It’s another good point for the Seagulls as they draw 1-1 with League One leaders Scunthorpe United at the Withdean Stadium. Bas Savage’s 4th Albion goal cancelled out Jermaine Beckford’s second half strike for United.

 

Brighton: Flinders, Lynch, Butters, O’Cearuill, El-Abd, Cox, Bertin, Hammond, Robinson, Revell (Gatting 83), Savage.

Subs Not Used: Kuipers, Loft, Rents, Elder.

Booked: Cox, O’Cearuill.

Goals: Savage 72.

Scunthorpe: Murphy, Mulligan (Morris 87), Crosby, Foster, Ridley, Taylor (MacKenzie 87), Goodwin, Hinds, Sparrow, Beckford (Butler 90), Sharp.

Subs Not Used: Lillis, Baraclough.

Sent Off: Sparrow (90).

Booked: Mulligan, Sharp, Sparrow, MacKenzie.

Goals: Beckford 64.

Att: 6,276

Ref: P Walton (Northamptonshire).
 

Albion were forced into making one change to the starting line up after Kerry Mayo picked up an injury in training meaning Adam El-Abd moved to left back with Joe O’Cearuill returning to the starting 11 at right back.

The opening part of the game saw both teams enjoying little spells of pressure and it was Scunthorpe who registered the first effort on goal with a shot on the turn from Beckford forcing a routine save out of Scott Flinders.

Alex Revell created Albion’s first scoring chance with a header which didn’t really trouble Joe Murphy in the Irons goal.

Jake Robinson also had a good chance following a flowing passing move but his volley from just outside the area from wide right sailed straight into the grateful arms of Murphy.

And the Seagulls kept the pressure up and should have gone in at the break ahead following a goal mouth scrabble from an Albion corner which saw Joel Lynch and Adam El-Abd both going close to scoring.

After the half time break the Seagulls continued to look dangerous and Guy Butters went close from a Dean Cox corner and from the follow up Joel Lynch also went close.

But against the run of play Scunthorpe took the lead in 64 minutes with a goal from on loan Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford. Beckford getting on the end of a cut back from strike partner Billy Sharp before dodging 2 Albion tackles before a low finish beat Scott Flinders.

Albion levelled the score on 72 minutes when Bas Savage continued his recent good form in front of goal to grab his 4th Albion goal in 9 starts and his first in front of the home fans. A goal kick from Scott Flinders was headed across the box by Alex Revell for Savage to run onto allowing the former Gillingham striker to lob Scunthorpe keeper Murphy with an instinctive finish.

Savage could have taken all three points for the Albion moment later when the ball dropped to him at the back post but his volley flew into the side netting.

Scunthorpe also went close to taking all three point in the closing stages. As he had done in the previous few games Scott Flinders pulled off an excellent save to deny Jermaine Beckford his second goal of the afternoon when he saved with his feet at the near post.

Considering Scunthorpe are now unbeaten in 16 games it was a good point, but the Seagulls can feel a little hard done by that they didn’t get all three points. The result leaves Albion 16th in the table ahead of next Saturday’s home game with Huddersfield.

Added on Sunday, March 18th, 2007 at 2:50 pm under Match reports by Wilka.