By Tim Hodges from the Amex
Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Peterborough United 0
The Albion finally won their first match in eight tonight (Tuesday 6 November) with a last minute goal from deadline day signing Stephen Dobbie.
In fact the Albion dominated the entire match, with tireless hard work from Bruno Saltor and the hugely impressive Will Buckley.
It was, however, the same old story from the Seagulls – plenty of possession, many probing balls into dangerous positions, but no end result.
The first chance of note come from Craig Mackail-Smith who headed straight at Peterborough keeper Robert Olejnik from just on the edge of the six-yard box.
Posh’s Joe Newell then had one of his team’s few chances but his sliding shot would have worried Moulsecoomb residents more than Tomasz Kuszczak in the Albion goal.
Mackail-Smith was then flagged marginally offside when clean through against Olejnik.
Wayne Bridge was finding plenty of room. The former England wing-back fired in a cross which Mackail-Smith glanced wide.
Peterborough did have one outlet, Tyrone Barnett, who put one header on the roof of the net and would out-jump both Bridge and Gordon Greer at each opportunity.
The half ended with a Bruno free kick being again headed wide by Mackail-Smith.
Although not lacklustre in the first period, Albion shot out of the blocks in the second half.
Buckley looked to have been pushed to a more central position, but it was Ashley Barnes who had the first chance of note, forcing Olejnik to scramble down to his left and push the ball away.
The five minutes into the second half Andrea Orlandi hit a half volley which came back off the inside of the post.
Albion tried to keep it calm and measured and didn’t panic. A mix up in the Posh defence saw Barnes nod down for Mackail-Smith but the former Peterbrough striker dragged his shot wide.
Bruno and Buckley look like being a lethal combination. The Spaniard time again set Buckley away down the wing.
Twice from Buckley crosses Barnes nodded the ball back but twice Mackail-Smith shot wide.
As time ticked on, so Albion tried their luck. Bridge had a screamer from at least 25 yards tipped over by Olejnik.
Andrew Crofts made way for Dobbie and soon after Will Hoskins replaced Mackail-Smith to make his first appearance of the season and formed a partnership with Dobbie.
At times Albion appeared to be trying to walk the ball into the net.
Intricate play from Bruno and Orlandi won the Seagulls a succession of corners.
After the fourth official indicated an extension of four minutes Ashley Barnes doggedly won the ball in the midfield area. He then lofted in forward and after a kind bounce or two it fell to Dobbie who lifted over Olejnik and into the net.
The Scottish striker’s delight was evident as he slid across the turf towards the East Stand.
The Albion win at last but it was a hard-fought victory against one of the division’s supposed whipping boys.
Albion: Kuszczak; Bruno, Greer, Dunk, Bridge; Hammond, Crofts, Orlandi; Buckley, Barnes, Mackail-Smith. Subs: Ankergren, Calderon, Dicker, David, Dobbie, LuaLua, Hoskins.
Peterborough: Olejnik; Alcock, Brisley, Knight-Percival; Little, Bostwick, McCann, Boyd, Newell; Barnett, Berahino. Subs: Day, Swanson, Mendez-Laing, Tomlin, Anderson, Ferdinand, Zakuani.
Referee: James Adcock (Notts)
