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Brighton 1 Ipswich 1

Few Seagull fans would deny that a draw was a fair reflection of the play. Ipswich took an early lead when skipper Luke Chambers bravely got his head to a trickily flighted free kick from Tom Lawrence whose crosses from the right perpetually caused problems. Tomer Hemed equalised from the the spot after Bruno was adjudged to have his shirt pulled. Both sides had chances to win and once again David Stockdale had to be at his agile best . Glenn Murray’s shot struck the post in injury time. It was not a convincing performance by the Seagulls who are now just 4 points ahead of in form Huddersfield though you can call this 5 with our superior goal difference. Next Saturday we travel up to in form Barnsley.

I spoke to Alan Tanner after the game who was bemoaning the Fulham defence. Sigardsson came in but was so uncomfortable and vulnerable he was subbed after only 30 minutes. He said once again Fulham’s midfielders came to the rescue to win 3-2 but they require greater defensive organisation and elimination of errors to make the play-offs. This has never be a Brighton problem with Lewis Dunk and Shaun Duffy a consistent defensive axis with Stockdale in goal, my player of the season. We are tough to beat at the Amex but this month that form will be tested when we play host to Reading and Newcastle .

The executive club where I sit has a dress code of having to wear a collar of which some including me last night fall foul. Having a bad cold for which antibiotics were prescribed and hernia that was giving me gyp, I was advised to wrap up warm and to wear a tight vest to hold in the hernia over which I wore a polo neck and a collared cashmere jumper over that. I was stopped by security and told to go to the club shop to buy a collared shirt . This I refused to do explaining my medical condition. I could not contain my anger and was let in on the basis that it was a one-off. Aside from this being the only executive club I know that has such an officious and vaguely worded dress code, what would happen If a transgender or transsexual turns up without a collar and is similarly treated? Or would a vicar be refused in his dog collar? Particularly if we make the Premier I can foresee an embarrassing and potentially costly incident occurring. It’s all the more disappointing as Brighton is such a tolerant place, the club trades on its community image but I heard that some 16 kids delighted to attend had to take off their trainers. It really tarnished the match day experience too to get a lecture on dressing from a jobsworth little trained in politeness and only too happy to throw her not inconsiderable weight around. For our next home game I will be attired in Saville Row suit and monogrammed shirt hand made by my tailor.

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About Ivan Conway

Ivan Conway will be reporting on Sussex sport. He is a member of the 1901 club at Brighton HAFC, Sussex County Cricket Club and an enthusiastic horse race goer. After selling his freight forwarding and conference business he settled in Hove. His other interests are bird watching, brass rubbing and bridge. More Posts