By Tim Hodges from the Amex Press Briefing
Gus Poyet revealed this morning that the Albion players will train on Christmas morning but spend the afternoon with their families.
The players are likely to travel up to Reading that evening.
He also suggested that Spainish star Vicente Rodriguez was close to a return to action. But he added a note of caution, saying that the former Valencia star had been this close to a return before.
The Albion boss was reluctant to answer when I asked what he had said to the players at half-time in the Burnley match.
He suggested that he had tried to convince the players what could and might happen and said that how close the Albion were to getting something from the game.
Poyet also said that the new triallist, Habib Habibou, who scored for the reserves at Brentford in midweek, would train with the Seagulls over the next few days.
Poyet stated that he would like three points over Christmas and the New Year and for the team and individuals to improve through 2012, so as to eventually challenge for a Premier League place.
Earlier Alan Navarro explained to me what instructions Poyet had given prior to his introduction aginst Burnley.
The midfielder said that he was told to try and contain Burnley and look for that one chance to try and make a difference.
He also thought Poyet’s decision to pull the three centre backs together was important in the Albion staying competitive in the match.
Reading-born Liam Bridcutt said that he was looking forward to playing against his home town club but admitted that he never supported them, preferring Chelsea.
He had the opportunity to try out with Reading but again opted for Chelsea.
He also said that he enjoyed living in Brighton and Hove and what a great place it was to bring up his family.
