Albion woeful form at the Withdean continued this weekend with a gutless 1-0 defeat at home to relegation strugglers Bradford City thanks to a first half Billy Paynter goal.

 

 

Brighton: Flinders, El-Abd, Rehman, Butters (Gatting 86), Rents, Fraser (Revell 56), Bertin, Loft, Cox, Savage, Robinson.

Subs Not Used: Kuipers, Elphick, Bakayogo.

Booked: Cox, Butters.

Bradford: Ricketts, Edghill, Wetherall, Bower, Paynter (Clarke 90), Schumacher, Daley (Bentham 90), Parker, Youga, Johnson, Ashikodi (Weir-Daley 77).
Subs Not Used: Howarth, Muirhead. Booked: Parker, Youga.

Goals: Paynter 35.

Att: 5,757

Ref: P Crossley (Kent).

The Seagulls were without influential center back Joel Lynch who missed the game due to illness so Zesh Rehman moved into a central role alongside Guy Butters with Adam El-Abd moving to right back. In midfield the Seagulls welcomed back Alexis Bertin who played the anchor role in the midfield diamond.

Albion actually started the game quite brightly as they controlled much of the early stages of the game with Bradford looking very much a team who belong in the bottom four.

But despite enjoying most of the early possession the Seagulls failed to turn their dominance into any real clear-cut chances.

Following the all too familiar Withdean pattern it wasn’t long before the Seagulls were looking like a team heading for relegation as the head dropped along with the performance as soon as Bradford took the lead on 35 minutes. 

A right wing cross from Eddie Johnson found Kelly Youga who’s looping header was pushed onto the underside of the bar by Albion keeper Scott Flinders and Bradford striker Billy Paynter was on hand to head the ball home from close range to send the away end into rapture, well once they realised the ball had actually gone in a few seconds later!

Guy Butters almost put the Seagulls level moments later with a similar effort to the Bradford goal but sadly for the Albion Butters headers rebounded back off the bar and to safety.

The second half was pretty forgettable as the Seagulls tried in vein to get back into the game while Bradford took every opportunity to waste time with players dropping down injured like fly’s and free kicks and throw in taking an age.

Alex Revell on as a second half substitute came closest to equalising for the Seagulls with a shot on the turn from close range which rattled the Bradford cross bar.

Adam El-Abd also had a good chance when the ball was cut back to him from the by-line by Loft but the defenders effort was embarrassing. Was he shooting? Was he crossing? I don’t think he even knows.

So for the 3rd home game in the row the full time whistle was greeted by boo’s from the home fans. The facts don’t lie, since Christmas Albion have won just 1 home game, drawn 4 and lost 6 with just 5 goals scored in that period.

Adam El-Abd took offence to the booing at full time and responded with a torrent of abuse towards his own fans. Perhaps if he had to pay £24.50 each week to watch the Albion at Withdean he might understand the fans frustrations. His response to the fans was simple not expectable and the club should hand him a large fine. All in all a very unpleasant afternoon.

Added on Sunday, April 15th, 2007 at 10:23 am under Match reports by Wilka.