Brighton & Hove Albion 2 Milton Keynes Dons 0
By Tim Hodges
The Albion superbly overcame Milton Keynes Dons at Withdean on Saturday.
Gus Poyet made one change to the team that had beaten Walsall as the returning Kezenga Lua Lua replaced Gary Dicker who dropped to the bench.
The Dons attacked the Albion from the kick off . The hugely experienced Dietmar Hamann orchestrating play to the left and right with Easter looking lively and dangerous.
Albion then appeared to consolidate and not for the first time this season Radostin Kishechev was pulling all the strings in midfield.
Kishechev brings other players in to the game with seemingly little effort. And although the Albion had turned the tables and now were enjoying plenty of possession themselves they were unable to penetrate the Dons penalty area, until a rather messy effort that seemed to take Glenn Murray by surprise, around the half hour mark.Lua Lua was having much success in manoeuvring past Woodard, but his crosses eluded the Albion forwards, each time he got himself into a position to supply one.
Calderon, who was again captain, was getting forward to support Bennett. And it was from a Calderon cross that Murray had a free header which he couldn’t direct on target.
After much industry and entertaining play from Brighton, the teams went in at halftime with game still scoreless.
The Albion players started the second half like an express train. Murray and Barnes both running at defenders. Lua Lua was continuing to torment both Woodard and O’Hanlon
Still the seagulls had not made Martin, in the Dons goal get his knees dirty. On fifty minutes Bennett won a free kick twenty five yards from goal. Kezenga Lua Lua unleashed an unstoppable swerving free kick that had the MK Dons keeper literally grasping a fresh air. This was one of the greatest goals Withdean has seen its eleven years as a Football League venue, and the double somersault that followed, without doubt its best celebration.
Mk Dons although a little shell shocked did try and respond with Ankergren diving at the feet of Easter soon after.
Glen Murray when linking up with Barnes had a few chances to get free of his last defender, but as has been apparent recently, his pace let him down.
The excitement appeared to be getting the better of Matt Sparrow who made a stud showing lunge at Leven . Even though he was lucky just to receive a caution, he was replaced by Gary Dicker soon after.
With Hamann off the pitch it was Leven running the Dons midfield. He did appear to be all over the pitch a times. Although the visitors had replaced Hamann with Guy and also brought on Ibehre . The Albion’s Danish keeper was largely untroubled, except for a few routine catches.
The play was pretty much end to end in the last twenty five minutes, though this seemed to terminate on the edge of each penalty area.
In the end it was that man Lua Lua who again raced down the left touchline and whipped in a superb cross come shot, that Murray ensured went over the line with a diving header, to make the score a comfortable 2-0 to the Albion.
In the last few minutes again with Leven again, who was heavily involved as Milton Keynes tried to get some sort of consolation. But a succession of attacks and corners did not trouble the impressive El Abd or Elphick or the heart of Albion’s defence.
Even with a curious five minutes of added time, the Albion coasted to an impressive and confident victory.
Albion: Ankergren; Calderon, Elphick, El-Abd, Painter; Bennett, Kishishev, Sparrow, LuaLua; Murray, Barnes. Subs: Brezovan, Baz, Hart, Dicker, Smith, Bridcutt, Taricco.
MK Dons: Martin; Woodards, O’Hanlon, Doumbe, Chicksen; Chadwick, Levenn, Hamann, Balanto; Easter, Baldock. Subs: Carrington, Guy, Searle, Flanagen, Powell, Johnson, Ibehre.
Ref: Phil Gibbs (West Midlands)
