Brighton and Hove Albion Home, 1-1

Some people were expecting a bit of a hammering today. It just didn’t come. There crap away form, and our crap home form, what else could it had been but a draw?

County could have gone one down in the first few minutes. There probably best chance of the game was a cross that flew along the floor and managed to clear the keeper, all the defenders, and luckily their strikers too. After this initial scare the game calmed down a lot. Brighton looked at best an average side, and was mainly relying on good old hoof ups.

County’s best chance of the half was a Welsh shot that was blistering close and just cleared the keeper’s far post. County were looking the better chance, and I would say dictating the play in the middle of the park. However not much was happening in the final third of the pitch, and I couldn’t really see a goal coming. Crosses from Welsh and Cartwright were poor. A bit much too fancy play for me.

And then the goal came with about 5 minutes of the half left. Jackman pushed forward and sent in an excellent cross from about 30 yards out. McLachlan rose like a Salmon to loop a header over the keeper from about 15 yards out. The fans erupted with cries of "Fraaaaaser, Fraaaaaser."

At this point I thought that if County could keep the score at 1-0 till the end of the first half, we had a great chance of getting all three points. They didn’t look like equalising at the end of this half, although they almost did off a free kick. It was floated in and Williams made an excellent save to tip it over. County didn’t really look like scoring a second.

The players were applauded off the pitch, for a solid, gutsy performance.

Second half started. I turned to my ickle sister and said "If we can absorb the pressure of the first ten minutes we will be fine." Unfortunately, we didn’t. A good corner came in. Williams was right to stay on his line as it was well out of his reach. Bad marking gave an almost free header, and their player willingly tucked it away.

This is where, I am sorry to say, I exploded. The bugger who was sat behind me, had been quiet all game. All of a sudden he jumped up and gesticulated to all of the County fans behind him. I went mental and told him to sit his Southern Fooking Fairy Arse down. He obliged.

This half was a lot more even than the first, and both teams went close. Cartwright had a very good shot saved through a crowd of people, and Jon Daly almost got on the end of a decent Welsh cross. Ricky Lambert went agonisingly close with an audacious lob, and Barlow had an effort just over the bar at the end. Similarly, they had chances, but none stuck out for me as being good chances.

A word for the defence today. I thought they were excellent. Every single player in that back four was willing to throw themselves in front of a striker. They just didn’t have a chance to get a shot away. Williams was comfortable all game, came when he needed too, and stayed when he needed to. He was quick off his line for pass backs, and oncoming strikers. He showed a lot of character today after Swindon home. Good on ya Ant.

Jackman. We have got ourselves a right little gem here. I can’t remember a time he got done today. He still managed to get stuck in, and his tackling is excellent. His clearances aren’t bad, and his distribution is good as well. If he was 6 inches taller he would without a doubt be playing in the premiership. He even set up the goal.

The twins in midfield almost played very well, especially Fraser. His header was excellent. He seemed to be everywhere today, harrying and tackling. His control and skill of dribbling, although not the best on the pitch has come on leaps and bounds under Sammy. Hi distribution could get better though. The same for Robertson really, although he had one scorching shot go wide in the first half.

Lambert was good today, spreading the play excellent, but had no chance to show his real shooting skills. Welsh didn’t get into the game at all in the first half bar his shot. In the second he was much more involved, although his final ball still leaves a lot to be desired. I can’t really remember much about Cartwright to be honest. Daly didn’t really do much, and seemed unwillingly to jump for headers.

What about that melee at the end eh? Good larf! Don’t know why it started, but their figging keeper ran half the pitch to jump in and should have been sent off IMO. Consequently he was booed every time he touched the ball there after. Virgo was a dirty bassah. Constantly pushing players, and also clattered Daly in the first half.

At the end of the day, we defended well bar our inability to deal with that one figgin corner. The communication between the defence, and players knowing when to help each other was a massive improvement today. We were good in midfield to IMO. Our biggest failing was when we got into their box. We could have won, but I would say a draw was fair.

Player ratings

Williams - 8 - When you can’t fault a player, it’s hard not to give them a good rating.

Griffin - 8 - Did everything right, his clearances were very good today, and he did a good job of making sure anything Jacko didn’t win in the air came to him.

Walton - 7 - Good, but doesn’t have much pace.

Jackman - 8 - Bless him. MOM for me.

Clare - 7.5 - Played well, and I hope Sammy can continue to find him a place in the team for him.

Fraser - 8 - Did very well today, and missed out on MOM (for me) by a whisker.

Robertson - 7.5 - Also very well, if he had scored he would have got 8

Cartwright - ? - Cant really remember much bout him

Welsh - 6.5 - Could have done better, only really put in a couple of good crosses all game.

Lambert - 7 - The way he spreads the play is phenomenal. His balls into the box weren’t as good as usual.

Daly - 6.5 - Didn’t really get into the game. Only had a couple of chances. Didn’t win many headers, although when he did he held up the play well.

Sub: Barlow - 6.5 - Didn’t have his super sub effect today.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, a good performance. Just one mistake which cost us. We are now five points away from safety instead of 6.

Sorry it’s so long; once I start I can’t stop! There’s probably loads of errors too because I can’t be arsed to check it.