A L B I O N C H R O N I C L E - ( 4 )
( featuring the Ipswich Town (14/9) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (18/9) games )
14 SEPTEMBER 2024
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 0 IPSWICH TOWN 0 -
PREMIER LEAGUE - at the AMERICAN EXPRESS STADIUM, FALMER.
Following the first international break, the Albion were back at the Amex for a Premier League encounter with newly-promoted Ipswich Town, the match being broadcast by BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
In their previous outing, the Albion drew 1-1 at Arsenal in the Premier on the 31 August and for the visit of Ipswich, the Albion made two changes to their starting line-up from the Arsenal game, with Yasin Ayari replacing James Milner (injured) and Georginio Rutter replacing Joao Pedro (fatigue). It was Rutter's first start for the Seagulls.
On the substitutes bench for the Albion were the recently signed Ferdi Kadioglu and the fit-again Jakub Moder.
Ipswich had gained promotion to the Premier last season after finishing as runners-up to Champions Leicester City in the Sky Bet Championship. The Tractor Boys had also gained promotion from Sky Bet Division One to the Championship the previous season, so they were on a roll.
At the start of the close season, Head Coach Kieran McKenna was widely tipped to take over from Roberto De Zerbi at the Amex, but changed his mind and decided to stick with Ipswich.
Unsurprisingly, the Tractor Boys lost their first two games of the campaign, 0-2 at home to Liverpool and 1-4 at Manchester City but Matchday 3 saw Ipswich draw 1-1 at home to Fulham on the 31 August and for their visit to the Amex made two changes to their starting line-up from the Fulham game, with Dara O'Shea and Wes Burns coming in for Luke Woolfinden and Chiedozie Ogbene.
On the substitutes bench for Ipswich was former Albion goalkeeper Christian Walton.
With their supporters in optimistic mood and loud of voice, the Albion were fast out of the traps and within four minutes Carlos Baleba had robbed Sam Morsy of the ball on the edge of the penalty area before firing in a low shot, forcing Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric into a routine save.
The Albion were dominating the game but the visitors were getting men behind the ball in an effort to stifle their hosts. On 33 minutes Yantuba Minteh's curled cross found the lurking Danny Welbeck whose goalbound header was well held by keeper Muric. The Ipswich keeper then made a superb double save, first deflecting Georginio Rutter's close-range effort and from the rebound keeping out Kaoru Mitoma's on-target volley. Brighton's half by a mile but would they come to regret those missed chances.
Half-time 0-0.
Normal service was resumed at the start of the second-half as Rutter saw his goalbound effort deflected wide of the target, Welbeck's free-kick went marginally wide and Rutter's shot flashed just wide of the post. After all Albion's pressure it was Ipswich who came close to taking the lead when a sortie by Liam Delap ended with a fierce shot which clipped the post and bounced away. On 67 minutes Ferdi Kadioglu was sent on for his Albion debut, replacing Jack Hinshelwood at left-back.
Omari Hutchinson went on a weaving run which ended with a shot which was comfortably held by Albiion keeper Bart Verbruggen. The Seagulls continued to strive for a goal but all they could show for their endeavours was a shot from Mitoma which Muric grasped easily and a shot from substitute Evan Ferguson which missed the target by inches.
Final-score 0-0.
Match stats:
Albion had 21 attempts at goal, with 6 on target and won 9 corners, free-kicks conceded - 14.
Ipswich had 6 attempts at goal, with 1 on target and won 2 corners, free-kicks conceded - 16.
VERDICT - A frustrating game for Albion and their followers. The Ipswich goalkeeper, Arijanet Muric made a string of fine saves to deny the Albion. Definitely a case of two points dropped by the Seagulls.
Albiion line-up (4-4-2):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Joel VELTMAN, Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Lewis DUNK (Capt), Jack HINSHELWOOD (Ferdi KADIOGLU 67); Yantuba MINTEH (Simon ADINGRA 68), Carlos BALEBA, Yasin AYARI, Kaoru MITOMA; Danny WELBECK (Evan FERGUSON 85), Georginio RUTTER (Julio ENCISO 67).
Subs not used: Jason STEELE (G/K), Adam WEBSTER, Igor JULIO, Pervis ESTUPINAN, Jakub MODER.
Ipswich Town line-up (4-2-3-1):- Arijanet MURIC; Axel TUANZEBE, Dara O'SHEA, Jacob GREAVES, Leif DAVIS; Sam MORSY (Capt) (Massimo LUONGO 84), Kalvin PHILLIPS; Wes BURNS (Chiedozie OGBENE 59), Omari HUTCHINSON (Conor CHAPLIN 85), Sam SZMODICS (Jack CLARKE 59); LIam DELAP (George HIRST 59).
Subs not used: Christian WALTON (G/K), Jens CAJUSTE, Ben JOHNSON, Conor TOWNSEND.
Referee: Samuel Barrott (Yorkshire). Fourth Official: Leigh Doughty.
VAR Official: MIchael Salisbury.
Yellow Cards:
Albion: 4 - Bart Verbruggen, Joel Veltman, Jack Hinshelwood, Yantuba Minteh.
Ipswich Town: 3 - Sam Morsy, Kalvin Phillips, Omari Hutchinson.
Possession: Albiion - 69%. Ipswich Town - 31%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Arijanet Muric (Ipswich Town).
Attendance: 31573.
18 SEPTEMBER 2024
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 3 Carlos Baleba Simon Adringra minutes, Ferdi Kadioglu )
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 2 Goncalo Guedes Tommy Doyle minutes -
CARABAO CUP, THIRD ROUND
at the AMERICAN EXPRESS STADIUM, FALMER.
Carabao Cup football returned to the Amex, with a Third Round tie against Wolverhampton Wanderers. The match was broadcast "live" by Sky Sports and over the airwaves by BBC Radio Sussex Sport. The Second Round of the competition had seen Albion defeat Crawley Town 4-0 at home and Wolves overcame Burnley 2-0 at Molineux.
Last time out the Seagulls had drawn 0-0 at home with Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town on the 14 September and for the visit of Wolves, the Albion made eight changes to their starting line-up from that game, with only Jack Hinshelwood, Carlos Baleba and Yantuba Minteh retaining their places.
In their previous outing, Wolves had lost 1-2 at home to Newcastle United in the Premier on the 15 September and for their visit to the Amex made ten changes to their starting line-up from the Newcastle game. The only player to retain his shirt was midfielder Joao Gomes.
After some initial sparring it was the Albion who took the lead on 14 minutes when Joao Gomes was caught in possession of the ball by Carlos Baleba and the Albion midfielder took a few steps before firing home a fine left-foot shot past Wolves keeper Jose Sa. 1-0.
Thereafter Wolves looked dangerous on the counter, especially through the pacy Goncalo Guedes who forced Jason Steele in the Brighton goal to make a fine save in turning his goalbound shot over the bar. Just past the half-hour the Seagulls scored a second when the lively Simon Adingra cut in from the left, leaving Pedro Lima and Santiago Bueno in his wake, before curling a low shot past the helpless Sa. 2-0.
A fine move down the Wolves left, just prior to the break, involving Rodrigo Gomes and Matt Doherty, ended with the latter crossing to the unmarked Guedes, who swept the ball home, to pull a goal back for the visitors. 2-1.
A keenly fought half, which the Albion just shaded. Half-time 2-1.
The second-half started with Wolves on the offensive and keeper Steele was called upon to make saves from Gomes, Guedes and Pablo Sarabia and Jack Hinshelwood produced a superb goal-line clearance to keep out an Adam Webster deflection. It looked certain that Wolves would contrive an equaliser but on 85 minutes the Albion conjured up a third when substitute Danny Welbeck's shot was parried by keeper Sa into the path of fellow substitute Ferdi Kadioglu who gratefully swept the ball home. It was Kadioglu's first goal for the Albion 3-1.
Surely that was it, but no, in the first minute of time added on, keeper Steele gifted the ball to substitute Jorgen Strand Larsen who found Tommy Doyle, who smashed the ball home via the underside of the bar. 3-2.
Albion survived the nervy final minutes before proceeding to Round Four. Final-score 3-2.
Match stats:
Albion had 13 attempts at goal, with 9 on target and won 2 corners, free-kicks conceded - 11.
Wolves had 9 attempts at goal, with 5 on target and won 1 corner, free-kicks conceded - 11.
VERDICT - A closely-fought cup-tie, after which the Albion were relieved to proceed to Round Four. but to their credit Wolves came into the game and pushed Albion all the way. Meanwhile the Albion can look forward to next week's Fourth Round draw.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jason STEELE (Capt); Jack HINSHELWOOD, Adam WEBSTER, Igor JULIO, Pervis ESTUPINAN; Carlos BALEBA (Mats WIEFFER 63), Jakub MODER (Yasin AYARI 71); Yantuba MINTEH (Ferdi KADIOGLU 82), Julio ENCISO (Tariq LAMPTEY 82), Simon ADINGRA; Evan FERGUSON (Danny WELBECK 63).
Subs not used: Bart VERBRUGGEN (G/K), Joel VELTMAN, :Lewis DUNK, Kaoru MITOMA.
Wolves line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jose SA; Pedro LIMA (Nelson SEMEDO 64), Santiago BUENO, Alfie POND, Matt DOHERTY; Tommy DOYLE (Capt), Joao GOMES (Mario LEMINA 64); Pablo SARABIA (Carlos FORBS 63), Hwang HEE-CHAN (Matheus CUNHA 71), Rodrigo GOMES; Goncalo GUEDES (Jorgen STRAND LARSEN 82).
Subs not used: Tom KING (G/K), Craig DAWSON, ANDRE, Luke CUNDLE.
Referee: John Brooks (Leicestershire).
Assistant Referees: Simon Bennett, Daniel Robathan.
Fourth Official: John Busby.
Yellow Cards: Albion: 5 - Jack Hinshelwood, Adam Webster, Pervis Estupinan, Jakub Moder, Evan Ferguson.
Wolves: Pablo Sarabia, Tommy Doyle.
Possession: Albion - 54%. Wolves - 46%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Carlos Baleba (Albion).
Attendance: 16018.
PREMIER LEAGUE MANAGER OF THE MONTH - AUGUST 2024 - It was announced on the 13 September that the Premier League Manager of the Month for August 2024 was Albion's Fabian Hurzeler.
Many congratulations Fabian.
RECENT ALBION TRANSFERS - MISSED BY THE CHRONICLE:2024
25 JULY - MARC LEONARD - (22) - Midfielder - joined BIRMINGHAM CITY - on a 4-year contract - effective until June 2028 - on undisclosed terms;
21 AUGUST - ABDALLAH SIMA - (23) - Forward - joined BREST (FRANCE) - on a season-long loan;
23 AUGUST - VALENTIN BARCO - (20) - Defender - joined SEVILLA (SPAIN) - on a season-long loan;
29 AUGUST - JENSEN WEIR - (22) - Midfielder - joined WIGAN ATHLETIC - on a 2-year contract - effective until June 2026 - on undisclosed terms;
30 AUGUST - CARL RUSHWORTH - (23) - Goalkeeper - joined HULL CITY - on a season-long loan.
SUSSEX COUNTY CRICKET CLUB -
CONGRATULATIONS TO SUSSEX COUNTY CRICKET CLUB ON CLINCHING PROMOTION TO DIVISION ONE OF THE VITALITY COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP - FOLLOWING THEIR VICTORY OVER GLOUCESTERSHIRE BY AN INNINGS & 7 RUNS AT BRISTOL ON THE 19 SEPTEMBER 2024.
NEXT GAME;
22 SEPTEMBER 2024 - NOTTINGHAM FOREST - HOME - PREMIER LEAGUE - KICK-OFF 14.00.
"LIVE" ON SKY SPORTS.
Jack Kaye.
20 September 2024. .
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Subject: A L B I O N C H R O N I C L E - ( 4