Brighton & Hove Albion 2 Bristol Rovers 2
By Tim Hodges at Withdean.
The Albion were pegged back in injury time, for the third time so far this season, in a exciting encounter at Withdean on Saturday.
In fact they could be 10 points clear, instead of the 4 point advantage they have over Charlton.
The seagulls although at full strength, didn’t display the pomp they so greatly personified in October.
Rovers were able to find space down both flanks in the opening exchanges, the Albion seemed to be coping well with the pressure from their opponents, until Kuffour had a rasping drive pushed wide by Ankergren.
From the resulting corner Byron, with a little help from Gary Dicker allowed Rovers to become the first club since Oldham in September to take the lead at Withdean.
The Albion certainly weren’t displaying their usual pomp and swagger and soon after their goal the visitors had another good chance through Akinde, who shot wide.
Gary Dicker, perhaps conscious of his earlier diversion past Casper Ankergren, got into some good positions. He fed the ball through to Barnes on a couple of occasions, but the Albion forward volleyed well wide and then failed to anticipate a generous bounce when one on one with Andersen.
New Albion forward Wood, was beginning to hold the ball up for Barnes, but the pairing hadn’t quite hit it off by half time.
As darkness began to fall over the Withdean for the start of the second half the Albion themselves looked brighter Greer began to stride forward from defence with Calderon and Painter getting far more forward.
Chris wood began to really put himself about and looked like a great foil for Barnes to play off.
The seagulls were really pressurizing Rovers and with Kishischev developing, more than breaking up play a breakthrough was inevitable.
When it came, it was unorthodox. Painter swung in a great cross presumably for Wood, however it was over the Kiwis head, Hughes, the Rovers full back seemed surprised by the flight of the ball and put it past his own keeper, via his midriff for 1-1.
Not long after Murray replaced a dejected looking Barnes. He and Wood looked menacing immediately. The seagulls were now displaying their patient passing game and dicker threaded a ball through to Barnes who turned who forced Andersen to get down to his left and grab at the second attempt.
Dicker and Kishischev were now instrumental and suddenly form this combination Murray was free in the area, only to be chopped down by the covering defender.
Chris Wood fired the resulting penalty into the top right hand corner to put the Albion into the lead.
The seagulls looked comfortable from then on, and Bennett dragged an angled shot wide.
Albion then looked confident, a corner routine between Bennett and Dicker is great kidology as Dicker screams at Bennett to play it short and in turn draws two defenders out of the penalty area.
In the final four minutes and with worrying familiarity the opposition started to get the better of the Seagulls.
Rovers won a corner with two minutes of injury time left.
Their Goalkeeper made an excursion to the Albion box and his presence may have been a contribution, as Rovers equalised through a Marco Painter own goal.
The Albion must learn to do what they did at Eastville all those years ago. And shut up shop.
Albion: Ankergren; Calderon, Greer, El-Abd, Painter; Kishishev, Battipiedi, Dicker, Bennett; Wood, Barnes. Subs: Brezovan, Elphick, Baz, Hart, Smith, Kasim, Murray.
Rovers: Andersen; Anthony, Coles, Sawyer, Hughes; Brown, Campbell, Lines, Swallow; Akinde, Kuffour. Subs: Green, Clough, Pell, Jefferies, Richards, Powell, Hoskins.
Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire
