So the starting line up was this:
Henderson
Reid Lynch El-Abd Mayo
Stokes Carpenter Hammond
Revell Robinson
Hart
Hammond ran his socks of for 90 minutes and was always an available option. We knocked the ball about, Lynch is a cool customer and is happy to knock the ball about at the back, and Henderson is like a different keeper to me this season, confident, good at crosses, holds shots, sharp reactions.
The match saw both teams trying to play football, but the first 45 minutes were fairly unproductive. Harty fluffed one chance but that was about it.
Second half and we woke up and Stokes got more and more involved. We looked solid at the back, Gillingham where very quick up front and McDonald came closest to opening the scoring with a cheeky lob but Henderson read it well.
Gillingham finally broke the back four line but Henderson was out quickly and superbly blocked the shot.
Robinson then sprang to life. He had a mazy run past about 5 players and his shot beat the keeper but also just over the bar from about 30 yards.
Then about 10 minutes later we broke the deadlock.
We took ages over a throw in, it found its way back to Reid, Gillingham appealed for a throw, but he played on, put in a wicked low cross and Robinson met the ball first time on the volley to steer the ball into the net. Every Brighton player mobbed Robinson!
Gillingham continued to try to attack and Henderson pulled of a fantastic double save as we allowed the forwards too much time and space.
Robinson then had another good chance but the keeper blocked the first shot and he put the rebound wide. The final whistle was a relief, but 2 1-0 wins, a good start to the season.
So another hard won 3 points, roll on Brentford on Saturday
Henderson - 8 my MOTM , some great stops
Reid - 7 great cross for the goal, solid at the back
Mayo - 7 used experinace well, some good tackles
El-Abd 7 - another solid display alongside Lynch
Lynch 8 - class act
Carpenter - 7 shame about the corners, but put himself about
Hammond - 8 never stopped running, great game
Stokes - 6 much better second half, could become a good player
Robinson - 6 very quiet for long periods, but a great goal and a great spell for about 20 minutes in the second half
Hart - 6 battled hard
Revell - 8 pushed others for MOTM, great committment and great skill for a big man, looks promising
Frutos came on for Hart, Gatting for Robinson and Loft for Revell as we tired towards the end. Kuipers and Lowe not used