By Tim Hodges from the Amex
Brighton & Hove Albion 2 Bristol City 1
It’s taken over 15 years but tonight Bobby Zamora celebrated a goal in front of a packed Albion north stand.
The Seagulls were again a little under par. Similar to their performance at Leeds.
Dale Stephens and Beram Kayal did not appear to have the fluidity nor did they impose themselves on the match as they have in recent games.
City buoyed by their win against Nottingham Forest on Friday took the lead just before the half-hour mark.
A miscalculation by Lewis Dunk allowed the impressive Luke Freeman to set up Derrick Williams who volleyed past David Stockdale to put the Robins in front.
The normally reliable Gaetan Bong was having a torrid time against City’s former Albion midfielder Elliot Bennett. The full back was not offering Solly March much support out on left.
Albion’s first real chance fell to Tomer Hemed but he placed his header from a Bruno cross, wide of Frank Fielding’s goal.
The Seagulls tried to haul themselves back into the match. After good work by Bong and March, who robbed Aden Flint and a slight intervention by Hemed, Sam Baldock found himself free in the area, but his shot was beaten away by Fielding.
Soon after Bruno found Hemed in space, but again Fielding was equal to it, palming the Israeli international’s shot away.
Albion’s best chance of the first half fell to Baldock. He raced clear and lofted the ball over Fielding, only to see Luke Ayling clear the ball off the goal-line.
Albion continued to press City for the remainder of the first half but went into the break a goal behind.
The Seagulls were obviously keen to maintain their record as the only unbeaten team in the Football League but their lack of bite in midfield was a problem. It was Baldock who poked home the hard-working Bruno Saltor’s cross after 53 minutes to restore parity and score against his old club.
Albino now had their tails up but it was the Robins who in the closing stages of the first half displayed time-wasting antics, now appeared a little more urgent and again took the game to the Albion.
As the Seagulls pushed forward, Ayling picked our Jonathan Kodija. He unleashed a feirce shot that was was brilliantly pushed over by Stockdale. The match was becoming a little frantic and stretched. Aaron Wilbraham was putting himself about and causing the Sesgulls defence some problems.
But it was Kodjia who was causing Albion most problems, again getting free on the right, but seeing his cross-cum-shot flash across the six-yard box. Then he raced clear of Uwe Hünemeier only to see his shot deflected to safety by Stockdale, when one on one with the Albion keeper.
Freeman appeard to be chopped down in the area by Hünemeier but the City player was booked for simulation.
An emotional Bobby Zamora hugs current coach and former Withdean teammate Nathan Jones at the final whistle
It was still end to end stuff as Bong set March away,but in a goalmouth melee including an attempt from Albion substitute Zamora, the referee belatedly blew for a free kick to City.
Then as March drove Albion forward again, Stephens had a shot from the edge of the area. The ball hit Ayling and bounced towards Zamora who fired a half volley past Fielding into the bottom corner – and the Amex erupted. Zamora ran behind the goal and patted the Albion badge on his shirt.
In the final eight minutes Zamora was booked and City tried to fashion an equaliser.
As Albion defended in numbers. Kayal was booked for what appeared to be handball as he charged down a free kick and will now miss the Preston match.
Albion held on to win again. The moment of the match was Zamora’s goal. When he scored his previous goal in Brighton, the Amex was just a drawing on a board.
Now Bobby is proving his worth doesn’t lay with just selling shirts.
Albion next take on Preston North End at the Amex this Saturday (24 October.
