Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Huddersfield Town 1
Albion threw away a golden opportunity to almost guarantee Premier League survival after a catalogue of errors from their most costly and experienced players.
The Seagulls were fast out of the blocks, with Ezequiel Schelotto playing a superb ball over the top of the Huddersfield defence for Davy Propper, who took it down well but inexplicably fired wide from 10 yards out with only the keeper to beat.
The Seagulls forced five corners in the first few minutes of the match. Albion really looked as though they wanted to put the game to bed early.
It was Solly March who made the breakthrough and scored Albion’s first goal since Glenn Murray’s against Arsenal. The ball appearined to sneak over the line via Town goalkeeper Jonas Lossl.
Albion were worthy of their lead but, shortly after, as Shane Duffy looked for options to clear, the big defender chose to pass back to Maty Ryan. This was intercepted by Terence Kongolo who quickly switched play to Steve Mounie who rounded the stranded Ryan to slot home the equaliser.
Albion had to defend as the half closed. Duffy and Lewis Dunk blocked shots from Mounie and the continually booed Alex Pritchard.
Albion’s best chances of the second half fell to Dale Stephens whose shot was acrobatically tipped over by Lossl.
Then Jose Izquierdo was sent through by substitute Leo Ulloa, who had replaced Glenn Murray, but the Columbian almost panicked when one on one with Lossl and the chance was gone.
With 15 minutes left Propper stretched for a loose ball with Jonathan Hogg and was adjudged to have caught the defender. Referee Anthony Taylor reached for his top pocket, had a think, then reached for it again, possibly after a discussion with fourth official Lee Probert – and Propper was off.
Stephens had a chance well saved by Lossl and Huddersfield put pressure on towards the end with the ball flashing across the face of the goal in the dying minutes.
Next for Albion, what many in Croydon are calling the big one, as the Seagulls travel to Crystal Palace next Saturday (14 April).
