I managed to pass through in my work attire and was soon walking up to the Welly. All the old faces were out and about and the Police following groups all over the place.
It was regulars only in the Welly and the anticipation was growing for the first home game against the old enemy. Apparently Palace fans were holed up in the Royal Standard protected by many many Police and they were escorted to the station for there own safety after several confrontations between the Police and the various mobs trying to get to the Palace in the pub.
At one stage it was like watching keystone kops, as you would see several people run down the hill next to the Welly, followed by 30 police about 30 seconds later!
We got a taxi as usual and were soon in the ground. The taxi journey was interesting with the Fatty Taxman getting cramp and we almost had to ask the driver to open the sun roof so he could straighten his leg out!
The atmosphere in the ground was hostile and this continued for the whole 90 minutes and after the game as well.
The Police kept many of the Palace going back by train (about 500) in the ground until about 10pm and they had the biggest escort back I have ever seen. It blocked the roads so delayed us getting back to the park and ride. There were various skirmishes but the heavy Police numbers and Police in riot gear kept everything under control.
There was a certain level of revenge being sought as a small group of Brighton fans travelling back from Ipswich on Saturday got badly beaten up at Victoria by a group of 30+ Palace fans.
The bid wind up by the Palace away following was 2 huge St Georges Flags hung up at the back of the away stand both with 5-0 on them!
On to the match, all XI players (plus Pethick when he came on) gave 100% and
battled and did the team proud.
Kolinko in the Palace goal was the MOTM for them by miles. First he somehow kept out an early Paul Brooker shot (possibly more luck then judgement), he was well beaten by a great chip from Barrett only to see the ball hit the post.
The second half continued as the first and of course we had a one man advantage after Granville took out Harty for a second time. The match looked destined for 0-0 then Harty had THE chance but showed no composure and volleyed the ball well high and wide.
Mayo had earlier spurned a good shooting chance, but he was MOTM again last night, although Pethick didn't put a foot wrong. I thought we deserved the 3 points, but at least we are out the bottom 3 again on goal difference.
The players also have time to rest as our next game is a week Friday at Reading. They need the time as I thought they looked shattered with 15 minutes to go, especially Hart, Blackwell and Rodgers.
Ratings
Beasent - 7 no mistakes, but other than pushing one over the bar, did he have another save to make?
Watson - 7 pushed forward and put in several reasonable crosses
Mayo - 9 pushed forward and showed he is Brighton through and through Blackwell - 7 solid
Cullip - 7 fingers crossed not too bad an injury
Ingimarsson - 7 sign him up
Carpenter - 8 great game
Rodgers - 8 great game
Brooker - 8 ran at them time and time again and unlucky not to score
Hart - 7 battled but lacked the coolness on front of goal
Barrett - 7 ran and ran and so unlucky not to score
Subs
Pethick - 8 ran the back line well when he came on
Support 10/10 really did turn Withdean into a cauldron, was as hostile as
the Chesterfield and Cardiff matches
I thought Durkin had a fair match last night, but there should have been more than 3 minutes injury time as Palace spent the last 20 minutes taking ages for ever thrown in, goal kick and free kick.
Off to Zurich and Liechtenstein tomorrow evening, back Sunday then fly up north on Wednesday for the Turkey match, it will be nice to watch a match away from the pressures of relegation, just the pressure of qualification for Euro 2004 in Portugal!
Mark R
It was regulars only in the Welly and the anticipation was growing for the first home game against the old enemy. Apparently Palace fans were holed up in the Royal Standard protected by many many Police and they were escorted to the station for there own safety after several confrontations between the Police and the various mobs trying to get to the Palace in the pub.
At one stage it was like watching keystone kops, as you would see several people run down the hill next to the Welly, followed by 30 police about 30 seconds later!
We got a taxi as usual and were soon in the ground. The taxi journey was interesting with the Fatty Taxman getting cramp and we almost had to ask the driver to open the sun roof so he could straighten his leg out!
The atmosphere in the ground was hostile and this continued for the whole 90 minutes and after the game as well.
The Police kept many of the Palace going back by train (about 500) in the ground until about 10pm and they had the biggest escort back I have ever seen. It blocked the roads so delayed us getting back to the park and ride. There were various skirmishes but the heavy Police numbers and Police in riot gear kept everything under control.
There was a certain level of revenge being sought as a small group of Brighton fans travelling back from Ipswich on Saturday got badly beaten up at Victoria by a group of 30+ Palace fans.
The bid wind up by the Palace away following was 2 huge St Georges Flags hung up at the back of the away stand both with 5-0 on them!
On to the match, all XI players (plus Pethick when he came on) gave 100% and
battled and did the team proud.
Kolinko in the Palace goal was the MOTM for them by miles. First he somehow kept out an early Paul Brooker shot (possibly more luck then judgement), he was well beaten by a great chip from Barrett only to see the ball hit the post.
The second half continued as the first and of course we had a one man advantage after Granville took out Harty for a second time. The match looked destined for 0-0 then Harty had THE chance but showed no composure and volleyed the ball well high and wide.
Mayo had earlier spurned a good shooting chance, but he was MOTM again last night, although Pethick didn't put a foot wrong. I thought we deserved the 3 points, but at least we are out the bottom 3 again on goal difference.
The players also have time to rest as our next game is a week Friday at Reading. They need the time as I thought they looked shattered with 15 minutes to go, especially Hart, Blackwell and Rodgers.
Ratings
Beasent - 7 no mistakes, but other than pushing one over the bar, did he have another save to make?
Watson - 7 pushed forward and put in several reasonable crosses
Mayo - 9 pushed forward and showed he is Brighton through and through Blackwell - 7 solid
Cullip - 7 fingers crossed not too bad an injury
Ingimarsson - 7 sign him up
Carpenter - 8 great game
Rodgers - 8 great game
Brooker - 8 ran at them time and time again and unlucky not to score
Hart - 7 battled but lacked the coolness on front of goal
Barrett - 7 ran and ran and so unlucky not to score
Subs
Pethick - 8 ran the back line well when he came on
Support 10/10 really did turn Withdean into a cauldron, was as hostile as
the Chesterfield and Cardiff matches
I thought Durkin had a fair match last night, but there should have been more than 3 minutes injury time as Palace spent the last 20 minutes taking ages for ever thrown in, goal kick and free kick.
Off to Zurich and Liechtenstein tomorrow evening, back Sunday then fly up north on Wednesday for the Turkey match, it will be nice to watch a match away from the pressures of relegation, just the pressure of qualification for Euro 2004 in Portugal!
Mark R