The Seagulls look all but safe for another season in League One after a 2-0 win over Northampton at the weekend. Two goals from man of the moment Bas Savage sending the large Albion travelling support home happy.

 

 

 

Northampton: Bunn, Pearce, Hughes, Doig, Crowe, Gilligan, Taylor (Aiston 80), Bradley Johnson, Holt (Kirk 75), Robertson (Cox 46), Deuchar.
Subs Not Used: Hunt, Dunn.
Booked: Cox, Taylor.

Brighton: Flinders, Rehman, Butters, Lynch, Mayo, Bertin, El-Abd, Cox (Fraser 74), Robinson, Revell (Gatting 90), Savage.
Subs Not Used: Kuipers, Elphick, Elder.

Booked: Bertin, Lynch.

Goals: Savage 60, 66.

Att: 6,613

Ref: D Deadman (Cambridgeshire).
 

Albion were without captain Dean Hammond who picked up a hamstring injury so Dean Wilkins switched to a 4-4-2 formation with Adam El-Abd joining Alexis Bertin in midfield with Dean Cox and Jake Robinson operations on the flanks. Up front Bas Savage continued to partner Alex Revell while Kerry Mayo returned at left back.

A strong wind blowing into the half Albion were defending in the first half made it almost impossible for the Seagulls to really compete against Town and they found themselves under pressure for much of the half.

The wind was so strong at some points Albion keeper Scott Flinders was barely able to get the ball to sit still long enough to take a goal kick much to the annoyance of the home fans who obviously felt the Seagulls were somehow controlling the gusts of wind.

Although the home side enjoyed the majority of possession you will be hard pressed to think of many times Flinders was called into serious action.

In fact the only real chance of the half came when Jordan Robertson was played through on goal, but the on loan Crystal Palace keeper reacting quickly to rush out of his area to tackling Robertson.

The second half was a much more entertaining proposition of the Albion who with the wind behind them looked far the better team.

And it wasn’t long before the 1,300 travelling fans were enjoying a spot of moonwalking from our new favourite striker Bas Savage.  A deep free kick into the area found Alex Revell at the far post and his header across goal was smashed home from close range by Savage. After being mobbed by his team mates who looked to try and suppress the dance Savage undeterred got to his feet to begin his now familiar goal celebration while making the referee wait until he had finished.

And Savage made it 2-0 just six minutes latter when he again linked up well with striker partner Revell. Another long ball into the area was meet by Revell and with Northampton’s keeper Bunn racing off his line the ball fell to Savage to head home from close range with the keeper stranded.

Jake Robinson should have ended his long goal drought to seal the win when he reacted quickly when Alex Revell’s shot from a tight angle was spilt by Bunn, but his close range effort smashed off the bar and to safety. Had Robinson taken a bit of the power of the shot it would have gone in, but with his confidence in front of goal so low at the moment these things just don’t seem to be falling for him at the moment.

So all in all a very enjoyable day although some Northampton idiots did spoil the day for those travelling on the supporters coach when they threw a brick through one of the windows as they left the stadium.

Albion are now on 52 points with 6 games to go. They can now afford to enjoy their remaining fixtures with their relegations fears all but gone. Up next the Albion take on Mickey Mouse cup winners Doncaster Rovers next week at the Withdean for “retro day” as the Seagulls look back at 10 years since we left the Goldstone Ground.

Added on Monday, April 2nd, 2007 at 11:27 am under Match reports by Wilka.