Liz drove up for this one as we needed to get back early as Liz was flying to Edinburgh at 7am this morning!
We left at 4.15 from Shoreham and arrived into Luton about 6.45, the volume of traffic these days is stunning. We parked up near the ground, and have to say that it was not very salubrious, and just hoped the car would be ok.
We had to wait to meet a mate who needed a spare ticket we had, so we were in the ground just after 7.10 (new experience for me!). The away end at Luton has a great roof for making noise (bit like the North Stand Roof from the 70's) but the stanchions restricted many of the views.
The 1,300+ Albion fans were in great voice, the only Luton fans who made any noise were the group down in the far right hand corner. The row of executive boxes down the left had side showed how we could have developed the Goldstone!
As for the match, well yes we were poor, but we were playing 14 men. The Referee was a joke and clearly anti our players from the kick off. Luton soon worked out that they could kick lumps out of us and get away with it, then dive around and get free kicks. As for the offsides, every decision went against our forwards and both goals saw Luton unsurprisingly break our offside trap no problem.
Knight IMHO was continually fouled and was bought down for a penalty (no different to the one they won). Also after Knight had been booked for diving Luton went up the other end, the number 16 dived, appealed for a penalty, which the referee turned down, but he took no action against the Luton player.
At half time our players surrounded the referee and made sure they made him aware of how he felt and he made sure with his second half biased that he made sure we went home with nothing.
The cheating number 16 who was subbed then had the small minded mentality to try and warm down in front of us, until the Police came over and sent him packing.
As for the players, well Jones in goal was my MOTM, pushing two shots on to the bar and made several other good saves and handled and kicked the ball well. Midfield we were out played, up front we didn't look dangerous, on the other hand every time Luton attacked they looked like scoring. Overall I guess we got what we deserved, nothing, but the Referee left me feeling cheated as he was so influential on the match....
When they scored the penalty a couple of Albion fans got arrested for trying to get on the pitch (after Nicholls apparently made a cupped ear gesture to the Albion fans) and there was melee with the Stewards. There was also a scuffle or two outside, but the Police had it under control.
The simmer anger and frustration of the Albion fans is growing, and reminds me of the dark days......all of our lot were getting more and more wound up and annoyed, I have come away from a game so angry for a long time....and then to hear a Luton OAP in front of us saying the Brighton players were a disgrace, thugs and cheats that finished the evening off nicely!!!!
This is my view, but talking to a mate who listened on the Radio, Knight dived for the first incident, the second was a clear penalty to them, and Knight was lucky not to get a straight red card for the second offence. Also Brighton were dire, but the match sounded like all Albion fans and no Luton at al!!! Am I really that biased? Was the Referee correct? Is Knight a cheat? Is there number 16 a good player, who we couldn't handle so resorted to fouling or was he a cheat? I am no longer sure, the dangers of going to a game without alcohol! This is now no longer acceptable and will be rectified in the pubs of Doncaster and Grimsby on Saturday
Mark R
Jones - 8 good saves and looked confident (England number 31, Englands England number 31)
Virgo - 4 was all over the place
Mayo - 5 too many balls to an invisible man down the left wing
Butters - 4 couldn't handle the fast Luton forwards
Cullip - 5 was over run
Carpenter - 4 over run
Oatway - 4 over run and kept trying to pass to Mayo invisible friend as well
Hart - 8 pushed Jones for my MOTM - battled, limited talent but never say die
Watson (no mark as only lasted about 2 minutes!)
Jones - 4 replaced Watson but was then subbed 2nd half, summed it up Benjamin - 6 battled and attempted to hold the ball up, but just missed the corner flag with one shot
Knight - 0 if he dived, 0 if he retaliated and got the second yellow card - can't make up my mind
McPhee - 5 battled hard but no threat to the Luton defence
Robinson (no mark as McGhee gave him about 30 seconds)
Referee -10
Linesman 1 -10
Linesman 2 -10
Albion fans brilliant as ever.
See you all in Grimsby- cant wait :-o ()
Mark R
We left at 4.15 from Shoreham and arrived into Luton about 6.45, the volume of traffic these days is stunning. We parked up near the ground, and have to say that it was not very salubrious, and just hoped the car would be ok.
We had to wait to meet a mate who needed a spare ticket we had, so we were in the ground just after 7.10 (new experience for me!). The away end at Luton has a great roof for making noise (bit like the North Stand Roof from the 70's) but the stanchions restricted many of the views.
The 1,300+ Albion fans were in great voice, the only Luton fans who made any noise were the group down in the far right hand corner. The row of executive boxes down the left had side showed how we could have developed the Goldstone!
As for the match, well yes we were poor, but we were playing 14 men. The Referee was a joke and clearly anti our players from the kick off. Luton soon worked out that they could kick lumps out of us and get away with it, then dive around and get free kicks. As for the offsides, every decision went against our forwards and both goals saw Luton unsurprisingly break our offside trap no problem.
Knight IMHO was continually fouled and was bought down for a penalty (no different to the one they won). Also after Knight had been booked for diving Luton went up the other end, the number 16 dived, appealed for a penalty, which the referee turned down, but he took no action against the Luton player.
At half time our players surrounded the referee and made sure they made him aware of how he felt and he made sure with his second half biased that he made sure we went home with nothing.
The cheating number 16 who was subbed then had the small minded mentality to try and warm down in front of us, until the Police came over and sent him packing.
As for the players, well Jones in goal was my MOTM, pushing two shots on to the bar and made several other good saves and handled and kicked the ball well. Midfield we were out played, up front we didn't look dangerous, on the other hand every time Luton attacked they looked like scoring. Overall I guess we got what we deserved, nothing, but the Referee left me feeling cheated as he was so influential on the match....
When they scored the penalty a couple of Albion fans got arrested for trying to get on the pitch (after Nicholls apparently made a cupped ear gesture to the Albion fans) and there was melee with the Stewards. There was also a scuffle or two outside, but the Police had it under control.
The simmer anger and frustration of the Albion fans is growing, and reminds me of the dark days......all of our lot were getting more and more wound up and annoyed, I have come away from a game so angry for a long time....and then to hear a Luton OAP in front of us saying the Brighton players were a disgrace, thugs and cheats that finished the evening off nicely!!!!
This is my view, but talking to a mate who listened on the Radio, Knight dived for the first incident, the second was a clear penalty to them, and Knight was lucky not to get a straight red card for the second offence. Also Brighton were dire, but the match sounded like all Albion fans and no Luton at al!!! Am I really that biased? Was the Referee correct? Is Knight a cheat? Is there number 16 a good player, who we couldn't handle so resorted to fouling or was he a cheat? I am no longer sure, the dangers of going to a game without alcohol! This is now no longer acceptable and will be rectified in the pubs of Doncaster and Grimsby on Saturday
Mark R
Jones - 8 good saves and looked confident (England number 31, Englands England number 31)
Virgo - 4 was all over the place
Mayo - 5 too many balls to an invisible man down the left wing
Butters - 4 couldn't handle the fast Luton forwards
Cullip - 5 was over run
Carpenter - 4 over run
Oatway - 4 over run and kept trying to pass to Mayo invisible friend as well
Hart - 8 pushed Jones for my MOTM - battled, limited talent but never say die
Watson (no mark as only lasted about 2 minutes!)
Jones - 4 replaced Watson but was then subbed 2nd half, summed it up Benjamin - 6 battled and attempted to hold the ball up, but just missed the corner flag with one shot
Knight - 0 if he dived, 0 if he retaliated and got the second yellow card - can't make up my mind
McPhee - 5 battled hard but no threat to the Luton defence
Robinson (no mark as McGhee gave him about 30 seconds)
Referee -10
Linesman 1 -10
Linesman 2 -10
Albion fans brilliant as ever.
See you all in Grimsby- cant wait :-o ()
Mark R