Unbeaten since September were Albion not any more, a thoroughly deserved vicory for the boys in white capped off with a more than impressive debut by Damien Duff's love child Daryl Horgan. He started quietly but once he got into the game he proved that he could be a signing of quality.
Sadly 6000 home fans failed to realise that we were at home today obviously the lack of half and half scarves gave the game away we were not playing a club from the upper echelons of the division above. However it was a pity more of the part timers didn't turn out they would have seen a really competitive game. Decent Brighton side this is with a bit of steel in them, some full on tackles today.
Both sides had debutantes Horgan and for Brighton, Sam Adekugbe and to be fair to the Brighton lad he has plenty of pace and looked a very good player barely wasting a ball.
An early Robinson shot squirmed narrowly wide following a deflection whilst Brighton tried to showboat a goal with Bruno and Knockaert playing back flicks galore before the Frenchman was denied at the near post by several defenders and Maxwell. the home side took the lead on 13 minutes Albion conceeded a needless free kick on the right, Gallagher centre and Huntington headed home his first goal since Wembley. Stung by that Albion dominated the ball for a period with several free kicks being whipped in by Knockaert, the closest they came to scoring when a Murray effort looked to be in but ended up the wrong side of the post. The home support were less than impressed with some decisions although personal view on Mr Hooper is that he is a decent keeper although didn't think he had his best game today. Just as a matter of interest we ahve won every time we have had him recently.
North End started well in the second half with McGeady causing Albion a whole amount of problems, Albion again had plenty of the ball but were kept at bay by a well marshalled home defence with Clarke and Huntington outstanding. The second goal duly arrivedwithin 10 minutes of the restart, the diminutive Horgan played a super pass through toRobinson who got behind the Albion defence, he avoided being brought down and sent his left footed pass cum shot pass Stockdale to make it 2-0. For about 10 minutes North End were superb Albion being run riot, but Albion started to get back into it and were only denied by a brilliant last gasp tackle by Clarke, Murray again went close with a header but North End were good value for the lead. On the brink of full time Albion were awarded a penalty after Maxwell brought down an Albion player. The keeper who had pissed Albion fans off in the second half saved Hemed's kick and kept a deserved clean sheet.
Up to ninth six points from the play offs and Villa away next week.
Adam Virgo on Channel five tonight yes please.
Preston North End 2 Brighton and Hove Albion 0 Att 11500
Preston manager Simon Grayson:
"It was a complete victory, a very well-deserved win against a really strong team.
"It's looking like Brighton will end up in the top two this season - or even win the league - so for us to beat them so convincingly says a lot about this team.
"We looked strong throughout, but this result has been coming for quite a while now. We've been putting in some strong performances lately, but not really getting the results we've deserved."
Brighton manager Chris Hughton:
"I can't complain about the result. We were beaten by the better side on the day.
"The timing of the first goal was bad news for us. From that point on we're chasing the game.
"We should have done better defending the early goal, but having said that we know how dangerous Paul Gallagher can be in a set-piece situation.
"He's probably the best in the Championship in that kind of situation, though his free-kick should have been better defended."
Forgot to add that's Albion 16th visit to Deepdale they have never won once.
Sadly 6000 home fans failed to realise that we were at home today obviously the lack of half and half scarves gave the game away we were not playing a club from the upper echelons of the division above. However it was a pity more of the part timers didn't turn out they would have seen a really competitive game. Decent Brighton side this is with a bit of steel in them, some full on tackles today.
Both sides had debutantes Horgan and for Brighton, Sam Adekugbe and to be fair to the Brighton lad he has plenty of pace and looked a very good player barely wasting a ball.
An early Robinson shot squirmed narrowly wide following a deflection whilst Brighton tried to showboat a goal with Bruno and Knockaert playing back flicks galore before the Frenchman was denied at the near post by several defenders and Maxwell. the home side took the lead on 13 minutes Albion conceeded a needless free kick on the right, Gallagher centre and Huntington headed home his first goal since Wembley. Stung by that Albion dominated the ball for a period with several free kicks being whipped in by Knockaert, the closest they came to scoring when a Murray effort looked to be in but ended up the wrong side of the post. The home support were less than impressed with some decisions although personal view on Mr Hooper is that he is a decent keeper although didn't think he had his best game today. Just as a matter of interest we ahve won every time we have had him recently.
North End started well in the second half with McGeady causing Albion a whole amount of problems, Albion again had plenty of the ball but were kept at bay by a well marshalled home defence with Clarke and Huntington outstanding. The second goal duly arrivedwithin 10 minutes of the restart, the diminutive Horgan played a super pass through toRobinson who got behind the Albion defence, he avoided being brought down and sent his left footed pass cum shot pass Stockdale to make it 2-0. For about 10 minutes North End were superb Albion being run riot, but Albion started to get back into it and were only denied by a brilliant last gasp tackle by Clarke, Murray again went close with a header but North End were good value for the lead. On the brink of full time Albion were awarded a penalty after Maxwell brought down an Albion player. The keeper who had pissed Albion fans off in the second half saved Hemed's kick and kept a deserved clean sheet.
Up to ninth six points from the play offs and Villa away next week.
Adam Virgo on Channel five tonight yes please.
Preston North End 2 Brighton and Hove Albion 0 Att 11500
Preston manager Simon Grayson:
"It was a complete victory, a very well-deserved win against a really strong team.
"It's looking like Brighton will end up in the top two this season - or even win the league - so for us to beat them so convincingly says a lot about this team.
"We looked strong throughout, but this result has been coming for quite a while now. We've been putting in some strong performances lately, but not really getting the results we've deserved."
Brighton manager Chris Hughton:
"I can't complain about the result. We were beaten by the better side on the day.
"The timing of the first goal was bad news for us. From that point on we're chasing the game.
"We should have done better defending the early goal, but having said that we know how dangerous Paul Gallagher can be in a set-piece situation.
"He's probably the best in the Championship in that kind of situation, though his free-kick should have been better defended."
Forgot to add that's Albion 16th visit to Deepdale they have never won once.
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