Brighton 1 Huddersfield 0
Brighton are the only league club without a win this year and the natives were getting restless. The first half against bottom side Huddersfield was scrappy with the away side edging it. They lack a 10 goal plus striker so they did not convert dominance into goals.
Brighton improved in the second half. Florin Andone’s clever header from an Anthony Knockaert cross proved the late winner.
As fans we never really know the mental and physical state of a player. Knockaert went public though that he was depressed by the sudden passing of his father and break up with his wife.
He can be a selfish player. He lacks pace so he rarely gets to the line but cuts inside. However his crossing is deadly. The other improved player is £17m Iranian Ali Jahabakhsh from Alkmaar who struck the bar with a fierce shot in the first half.
Conversely stalwart midfielder Dale Stephens seems to lack premiership quality and his days in a seagull shirt might be numbered.
After the game I spoke with Alan Tanner. He would like to see former Huddersfield boss David Wagner at the Fulham helm and if that happens defender Christopher Schindler that Wagner acquired from Munich 1860 is exactly the right profile to steady the rickety Fulham defence.
I fear Huddersfield and Fulham will be playing each other next season … in the Championship.
Over at Hove in the cricket, Sussex CCC published their accounts showing a loss of £454,000. Turnover was just over £5m and wages £3m.
This does not look sustainable and funded by the ECB subsidy. Many counties in the midlands are in a worse state and, whether they like it or not, will have to take the ECB sweetener for the Hundred.
Jofra Archer will be eligible for England next month and we reckon will make the white ball side whose pace bowling in the Windies did not impress.
Archer can achieve over 90 mph with his bowling and is handy with the bat.