BRIGHTON: Post-match reaction

Put it here.......

Well should have won the game but with brighton getting a penalty reasonably happy with a point. No Chaplow was a big disappointment before start with Schneiderlin in. Certainly dominated the first half creating a number of chances that we failed to take. second half was a closer affair I thought with Brighton defending quite well. Poyet certainly has Brighton playing like a South American team, slow the game down by any fashion and how their goalie was not booked fro time wasting has to be a mystery, he must have been warned half a dozen time in first half and Ref had a poor game adding to the stop start approach which clearly Brighton enjoy. They may sit top of the league but will certainly not win many friends with their style and would expect referees to be stronger with them. Another South American trait was the constant falling over and complaining to ref, waving hands to get players booked, what a bunch of pi**ocks.

Same as Saturday started brightly, passed the ball well and had numerous crosses into the box. Lambert played okay first half in terms of good link up play with Barnard but again never looked like a threat. We had plenty of chances in first half, Lambert had a free kick tipped around the post, Lambert and Lallana had shots and a couple of scrambles in their box. Should have had a penalty towards end of half when Lallana beat his man ran across face of goal before ankles tapped, ref was perfectly placed and bottled it, yet amazingly almost identical situation in second half and gives the penalty! We should have gone in at half time in front and despite bright start to second half struggled to make to many chances. Lambert had a good chance but put his head just over then a couple of other headers tipped over by their goalie. Game was slowed down as referee allowed every delaying tactic in the book.

The came the dubious pen when Brighton sub ran across dickson and tripped himself to get a very soft penalty. Lallana's in the first half was more obvious. What was really annoying was one of the brighton players, long hair beard foreigner, came from nowhere waving his hand to a card to be shown. Kelvin went for him but that type of player should be instantly carded, and when the opportunity arrive kicked into the Kingsland. Justice was done when Kelvin dived to his left and made a great save pushing the ball wide.

We then had a couple of chances to the end, Lallana had a great run but at last minute passed to Guly who had strayed off side yet had great chance to shot.

Davies 9 Great penalty save and looked solid all night, ran out of pen area and made great header to prevent another.
Richardson 7 looks like has made this is position
Jaidi 7 Pretty sold except for when being given ball when near his own area, why Fonte, get it clear.
Fonte 7 good defensivly but can put other players under pressure.
Dickson 7 harsh decision for the penalty
Hammond 7 had a couple of chances early on but didnt have his shooting boots on.
Schneiderlin 6 Disappointing, sluggish backed of their midfield players and looked unfit. Not good enough for so called international
Chamberlain 7 good in first half struggled in 2nd half and was struggling near the end with cramp
Barnard 7 worked hard again first half, won several free kicks and thought wrong decision to take off.
Lambert 6 Good link play but seems to avoid the penalty area like the plague> Cant leave the CF position like this for rest of season.

Subs

Guly 7 came on for Barnard and did plenty of running
Holmes 7 replaced Scheniederlin but tough to plat in centre of midfield but delivered a couple of good crosses.
Butterfield 6 came on last 5 mins for Chamberlain struggled to get in game and pick up their strikers.

If Brighton are best side in league we have nothing to fear, just need to either get Lambert firing again or get someone else in to put him under some pressure, Connolly wasnt on the bench so has to be worry with just 3 main strikers in squad.

Thanks Matty, I was following this at work this morning on the computer.

A point gained or two points dropped? Hmmm...difficult to decide. I feel Saints should have scored, given the domination and pressure we had, especially in the first half so it's two points dropped. However, bearing in mind the penalty (that should not have been) saved by Davis I suppose we should think it's a point gained.
As for Brighton, what a bunch of spoilers and timewasters (esp [W]ankergren) but I suppose we ought to be flattered, it showed they were scared of us.

It's frustrating to draw, but it's better than what would have been the result if Davis hadn't saved the penalty.