By Tim Hodges from the Amex press conference
Gus Poyet will implore his players to treat tomorrows play-off semi final against Crystal Palace as just another game.
The Albion manager didn’t think that there would be too many surprises in the way that Palace approach the game .
The manager suggested that the Albion would play their normal game even though it was a two-legged affair.
Albion appear to be at almost full strength with only Craig Mackail-Smith, Bruno Saltor and Will Hoskins missing, Poyet said there can no be excuses.
The Albion boss commented on the excitement around town surrounding the match, saying: “It’s almost like we are playing he last game of our lives.”
Poyet told Brighton and Hove News that he was pleased that the Albion weren’t playing a team like Middlesbrough in the semi finals as logistically there would be no second leg advantage because of the distance that the team would have to travel.
He thought it was strange to have the games so close together – 72 hours apart.
George Barker will not be involved in the play-offs. Although Poyet thinks that physically and in terms of form he would be well equipped, other circumstances prevent his participation.
Poyet hopes to have Wayne Bridge available for tomorrow’s match at Selhurst Park likening the on-loan Manchester City full back to a 20-year-old in training even having to tell him to “rein it in” on the training ground in preparation for the match ahead on occasions.
Reflecting on this season previous meetings with Palace, the Albion boss said that he would prefer a normal game with no injuries or bad decisions from the referee or players.
His aim was just that and he was doing nothing different to prepare for this. He implored Albion fans to take it easy and enjoy the game.
