Brighton post match whatevers

[BHAFC Braders]

Without wanting to sound patronising - you lot put us to the sword today.

You tried to play attacking stuff , we had to defend deep , you broke down every attack we had (well those that we didn't destroy ourselves) and you had the grit between your teeth.

I have no idea what's happened to us but since the P*l*ce game we've been a bit sloppy until we go behind , whether or not this is a Poyet masterplan I don't know.

Think if you had taken that chance just before half time , completely different story and you lot would have been delighted to finally have a springboard.

Kasper was unlucky not to get more of his body on the ball for the goal you let in , but definitely a point gained from our POV.

Best of luck for the rest of the season - hope you bounce back with a win against Brum (and absolutely stuff the Caravan Dwellers from Croydon).

[Guest ttfn]

There was a 10 minute spell just after half-time when we were brilliant. Schlupp looks like he has the skillset required to play that lone frontman role, and I'd like to see us play 1/3 up front from now until the end of the season.

As for the rest of the game, I thought it pretty even. Both sides created enough chances to win the game. Still, that's 10 away games for me this season and still no win. Gutting.

[Guest Col city fan]

There was a 10 minute spell just after half-time when we were brilliant. Schlupp looks like he has the skillset required to play that lone frontman role, and I'd like to see us play 1/3 up front from now until the end of the season.

As for the rest of the game, I thought it pretty even. Both sides created enough chances to win the game. Still, that's 10 away games for me this season and still no win. Gutting.

Your last sentence speaks volumes I'm afraid.

However, amazingly, we are still in with a shout.

Bring on the Brum..

[Munshi]

The top 6 this season have been way too inconsistent which is good news for us.

[Thracian]

As soon as we took the lead I thought "that's the end of our football". Does Pearson ever learn? We took the lead against Cardiff only a few weeks ago and mistakenly tinkered with the team.

Today's team restored some pride in our club with their first 75 minutes of sometimes blistering football and effort. Then Pearson made the sort of changes that were never going to help.

Why? Who comes up with these ideas? Why not leave well alone when 11 men are defying the odds and sometimes playing decent opposition to death?

Yes, I feel for Pearson and the team cos it's clear they need a win. But they are trying to beg one instead of winning one. Why change what has been working for something that never was going to work because Wood - of all things is never a pressurising player and both he and Kane have been woefully off form.

As for suggestions that had we taken our chances we'd have won quite comfortably what twaddle. It makes the totally indefensible assumption that had, say, King or Schlupp taken their big chances we'd have continued to attack but there's no evidence whatsoever for that.

Much more likely is that we'd have spent the entire second half trying to hold out instead of just the last 15 minutes. And while I'm lamenting such tactics why would we not pre-plan to double bank on LuaLua. The bloke was always going to be too much for any one of our outside defenders.

We gained the ascendancy by attacking - as I've constantly suggested has to be the case - then gave it away by our own reaction to scoring as we either do or seemingly try to do so often

Who can add up the times we've been tactically at fault this season and you have to wonder if it's Pearson or his coaches to blame.

Yes, I understand that Schupp and Nugent might have been tiring and would first of all ask the question why they are seemingly short of the fitness needed for 90 minutes when players coped well enough in the past.

But it's well known that training is forever concerned with recovery times and even a partially recovered Schlupp or Nugent would be far better at closing people down - at whatever cost to their attacking - than the likes of Wood.

Yes, taking a point today is an important step forward given the awful run we've been having and, yes, our performance deserved at least some reward.

But we really don't show the tactical acumen to make the best of ourselves and there's nothing worse than us making the same mistakes time and again.

[ADK]

As soon as we took the lead I thought "that's the end of our football". Does Pearson ever learn? We took the lead against Cardiff only a few weeks ago and mistakenly tinkered with the team.

Today's team restored some pride in our club with their first 75 minutes of sometimes blistering football and effort. Then Pearson made the sort of changes that were never going to help.

Why? Who comes up with these ideas? Why not leave well alone when 11 men are defying the odds and sometimes playing decent opposition to death?

Yes, I feel for Pearson and the team cos it's clear they need a win. But they are trying to beg one instead of winning one. Why change what has been working for something that never was going to work because Wood - of all things is never a pressurising player and both he and Kane have been woefully off form.

As for suggestions that had we taken our chances we'd have won quite comfortably what twaddle. It makes the totally indefensible assumption that had, say, King or Schlupp taken their big chances we'd have continued to attack but there's no evidence whatsoever for that.

Much more likely is that we'd have spent the entire second half trying to hold out instead of just the last 15 minutes. And while I'm lamenting such tactics why would we not pre-plan to double bank on LuaLua. The bloke was always going to be too much for any one of our outside defenders.

We gained the ascendancy by attacking - as I've constantly suggested has to be the case - then gave it away by our own reaction to scoring as we either do or seemingly try to do so often

Who can add up the times we've been tactically at fault this season and you have to wonder if it's Pearson or his coaches to blame.

Yes, I understand that Schupp and Nugent might have been tiring and would first of all ask the question why they are seemingly short of the fitness needed for 90 minutes when players coped well enough in the past.

But it's well known that training is forever concerned with recovery times and even a partially recovered Schlupp or Nugent would be far better at closing people down - at whatever cost to their attacking - than the likes of Wood.

Yes, taking a point today is an important step forward given the awful run we've been having and, yes, our performance deserved at least some reward.

But we really don't show the tactical acumen to make the best of ourselves and there's nothing worse than us making the same mistakes time and again.

Couldn't agree more. This is why i'm firmly in the "Pearson isn't good enough" camp now. He's still the most successful manager we've had since Mickey Adams and it's great how he got us straight out of the abyss that is league 1, yet we need to step up a level and Pearsons lack of tactical awareness is costing us a ton of points.

[Tielemans63]

Schlupp should keep his place in the team - I really hope he does. Missed a few chances granted, but was a constant thorn in Albion's side. I was surprised that NP took him off as he was really keeping them occupied.

[seenitall]

If we finish eighth via comparison to last season's ninth - logic would suggest that that's progress, no?

I'd wager decent money that Huddersfield are covering at least a portion of Danns and Beckford's wages, I doubt Peltier was on peanuts, either. He sacked off Michael Johnson fairly sharpish too, let's not forget, and he'd have been pocketing some spends. Vassell and Howard were both on Sven contracts too (not that I'm suggesting they were on a lot, probably more than their respective abilities merited, though).

If we've not improved significantly in terms of figures, at least there's not a toxic atmosphere around the club anymore. These players generally want to seem to do well, both for the club and themselves - as well as their boss.

It would - another 6 years and we might get automatic promotion - aaah but then would we still have a 'young' and hungry team - I think not so no it's not progress

[Langston]

It would - another 6 years and we might get automatic promotion - aaah but then would we still have a 'young' and hungry team - I think not so no it's not progress

It is progress though, isn't it, in the definitive sense of the word. Not saying I'd be overjoyed with it but everything has to be considered and taken into account. This time last year we were still cleaning up Sven's mess.

Then again, I don't know what point I'm trying to communicate to yourself, the perennially miserable.

[seenitall]

It is progress though, isn't it, in the definitive sense of the word. Not saying I'd be overjoyed with it but everything has to be considered and taken into account. This time last year we were still cleaning up Sven's mess.

Then again, I don't know what point I'm trying to communicate to yourself, the perennially miserable.

Don't know if I'd be interested anyway from the perennially happy (clapper?) - Just in case you are wildly optimistic, we have dropped 29 of the last 36 points, or only got 7 of the last 36 points, less than half a point a game when 2 a game is really required for success - we were failing at this stage last year and are failing this year - why is that progress?

[LJS]

The depressing thing about this run is how bad everyone above us has been at the same time. I'm absolutely convinced that with the positive approach taken earlier in the season we'd still be in the top two. Six or seven more wins over the last few weeks and we'd be firm favourites for that second automatic promotion slot. It was doable as well when you consider the crap we've faced. I can't help but look at this season, as it stands, as a huge missed opportunity.

We need to get back to attacking teams and keeping going for the ninety minutes. We know we can do it because we've seen it with our own eyes. If we don't do that we won't go up. The problem here is entirely a tactical one.

[Fox4ever76]

missed chances,wrong subs & tactics & yet again cant hold on & now bolton are right behind...a point no good im afraid

[Langston]

Don't know if I'd be interested anyway from the perennially happy (clapper?) - Just in case you are wildly optimistic, we have dropped 29 of the last 36 points, or only got 7 of the last 36 points, less than half a point a game when 2 a game is really required for success - we were failing at this stage last year and are failing this year - why is that progress?

I'm not perennially happy - I just think there's more to life than constant criticism of anything and everything. I'm aware we've been doggo recently but we're in a healthier position as a club. Lets make love

[marbelladave]

Well, well, well……..

We actually played some football for the first time in ages and managed to play fairly well in a formation other than 4-4-2.

OK, they were times when players seemed less than sure of what they were supposed to be doing but in general it went well in what was more or less a 4-2-3-1. Andy King played a pivotal role, played in front of Drinkwater and James he did very well defensively, closing down Bridcutt and denying Brighton control of midfield for much of the game. The downside remains the fact that King has no real creative skills, so we lacked sharpness around the box, Marshall came inside a fair amount to try and provide that edge and I thought did alright. We created some pretty decent chances but Schlupp and King managed to fluff the two best.

Our passing game was much more in evidence than of late, still too much hoof, particularly from Schmiechel, when we kept the ball on the floor we looked very decent, the formation working nicely. Downside was that the long ball out to either Nugent or Schlupp was largely a waste and giving the ball away to a good side like Brighton was always going to cause problems.

Although not really dominant, City were clearly the better side and for more than hour we were very comfortable, the introduction of Vicente seemed to re-energise Brighton and to combat him and Lua Lua down our right, NFP brought on De Laet for Marshall. In my view it did not really work, Lua Lua was still giving Moore a very hard time and the 'double fullback' setup did not do enough going forward and I thought we actually missed Marshall.

James's goal was pretty scrappy but his finish, from 7-8 yards was quite precise, excellent, but this goal was not the pivotal moment, the substitutions that followed a few seconds late were. Replacing Schlupp and Nugent, whatever the logic, ruined our shape up front, Kane looked lost on the left wing our threat on that side simply evaporating. It was much the same story down down the middle, without the threat of any pace, Brighton went tight on Wood and our attacking threat was gone.

Enjoying more and more possesion, Brighton came at us, paricularly down our right where Moore was being terrorised by Lua Lua. At this point we would have done better to send Moore to play upfront and let De Laet take on Lua Lua. De laet really needed to take charge of Lua Lua bu that never happened and the shear predictability of the equaliser was very dissapointing, we really could have done something about it but NFP tied to be clever and it cost.

Playing 4-2-3-1 looked pretty good for awhile, there were still issues but for a team that normally only plays well in 4-4-2, it wasn't too bad, for an hour or so anyway.

From our hotel room. Mrs M is in the bathroom getting ready to go out, so a match report of sorts......

Off for a couple of beers and, hopefully, a nice meal....

[Langston]

From our hotel room. Mrs M is in the bathroom getting ready to go out, so a match report of sorts......

Off for a couple of beers and, hopefully, a nice meal....

Planning on eating out tonight are we, Dave?

[wurmer]

Sounded like a much improved performance, which is hopefully us turning the curve back upwards now.

For those calling for Pearson's head - he's here till the end of the season, so save your energy and get behind the team - you don't have to get behind Pearson.

Looking forward to Friday now, and will be cheering on the boys!

[SmithyFox12]

Just got in from a very, very long day. Personally think that we deserved all three points. King and James were quality and made Drinkwater look shit compared to them two. Disappointed with Nuge and Moore. Was really frustrating how we kept playing the long ball towards Schlupp because everytime he had it at his feet, he was beating the Brighton defence easily with his pace.

Quality support from the City fans today as always, gutted we didn't get the three points though.

Get behind the team and Pearson, we have the ability to do this.

Oh and to finish, ALL of Marshall's corners beat the first man today - happy days!

[Dan]

Irritatingly predictable. I put pre-match on Twitter it'd be a repeat of the Cardiff game - up our game following an embarrassingly bad loss, get a late goal to go ahead and then fvck it at the end. I knew for a fact we'd throw it away and to be honest we could've lost.

But it shouldn't have been there to throw away. Yet again we've had the chances, another day and we'd have been 4 up by that time, it's just stupid.

Today confirmed we won't be going up. Even when we play well we've lost our knack to get any more than the opposition and that's absolutely pivotal in this league. A huge step forward in terms of performance but I can't help but feel it's too little, too late.

[Bob Weasel Fox]

Sounds like we played well and more like 2 points dropped than 1 gained

However hopefully the turning point in this current dodgy spell

Up the Foxes

[SmithyFox12]

That taxi advert they kept showing on the big screens was unbelievably annoying

[kingfox]

Before the match I would of taken a point so I'm fairly happy, but it's the manner of these draws and defeats which is starting to annoy me.

Watched it online, and I must say we played really really good stuff, Brighton had the odd threat thought Lua-Lua was terrific and Ulloa should of really scored, but we closed down well, won possession well and kept possession well at times, but to get sucker punched like that late on again is crazy. Why are we conceding late goals all of a sudden, we haven't done that since the Sousa days, or even before then, now we have conceded about 4-5 goals in the last 10 minutes in the past two months.

We are still in with a massive chance, all games are key from here on in, roll on Birmingham.

[glenelgfox]

Just finished watching the full replay. Very frustrating - another late "loss of points" in a game where both sides had real chances but without being biased we had the better of them and should have had a second.

I thought King was ok and the best of the midfielders. Found Drinkwater frustrating - he seems unsure of moving forward and creating when he is space. I agree with others on here re how we serviced Schlupp and Nugent. Nugent is not a "wide left" player in my opinion and he was wasted for most of the game. Why did the rest of our team continue to knock long balls in the air up for Schlupp - completely frustrating. He is much more dangerous with a decent ground ball so why couldn't our players work that out???

Konchesky still worries me with his ability to pass the ball to the opponent on a regular basis week after week.

Lua-Lua continually ran at Moore and always looked dangerous down the left but none of our midfielders thought to give early cover support to take away his runs and the end result ultimately if you give a player like him that many chances was a goal.

[suffolk fox]

One win in thirteen games says it all we are the masters of our own downfall historybspeaks for itself, one team always makes a late charge that team is Bolton, Forest are getting the rub of the green from the refs eight minutes of injury time today and a late penalty. We will finish in seventh or eight place we just cannot win we are bottling it big time.

[Happy Fox]

Bolton have left it too late imo, the playoffs are in our hands win our next two games very possible we will make the playoffs.

I am certain of that, come on City.

[CKB]

Bolton have left it too late imo, the playoffs are in our hands win our next two games very possible we will make the playoffs.

I am certain of that, come on City.

How have Bolton left it late? they are on the same amount of points as us???? The can easily come to the KP and beat us, just as IF we get our ****ing act together could easily beat them aswell

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As for today's game, better yes but not getting carried away!