By Tim Hodges from the Amex
Brighton & Hove Albion 0 Middlesbrough 2
The Albion were beaten for the second Saturday on the spin at the Amex and for the third time in a week in the league.
Star striker Leo Ulloa missed a penalty.
Despite dominating much of the first half, the Seagulls could not score.
David Lopez forced a great save from Dimitrios Konstantopoulos who fingertipped the ball to safety.
Bruno Saltor combined well with Will Buckley, with the latter providing a whole host of crosses, but both Leo Ulloa and Jesse Lingard failed to connect with any of these.
Buckley went off injured after just half an hour and was replaced by Jake Forster – Caskey.
Boro were happy to take potshots at Tomasz Kuszczak, with Grant Leadbitter being the most ambitious, causing Kuszczak to get down and palm the ball away once or twice.
Albion had a succession of corners before the end of the half but each time the ball was delivered into the same area and no Seagulls player could benefit.
Some sections of the West Stand chose to boo as Albion left the pitch at half time.
Albion came back in much more determined fashion. Lingard, Stephen Ward and Keith Andrews were all involved in a prolonged session of attacking play which culminated in Lingard curling a shot just wide of the far post.
Then Keith Andrews had a golden chance but side-footed wide when unmarked in the six-yard box.
Kazenga LuaLua replaced the ineffectual David Lopez. But the Albion were allowing Boro back into the game.
And on 65 minutes Danny Graham broke clear of Bruno and Gordon Greer and crossed for Albert Adomah to put Boro in front as he got goal side of Ward.
Albion tried to find a way back in but just couldn’t penetrate Boro’s mean defence.
Then, after Lingard forced Konstantopoulos to parry a shot away, George Friend pushed over Albion’s Solly March and referee Graham Scott gave Albion a penalty lifeline.
Leo Ulloa stepped up confidently but blasted the ball high and wide. It was more likely to trouble the residents of Coldean than Konstantopoulos.
Albion looked deflated after this and, although Ulloa had another good chance, the match paralleled last week’s loss to Ipswich as Greer failed to deal with Leadbitter’s cross and, with Matthew Upson stranded, Graham slotted past Kuszczak for 2-0.
And as with the previous Saturday, thousands of Albion fans voted with their feet and began leaving the stadium with fully five minutes left to play.
The Seagulls now have three tough away games staring with Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday 1 April as they slip to 9th place in the Championship.
up the BORO
Great win and your penalty Brighton was the funniest thing ever seen it had more chance of hitting a seagull than the net.
up the BORO
Great win and your penalty Brighton was the funniest thing ever seen it had more chance of hitting a seagull than the net.
Not as funny as your keepers air shot against QPR!
Not as funny as your keepers air shot against QPR!
Not as funny as your keepers air shot against QPR!