Albion assessed: Brighton 4 Birmingham 3

After grinding out two away goalless draws at Cardiff and Sheffield Wednesday the last thing we expected at the Amex was a seven goal thriller. It would have been nice if one of the four goals came from a striker but it was Teixeira and Calderon, two midfielders, who scored. Inigo Calderon is a remarkable player. Aged 34 he is said to be the fittest payer in the squad. Chris Hughton is playing him more advanced than previously when he was selected at fullback and this has worked well.

The fine margins of a game were reflected in the first half. The Seagulls scored first when the Birmingham keeper might have got more of his body behind Teixeira’s low shot but the away side came back immediately with a deflected goal. Just before half time they were awarded a penalty. Had this been converted this it would have surely been curtains but Stockdale made a fine save.

In the second half Teixeira and Calderon scored and for the first time this season the Seagulls had a two goal advantage in the championship. Our hearts still fluttered when Birmingham pulled one back. We scored again but so did Birmingham for a final result of 4-3. It was unlike any game to date at the Amex for its cavalier abandon but crucially we had 3 more points.

Alan said it was a dour game at the New Den between Millwall and Fulham but we did not want Millwall to get 3 points.

Football can throw up an unusual cult hero and I had a meal before the match with one such, Carl Leaburn. The ex Charlton forward had a strike record of about one goal in 5 games for the Valiants but this did not stop him from being a highly popular player with his fans and players. A big, good natured smiling fellow, he now works in security in Canary Wharf as well for the Premier League. I have to say he would fit in the present Brighton side. So far this season we have tried Colunga, O’Grady, Darren Bent briefly, Leon Best, Sam Baldock as main strikers and the common denominator is not one of them can score regularly.