun still lies.
Finally Dean is an Albion legend and a very good judge of talent and coaching but 3 years just seems to be arrogance from Dick.
Oh and stop messing with the club badge for goodness sake it aint what you need when you lose your ground someone sketching a new badge...RANT OVER.
Dick Knight as the boss had to make some fantastic offers for next season but hasn't. It is a shame because he can't say we are slightly below average Div 3 strugglers with no ground but hey pay even more, it is just bad business.I know the mess we are in but empty seats bring in no revenue do they?
A free under 16 ticket with an adult ticket might fill up the ground and retain the youngsters we need to survive under the concerted Lewes Council attack.
Next season will hopefully see a second victory with Falmer and a torturous crawl to 52 points again, no more sadly.
Oh and even great away support because thats where the value and fun still lies.
Finally Dean is an Albion legend and a very good judge of talent and coaching but 3 years just seems to be arrogance from Dick.
Oh and stop messing with the club badge for goodness sake it aint what you need when you lose your ground someone sketching a new badge...RANT OVER.
Posted by: KEVIN, BRIGHTON on 3:33am Tue 1 May 07
I personally feel wilkins has done a great job bringing through the youngsters and slowly moulding a team full of youth and inexperience. But i have to say where is are experience butters,mayo,kuipers and oatway are are only remaining players from the glory days and lets br honest their not legends. I think maybe havin a manager with experience and knowledge of players could be the perfect solution, remeber what Adams did for the team drafting in alot of players he had managed in the past, who cost the club very little brooker,cullip,crosby,watson etc. I think havin wilkins as manager has been great not for entertainment but for the future of the club maybe experience incharge would complete a team with loads of potential and consistency
I personally feel wilkins has done a great job bringing through the youngsters and slowly moulding a team full of youth and inexperience. But i have to say where is are experience butters,mayo,kuipers and oatway are are only remaining players from the glory days and lets br honest their not legends. I think maybe havin a manager with experience and knowledge of players could be the perfect solution, remeber what Adams did for the team drafting in alot of players he had managed in the past, who cost the club very little brooker,cullip,crosby,watson etc. I think havin wilkins as manager has been great not for entertainment but for the future of the club maybe experience incharge would complete a team with loads of potential and consistency
Posted by: baz, brighton on 3:38am Tue 1 May 07
totally agree with kevin get wilkins as assistant so we keep the faith in are youths.
totally agree with kevin get wilkins as assistant so we keep the faith in are youths.
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