Soaring Seagulls Defeat Blighted Glovers

deployed at centre back
By Alex O'Loughlin
October 24 2010

Yeovil couldn't make it three away wins on the bounce as they faltered to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of league leaders Brighton.

With masses of injury worries before the game, Terry Skiverton wouldn't have been able to select his side until the day itself, with various players needing late fitness tests.

The Glovers were without Craig Alcock and Adam Virgo through back and groin injuries respectively, denying Virgo of the chance to play against his former club. Welsh International Shaun MacDonald also missed out due to illness, with Sam Williams, Gavin Williams, Nathan Smith all shaking off lurking injuries.

On a positive note battler Jean-Paul Kalala returned to the starting line-up after missing almost a month with a knee ligament problem. 

The Seagulls have been free-scoring so far this season, so denying them shooting opportunities was a major factor in Skiverton deploying a diamond formation.

And the tactical change worked well initially, as Stephen Henderson was virtually a spectator with Inigo Calderon keeping him alert with a long range shot which flew over the bar.

At the other end Gavin Williams got a shot away, but his weak effort was comfortably saved by Casper Ankergren. 

Manager Gus Poyet has been vital in the Seagulls early season form, and he showed his tactical shrewdness matching up his sides formation to that of Yeovil's. 

And the switch in formation brought joy to Brighton, with Elliott Bennett now finding space to run at the Glovers back four. 

Soon the Seagulls fast flowing football was back to its best, with the home fans beginning to sense a goal as their dominance mounted. 

Brighton almost took the lead through what could only be called a fluke, when Paul Huntington's clearance cannoned off Owain Tudur Jones looping over the rooted Henderson and thankfully, rebounding off the post into the grateful hands of Henderson.

With just a few minutes before half-time Skiverton would have been preparing a positive team-talk, but all that changed on the 43rd minute.

The troublesome Kazenga Lua Lua whipped in a dangerous ball which Owain Tudur Jones couldn't get too, resulting in Nathan Smith having to contend in the air with Glenn Murray who easily won the battle heading past Henderson to snatch the lead before half-time. 1-0.

Half-time: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 Yeovil Town

Brighton spent the first five minutes with ten men as Adam El-Abd picked up a facial injury after colliding with Sam Williams. The Glovers couldn't take advantage of the situation and eventually Tommy Elphick replaced the defender.

The Seagulls continued to dominate the play and soon doubled their lead from a free-kick. Marcos Painter deployed a long through ball from a free-kick which found Inigo Calderon. The Spaniard too advantage of slack defending to easily cut inside and deploy a curling effort into the bottom left of Henderson's goal. 2-0.

Skiverton resorted to a traditional 4-4-2 formation and also introduced Andy Williams and Andy Welsh for Luke Freeman and Ed Upson respectively. 

The travelling Yeovil fans had little to shout about, and their only moment in the second half to make some noise came when Dean Bowditch shot from a tight angle which didn't trouble Ankergren in the Brighton goal. 

It could have been worse for the Green and Whites when Glenn Murray left behind stand-in centre back Owain Tudur Jones with loanee Stephen Henderson saving the day with a good save.

The Seagulls saw the game out and knew that Yeovil were going to need a miracle to get back into the game. Their team-play had won them the game and continued their impressive start to the season. Yeovil would have been disappointed with the performance, but the number of injuries and alterations required before the game would have altered expectations. Despite this, the Glovers have now lost two on the bounce, albeit to top five teams, but they will need to get back to winning ways against Swindon next weekend as they currently lurk in 20th position, with the bottom four bearing down on them.