By Tim Hodges
Brighton & Hove Albion 5 Barnsley 1
The Albion thrashed Barnsley at the Amex today (Saturday 25 August) running up their record score at the year-old stadium.
With just three minutes on the clock Craig Noone whipped in a free kick which ex-Albion keeper David Gonzalez fumbled and Ashley Barnes blasted home to put the Seagulls in front.
The Albion were bossing the Tykes and, with just a quarter hour gone, Wayne Bridge found the bottom corner of the net to put the Seagulls 2-0 up.
Not long after, Barnsley’s Polish forward Tomasz Cywka forced a great save from his compatriot Tomasz Kuszczak in the Albion goal.
Barnsley, obviously shell-shocked, tried to pick up their game and ten minutes before half-time Andrew Crofts was adjudged to have upended Scott Golbourne in the area.
Former Albion striker Craig Davies halved the arrears with the resulting penalty.
However, seconds after the re-start Craig Mackail-Smith got on the end of a Barnes cross and shot to put Albion 3-1 up at half-time.
The Seagulls continued the second half where they left of the first and at times Barnsley didn’t know what day it was.
Within five minutes of the restart Noone crossed in for Barnes and Mackail-Smith helped the ball over the line for his second of the afternoon to put Albion 4-1 in front.
After this the Tykes had a few half chances and corners but Albion were very much in control.
With ten minutes left Kazenga LuaLua came on for Noone and crossed in for Barnes to score his second of the afternoon and to give the Albion an emphatic 5-1 win.
