QPR 2 Brighton 2
The Seagulls are still unbeaten in a demanding cycle of games of Derby away, QPR away and next Saturday the big one when first placed Middlesbrough meet second (us) at the Amex. This is our fifth successive draw on the road so when Pargie called up for advice that is the obvious bet. The last three games have all featured 4 goals and noticeably the matches have been more exciting. James Wilson is a lively forward. Much credit must go to Chris Hughton as injury has denied him two goalscoring wide players in Lua Lua and Solly March, one of the players of the season. At right back he has also lost Bong and Rosenior, both of whom were playing consistently well. The popular Calderon came in and more than acquitted himself with a goal clearance.
It was honours even in the first half. Soon into the second Dale Stephens scored with a dramatic over-head kick and shortly after Perra added a second from distance. Charlie Austin did pull one back but the score would probably have stayed 2-1 if Lewis Dunk had not been dismissed for his second yellow card. This was such a silly error as we need his aerial ability to cope with Austin who duly equalised with a back header from a corner.
Watching the game on tv, I was irritated by QPR ‘s manager Jimmy Hasselbaink ‘s post-match comments. According to him his side was the only one in the first half, the Stephens goal should have been disallowed and Brighton were lucky with Calderon’s goal clearance. This is plainly daft as it was fine piece of skill. Had a keeper made a defining save would he say it was undeserved? We can all see the game and have the benefit of a perceptive analyst in Don Goodman so putting his incorrect gloss on the match is ridiculous and Chris Hughton provided a more accurate assessment.
Pargie was delighted, less so Alan Tanner whose Fulham boys lost again and are heading for the relegation mix. I still have to pinch myself that Brighton, relegation candidates for some pundits, are leading from the front all season. Our chairman did not bother with any appointments commitee. He identified the right man, interviewed and appointed him. As Alan said if we did the same it might be Fulham up there. There are a few worries: we still have won every game by a one goal margin, our goal difference is inferior to those around us, we draw too many games and if Wilson goes back to Manchester United we will have striking problems. Can’t wait for Saturday!
