Brighton & Hove Albion: Mis-tletoe and wide

By Tim Hodges from The Amex

Brighton & Hove Albion 0 Huddersfield Town 0

The Seagulls spurned a number of chances to move into the Championship play-off positons, with Ashley Barnes missing one sitter in the second half and another chance that looked so easy it was almost as if the striker had defied the law of physics.

Peter Brezovan continued in goal and Kemy Augustien made a rare start in midfield. With Gordon Greer injured, Adam El-Abd was paired with Matt Upson at the heart of the Albion defence.

Unlike recent home games the Seagulls got stuck into Huddersfield early on. Bruno and David Lopez combined well to present Barnes with an early chance to which Town keeper Alex Smithies was equal.

Albion’s best early chances came from a succession of corners, the second of which saw Murray Wallace head towards his own goal and Paul Dixon clear off the Huddersfield goal-line.

Kemy Augustein blazed over when well positioned after good work down the line by Will Buckley.

Rohan Ince also shot over when picking up a loose ball at the edge of the area.

Huddersfield were being generous to Albion around their own penalty area but Albion were unable to capitalise when first Dixon then Hammill were both caught in possesion by Rohan Ince.

The main outlet for Huddersfield was the impressive James Vaughan who was well supported at times by Oscar Goburn and Martin Paterson. It appeared that Town boss Mark Robins had given instructions to his front men to try their luck and test Brezovan from distance. Paterson and Vaughan both did try their luck a couple of times.

The teams went in goal-less at half-time with the Albion just edging possesion.

The Seagulls again came out looking hungry for a goal. As the second half started Ince had a half chance, then a pinpoint cross from David Lopez was met by the head of Augustien. Smithies managed to parry but the ball landed straight into the path of Barnes. Whether it hit his knee, hip or midrift, from almost under the cross bar Barnes managed to loop the ball over and into the North Stand. It was a quite phenomenal miss.

A few minutes later after another flurry of corners Lopez received the ball on the edge of the area and angled a cross to the back post, towards Barnes. The striker had time to steady himself and pick his spot, but headed wide of the post, although unmarked.

Barnes took a well-aimed kick at the post in frustration. Some wag in the crowd fancied he missed that as well.

At the other end Brezovan, although flapping at a few crosses, collected well after El-Abd missed a header.

Kazenga LuaLua replaced Augustien, then some more hope for Albion as Leo Ulloa took to the Amex pitch for the first time since early October replacing Buckley.

Despite a renewed effort in the closing stages from Albion with Ulloa at the forefront, Albion never really looked like scoring depsite Bruno getting into some good positions and Liam Bridcutt pushing forward.

Another two points dropped for Albion when really they should have won easily.