The Seagulls Savage Leyton Orient 4-1 at Brisbane Road as Dean Hammond, Bas Savage, Joe Gatting and Dean Cox do the damage against a woeful Leyton Orient side lifting the Albion 5 points clear of the League One drop zone.

 

  

Leyton Orient: Garner, Saah, Lockwood, Thelwell, Mackie, Tudor, Mulryne (Demetriou 61), Chambers, Corden (Duncan 74), Alexander (Barnard 68), Walker.
Subs Not Used: Morris, Palmer.
 
Goals: Demetriou 87.
 
Brighton: Kuipers, Lynch, Rents, El-Abd, Butters, Bertin, Ward, Hammond, Cox, Gatting (Elder 85), Savage.
Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Robinson, Fraser, O’Cearuill.
 
Goals: Hammond 39, Savage 57, Gatting 67, Cox 89.
 
Att: 4,670
 
Ref: R Olivier (W Midlands).

Following a limp display upfront against Brentford at the weekend Albion manager Dean Wilkins rung the changes. Bas Savage started alongside Joe Gatting in attack while Jake Robinson dropped down to the bench. The midfield lined up with Frenchman Alexis Bertin sitting just behind Dean Cox, Dean Hammond and Nick Ward.

Before last night’s victory the Seagulls had failed to find the back of the net in their previous 4 games since the 1-0 win over Chesterfield.

To say that some of the Albion supporters were a little nervous going into the game would be an understatement. Lose this game and we could safely say relegation would be a real possibility this season.

But like London buses you wait ages for one to come along then four come along at once.

Dean Hammond started the scoring off with his 10th goal of the season six minutes before half time. A right wing cross from the hard working Bas Savage looked to have avoided everyone, but Dean Hammond was lurking at the far post and the midfielder had time to control the ball before curling it into the top corner. The relief from supporters and players alike was clear to see.

It was a lead the Seagulls just about deserved as they enjoyed the majority of play in the first period.

Many eyebrows were raised when Albion signed Bas Savage on a free transfer from Gillingham a few weeks back. The big strikers goal scoring record had been far from impressive at his pervious clubs, but his impressive display last night may have changed many Albion fans opinions.

And 12 minutes into the second half Savage opened his account for the club. A quick break from the Seagulls set Dean Cox free on the right wing and the midfielder crossed low for Savage to slam the ball home from close range after getting across his marker at the near post.

Savage once again turned provider for the Seagulls 3rd goal on 67 minutes. Savage got on the end of a deep Dean Cox cross at the far post the head the ball across goal for striker partner Joe Gatting to bundle the ball home from close range.

As an attacking force Leyton Orient had barely caused the Seagulls problems all night, but they did grab a consolation goal with 3 minutes to play. A quick free kick from Donny Barnard caught the Albion back four napping and Jason Demetriou headed past Michel Kuipers from close range.

But the Seagulls weren’t done yet as Dean Cox added the 4th goal 2 minutes later. Cox racing onto a Nathan Elder flick on before calmly slotting the ball low across Orient keeper Garner into the bottom corner.

The win lifts the Seagulls to 14th in the table 5 points clear of the relegation zone. Up next the Seagulls face a tough test as promotion hopefuls Nottingham Forest visit the Withdean.

Player ratings
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Kuipers	7/10	Didn’t really have a great deal to do. Wasn’t to blame for the Orient goal.
Rents	7/10	Dealt with Orient’s right winger well.
Lynch	8/10	Another impressive, composed performance from Joel.
 Butters	8/10	The usual rock at the back performance from dependable Butters.
El-Abd	7/10	Defensively very good but his distribution was poor.
Cox	8/10	Dean was very lively throughout the game.
Ward	7/10	Looks very casual on the ball but showed some lovely touches.
Hammond	9/10	Hammond’s performance just oozed class.
Bertin	8.5/10	Sitting just behind the midfield Bertin was pulling the strings in midfield and looks a very promising signing.
Gatting	7/10	Worked hard upfront and popped up with a goal.
Savage	9/10	Man-Of-The-Match - Brilliant stuff from Bas! Ran all over the place and deserved his goal. If he can sustain this sort of performance he will turn into a very good signing.
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Subs:	Â	Â
Elder	7/10	Only on for the last few minutes but showed some good pace and almost scored.

Added on Wednesday, February 14th, 2007 at 12:24 am under Match reports by Wilka.