Brighton & Hove Albion 3 Peterborough United 1
By Tim Hodges at the Withdean.
The Albion had another episode of winning ugly on Saturday afternoon at the Withdean.
In fact for the first twenty minutes neither team had a shot on goal.
Gradually Albion made patient progress with new winger Craig Noone getting free and clear of posh full back Whelpdale time and again.
However it wasn’t long before Whelpdale was involved in a goal line clearance after the Peterborough keeper fumbled a cross from Sparrow and Wood was just unable to stick the ball over the line.
Within a minute or so the much wanted Elliot Bennett, crossed into the six yard box and Chris Wood Albion’s loanee Kiwi, had a tap in for 1-0.
The Seagulls were now almost in their pomp and swagger , maintained possession, Bennett was allowed to scythe through the Posh defence and hit a low curling shot to double Albion’s lead.
The visitors tried a fight back but seemed limited to their wide men McCann and Boyd firing hopeful balls into Albion’s penalty area.
Though the nearest they came to hurting Albion was when Mackail –Smith got in a tangle with Calderon and Ankergren, giving the latter a bloody nose.
Albion lead comfortable by two at half time.
During the interval, another Albion penalty miss ,as a young Seagull fan step from 12 yards and was filmed by Sky TV as part of a fan show. His kick was saved by an Albion youth keeper, shame as apparently he’d have got £500 if he’d scored.
In the second half Brighton continued their possession play knocking it around at the back , frustrating the opposition and awaiting an opportunity, this came as Murray peeled off to the left and put in a low cross which Wood converted for 3-0 after a couple of ricochets from Lewis the Peterborough keeper.
Soon after Dicker replaced the tiring Noone and Albion became a narrower unit.
This allowed the Posh to peg Albion back and themselves dictate play.
So much so that on 66 minutes Tomlin had a free header which he placed past the motionless and seemingly surprised Ankergren.
Some of Albion’s ‘we want jam today and jam tomorrow’ crowd became a bit restless and some comments, not befitting a team clear at the top of their league were made.
As the game crept on, albeit to slowe, from a Brighton prospective Whelpdale hit a skimming show against the bar with Ankergren beaten.
From then on Peterborough realised it wasn’t going to be their day , and Greer and El Abd sprayed the ball sparingly out of defence and controlled play until the final whistle , and with minimum fuss.
In stoppage time Peterborough’s Mcann who was lucky to stay on the pitch, after throwing the ball away whilst receiving his first booking , saw red after tripping Bennett.
Albion not at their best, but easily despatched yet another near rival with aplomb.
Albion: Ankergren; Calderon, Greer, El-Abd, Painter; Bennett, Sparrow, Bridcutt, Noone; Murray, Wood. Subs: Brezovan, Elphick, Kishishev, Barnes, Dicker, Sandaza, Holroyd.
Peterborough: Lewis; Lee, Langmead, Bennett, Rowe; Whelpdale, Clayton, McCann, Boyd; Tomlin, Mackail-Smith. Subs: Collis, Mendez-Laing, Agard, Wesolowski, Little, Ofori-Twumasi, Obika.
Ref: Brendan Malone (Wiltshire
