Brighton and Hove Albion live football match reports from The Argus. Seagulls action from Withdean.

Albion v Northampton

• Kick off: 7:45pm Tue 24 Feb 09
• Referee: Trevor Kettle (Berks)
• Venue: Withdean

Final score:

Albion 1 - 1 Northampton Town

• Comments(11)
• Have your say »

95:00: Two points dropped tonight. This result at least Albion have clawed back a point on Swindon, who lost at home to Hartlepool tonight, as well as Orient, who had no fixture. But the Seagulls remain in the drop zone ahead of the arrival of Crewe, and maybe a new manager, here at Withdean on Saturday. Join me for that one if you can't get to the game.

95:00: Two points dropped tonight. This result at least Albion have clawed back a point on Swindon, who lost at home to Hartlepool tonight, as well as Orient, who had no fixture. But the Seagulls remain in the drop zone ahead of the arrival of Crewe, and maybe a new manager, here at Withdean on Saturday. Join me for that one if you can't get to the game.

94:00: Final whistle And that's your lot. A reasonable amount of applause rings out from home fans but the over-riding sentiment will be "if only" as Albion reflect on that great late chance for Davies.

93:00: What a chance on 92. Forster's flick got Davies clean through on goal and he lashed his shot past Zieler. We waited for the net to ripple - but the ball just kept on going on to the running track as the shot flew wide. Seconds later it seemed Forster was in but Zieler smothered his shot. And now Cox shoots over the angle from long range - a bit wasteful that.

89:00: Hearts in mouths time after a poor Cox pass is picked off by Noton. The counter attack sees Crowe get forward to fire wide from just outside the box. How far wide it is hard to tell from here but Kuipers was clearly worried. Four minutes to be added and we're into them now.

86:00: Yellow card A cynical trip by Dyer after Carole had beaten him brings a yellow card but the free-kick is easily cleared.

81:00: The ex-Stockport connection almost came trumps. McNulty got in a great deep cross from the left and Davies rose well to get in a header which came back off the bar with Zieler beaten. Noton have left Constantine on his own up front since going down to ten.

78:00: Yellow card Albion are pushing for the win and have got some decent crosses in of late - but it is getting pretty nervy here. Doig saw yellow on 73 for fouling Davies.

67:00: Albion have not really changed things since that surreal moment when Virgo and Akinfenwa started wrestling. That means a big role as lone central midfielder for Jarrett though Cox seems to be tucking in a bit more on this left hand side.

65:00: Red card Virgo and Akinfenwa are both off. They ended up grappling after a challenge on halfway and were red-carded.

62:00: This game has livened up appreciably in this half. Full marks to the management for making two bold changes and early enough for the subs to have time to make an impact.

57:00: Goal! Quick impact from Carole. His trickery won a corner on the right, he took it himself and ELPHICK headed home from close range.

55:00: Substitution Fraser did not stay wide right for long. He has now gone off, replaced by Carole.

54:00: That substitution has seen Davies go up front, Virgo into central midfield and Fraser out to the right. Looks like Carole is coming on soon too.

52:00: Substitution A few cheers go up from the South Stand as Davies comes on. He replaces Birchall. Northampton look the brighter side in this half so far. Akinfenwa had a shot deflected over and then another, from an angle, pushed away by a strong left hand from Kuipers.

46:00: As the second half starts, I can now bring you the attendance figure. It is 5,062 including just 93 away fans.

45:00: Half time That goal came just as we started two added minutes. Albion had enjoyed a decent spell just before that in which Cox shot wide after lovely work by Birchall, then went on a great run but failed to pick out a colleague with his cutback. So Northampton lead at the break.

45:00: Goal! Awful news for Albion as GILLIGAN thumps a shot past Kuipers after decent build-up. Very well struck, that.

36:00: It has been pretty dull for quite a while now but Forster brought things to life on 34 with a turn and run which attracted a few would-be tacklers. The skipper timed his offload well to release Cox to the left of goal and his shot was pushed behind by Zieler. That was a routine stop but the same could not be said of the way Kuipers has just dived to his left to parry a great shot on the turn by Akinfenwa, who looks lively. I see Cheltenham are the latest side to go 1-0 up on Millwall though you would like to think that scoreline does not really affect Albion any more!

26:00: Ed, you'll see that story on our site too! But it's true, the story has been emerging from the Stockport end with little coming out of Albion at the moment. Just shows it's very hard to keep these things quiet.

25:00: Meanwhile out in front of us Noton are growing in confidence and playing some decent stuff. Albion can overhaul them tonight if they win but the flipside of that, of course, is the Cobblers will see a chance to move five points clear of the Seagulls with a victory.

18:00: Hello there Edspells. I never never really thought it would be Curbishley (he still has Prem ambitions, possibly at Pompey) but Boothroyd would not have been a shock. Gannon came up on the rails very late - but remember he is not in the job yet! Incidentally, Stockport are 1-0 down at Colchester at the moment!

16:00: Chance there for Albion. Elphick sent in an angled ball, but whipped in with a bit of swerve and accuracy rather than being a lofted lump, and Forster's flick header forced Zieler to save to his left. Noton have also had a chance but Dyer's low shot was saved by Kuipers low to his left. Seconds ago a free-kick routine caused problems but Akinfenwa's downward header was bundled clear from near the goal line.

12:00: Evening SulJ - I would describe the atmosphere as subdued, but no more subdued than normal.

10:00: An early flash of inspiration there from Forster who drifted out to the right, beat his man and whipped in a cross which Zieler held with difficulty. Forster did something similar a minute later and beat two men before forcing a corner which Northampton just about cleared.

5:00: One of the reporters near me referred to the potential new manager as Jim Cannon a bit earlier. You dont want to be doing that, really, do you?. Very quiet so far here.

0:00: A reminder it's a pretty big game here tonight, quite aside from the backdrop of the manager's situation. The Northampton radio reporters behind me were having a debate as to what has gone wrong with the Cobblers in the run-up to the game. They are interested to see what Constantine does up front on his return to the side but are concerned highly rated left back Danny Jackman misses out through illness. The experienced Crowe switches to the left as Rodgers, on loan from Arsenal, plays right back. Albion will be going the usual East to West in the first half. Here we go then...

0:00: Just another routine day in the history of the Albion, then! On Saturday we were digesting the news that Micky Adams had gone, this evening all the talk is of what looks like the impending arrival of Jim Gannon. In the meantime, interim duo White and Booker name an unchanged XI with Craig Davies, over his virus, on the bench. Can the caretakers make it six points from six? If they do, it will take Albion up at least two places. Stick with us to see how it goes...