Seagulls swoop

Brighton made it two wins in a row and, with 2 winnable home games up next against Brentford and Bolton, have every chance of consolidating their play-off position.

Brighton won 2-1 but it was not a great game. Huddersfield, managed by Jurgen Klopp’s number two at Dortmund David Wagner, played the more pleasing football with their crisp passing game. Like us they missed a goal poacher. The old warhorse Bobby Zamora scored again to pass Peter Ward in the all-time scoring list but at 35 lasting the full game is going to be difficult. Tomer Hemed simply does not score enough nor look likely to. James Wilson on loan from Manchester United does and looks a natural scorer. We all hope Brighton will find a reliable goalscorer in the January window.

To be fair – and to counter those who question our promotion credentials – Chris Hughton has managed his resources well having lost 4 defenders Bong, Hunemeier, Greer and Rosenior to injury and Solly March who was playing so well on right midfield for the season. Add the injured Sam Baldovk and Kaz Lua Lua who returned yesterday to the bench and that is half the team.

After the game I spoke to  a disconsolate Alan Tanner.

“You think it can’t get worse and it does. First a transfer embargo and now rumours abound that club skipper Ross MacCormack was not too unwell to play but refuses to do so  as he wants the move to Middlesbrough. Where there is no proper leadership discipline, club spirit and respect are the first to go. The only postive is that under Jokanovic we are no longer conceding two goals a game.”