Poyetry In Motion

Finally there is a buzz about the good ship Brighton & Hove Albion. The fans are happy, the papers and websites are full of praise.

Brighton appointed Gus Poyet as their third manager of 2009 and he seems to have won the fans over already. Watching his various press conferences and interviews, he comes over as a very articulate and intelligent man, who says all the right things.

Russell Slade said a lot of the right things too, but he failed to get the team going how he wanted. After one game, Gus seems to have found the knack already. Maybe it is just the magical spell that is a new manager’s first game in charge, as always happens (and usually against us).

I was amongst many fans who thought Southampton away would be a game where we would get embarrassed live in front of Sky TV viewers. We conceded as many goals as Southampton had scored in the last four games, 12.

Outside the ground there was an almost carnival like atmosphere as hundreds of Brighton fans waited for the turnstiles to open. Uruguayan flags were draped around supporters and railings alike, as the Sky TV cameras interviewed both sets of supporters.

2,700 Brighton fans made the short trip to St Mary’s to see a new look Brighton team under the guidance of Poyet and captaincy of Crofts. For the rest of the Brighton fans, they had a glimpse of what it would be like to be a Chelsea fan, sitting on sofa/in a pub watching their team win on TV.

The atmosphere was electric, more Uruguayan flags, the fans in great voice and a tremendous reception for Gus – that was just the warm up drills! Under the stand, the lager was flowing and the rubbery burgers selling fast. Charlotte Jackson’s zip top kept fans glued to Sky Sports News.

Just before kick off was an impeccably observed minute silence. The reason for it happening bemused many fans, but the reason given was for All Saints Day which happened over 2 weeks ago.

The game kicked off and the Brighton team looked up for it and the fans sung their hearts out. The troubles of the previous season and a half gone by seemed to have disappeared as there was pride amongst everyone connected to the club.

Poyet came out to the touchline to scream advice to the team. The over animated body language and gestures showed, he cared, and the fans responded.

Surprisingly on the pitch, the out of form Brighton were playing the inform Southampton off the park. Glenn Murray and Nicky Forster were battering the Southampton defence like the gale force winds did to the Sussex coastline.

In a crazy 20 minute spell where we looked like world beaters. Murray scored two goals in 5 minutes and should have had a penalty. Forster could have had a brace himself, missing two glorious one on one chances.

Murray’s first goal was the best team goal I have seen from Brighton in a long time. And it was largely down to Gary Dicker. Usually when the ball is on the edge of our box, the ball gets hoofed aimlessly forward.

From Dicker deep in his own half to the goal took 7 touches. With the ball only leaving the ground for the cross for Murray’s volley. It was all first time football apart from Cox controlling Dicker’s first time pass. It was the type of football I have only ever seen whilst being thrashed playing FIFA on the Playstation against someone on the other side of the world.

Even at 2-0 up and missing two glorious chances, we all knew that at a drop of a hat we could easily concede 2 or 3 goals in quick succession. There was a slight feeling of regretting missing those 2 chances, but to be fair, the defence was quite solid.

During the game, Poyet then did something no Brighton manager has done before. He made a tactical change that agreed with what the Brighton fans could see from the stands.

El Abd was not coping with the pace of Antonio, and all of Southampton’s play came from that wing. Poyet then put the speedy Elliott Bennett on the left wing, and he kept pace with Antonio and doubled up on him with El Abd. This took Antonio out of the game and he was subbed.

Southampton scored just before half time with a dubious penalty given against Whing. And the Brighton fans were waiting for the self destruct button to be hit. Luckily the half time whistle came and gave Gus the chance to re-group the team.

The second half was what we all feared. Us sitting deep and letting Southampton attack. We kept defending deeper and deeper, and letting them cross balls in from every angle. For once the defence stood firm.

Tunnicliffe, who never seems to get a run in the team despite being the best of a bad bunch played well. Elphick who has been badly off form, had a solid game, yet there were still moments where we looked all over the shop, but luckily for us we didn’t concede.

We barely registered a shot on goal in the second half; Crofts forced a brilliant save from the edge of the box, and then scored with an identical chance with 5 minutes to go. Dickinson with some great work down the left wing, found Crofts on the edge of the box to smash it home!

The final whistle went; Poyet was first down the tunnel, letting the players take the glory.

As Bjørge Lillelien of Norwegian commentary fame once said, “Matt Le Tissier, Alan Pardew, Dan Harding, Craig David, Dean Hammond, Uwe Rossler, Francis Benali, and Lawrie Mcmenemy – your boys took one helluva beating!”

I know it’s only his first game, but the buzz about the place is like nothing I have seen in a long time. People outside of Brighton & Hove Albion have heard about our manager, and seem genuinely interested in how it’s going to go.

More importantly, Brighton fans have a smile upon their faces, and having something they can be proud of (for now).

A win is a win, but in reality it has only taken us to 19th in Division Three. A lot of work is needed, the goal remains Championship football and Gus is the man we have entrusted to do this.

Next up, it’s Poyet’s first game at home. The FA Cup against a team we have already beaten, and who we hit 4 goals past last weekend. For everyone going, they will receive a free “Hola Gus” t-shirt. Let’s hope the rain holds off and we see a performance that will take us through to the 2nd round against Rushden.

Brett M