By Tim Hodges
Brighton & Hove Albion 3 Brentford 0
Albion achieved their most emphatic Withdean win of the season on Tuesday night.
The same team that was on duty and lost narrowly to Swindon was selected by Gus Poyet.
However early in the second half Kezenga Lua Lua suffered an injury and was replaced by Chris Holroyd.
Not long after this and after good work from Bennett, Glen Murray headed in his first Withdean goal for 367 days.
The Albion then seemed to be in control of the match. Although approaching half time Brentford had a flurry of corners, although the Albion also tried to get the decisive pre interval, second goal.
The Albion went in at half time one goal to the good, a rare Withdean event these days.
In the second half and almost to form, the opposition probed Albion’s defensive guard, but didn’t really cause the Seagulls any problems.
Murray and Holroyd, look to have formed a good partnership up front, but were both well shackled by Legge and Dickson.
The game came to life more as the half went on , both Elphick and Holroyd went close to doubling Albion’s lead.
With the seagulls now desperate to kill the game and opposition off, Painter found himself in unfamiliar territory, but just failed to open his Brighton account.
Carl Cort replaced Strevens for the visitors with around 10 minutes left and Brezovan had to be alert from a Weston snap shot. Holroyd seemed to take a heavy fall and was replaced by the popular again Nicky Forster.
With the clock ticking towards a 4th home League win of the season, the industrious Navarro was replaced by Virgo who immediately occupied a defensive midfield position.
However he found himself far enough forward to head Gary Dicker’s late free kick goal wards, and under no real pressure, Brentford keeper Szczsney appeared to palm the ball in to his own goal. Some fancied it was Virgo’s reward for his 200th career appearance, though in reality the keeper touched it last.
There was much relief on the bench, and at Withdean in general, and still time for Brentford centre half Bennett to handle in the area and get sent off. Nicky Forster despatched the resulting penalty with ease, to give the Albion a huge confidence boost.
Albion: Brezovan; Calderon, Elphick, El-Abd, Painter; Bennett, Dicker, Crofts, Navarro, LuaLua; Murray. Subs: Forster, Walker, Hart, Carole, Virgo, Hoyte, Holroyd.
Brentford: Szczesny; Foster, Phillips, Legge, Dickson; Wood, O’Connor, Diagouraga, Weston; MacDonald, Strevens. Subs: Bean, Bennett, Saunders, Cort, Hunt, Ainsworth, Price.
Referee: D McDermid
Attendance 5539
