Tuesday 2 April 2013

Brighton look like favourites for clash

Before Saturday, I might have said that I thought we had more chance of getting points at Brighton than at home to Bolton Wanderers, largely because it was an away game. However, I feared that the most likely outcome would be no points from either game. Fortunately, that fate, which would have placed us in real relegation trouble was averted.

The Seagulls have only lost three times at the Amex this season, although they have drawn seven matches. However, they will be looking for a win tonight which would enable them to draw ahead of Nottingham Forest in the play off places. They drew 2-2 at Forest on Saturday after conceding a lead due to an error by their keeper. Coral have Brighton 4/5 to win and, quite frankly, I would be satisfied with a point. The Addicks last won at Brighton with a 2-0 win at the Withdean in 2009. Our last four matches with them have resulted in two defeats and two draws.

Chris Solly is hoping to make his 100th Charlton start. Late fitness checks will be necessary for Matt Taylor and Dale Stephens who are both ill. Striker Ricardo Fuller suffered a shouulder injury against Bolton should be fit. The Football League Paper gave him the highest score (8) for the performance of any Charlton player against Bolton and only gave 5 to Callum Harriott who received the Silver Bone, perhaps a little generously.

In a parallel universe in which Charlton had ceased to exist and Brighton was not so far from Warwickshire, I might well support the Seagulls. One recommendation is their dislike of Crystal Palace. They have also had a similar recent history to Charlton, forced to leave their stadium and initially ground share although they have ended up at an entirely new stadium which attracts the biggest crowds in the Championship, some two thousand more on average than Sheffield Wednesday.

Their local supporters have also had friendly links with West Sussex CASC which is running a special coach to the game tonight. One Christmas I went to an early kick off at Huddersfield with the West Sussex. In a good mood after Charlton had won, we drove across to Rotherham to watch the Seagulls. I would be pleased to see the Seagulls go up this year, but not at Charlton's expense tonight.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hope none of our supporters tonight, decide to sing any songs that may subtly suggest that fans of Brighton could possibly be homosexual. The police have been ordered to crack down on it ................. good grief!

Daggs

Wyn Grant said...

I saw Rushden & Diamonds play Brighton some years ago and there was a chorus of 'Does your boy friend know you're here?' At the time I thought it was amusing and not homophobic, but sensitivities can change.