Albion opened their season with an encouraging 0-0 draw at Derby – but it could have been even better.
The Seagulls looked the sharper side once they had survived a torrid opening but were unable to find a finishing touch.
Tomer Hemed was denied by goalkeeper Scott Carson straight after half-time and later saw his angled effort cleared from underneath the crossbar by Cyrus Christie.
And Glenn Murray had three moments when he might have crowned his return to the Seagulls with a winning goal.
The returning frontman had a shot, which he did not properly get hold of, blocked by Christie right in front off goal in the first half from Liam Rosenior’s low cross (pictured below).
Then, in the second, Murray glanced a header on to the roof of the net from a cross by Gaetan Bong – and saw a shot charged down in front of goal after being found by Steve Sidwell’s precise chipped pass.
Albion played some good stuff on a sultry afternoon at the iPro Stadium.
- Hughton: Goals will flow for front two
- Albion take a point - but it could have been more
- Derby v Albion - opening day action from the iPro Stadium
- Murray and Hemed paired up front for Albion
- If anyone knows Albion can recover from heartbreak, it's Derby boss Pearson
But that threat was snuffed out for long periods – until substitute Will Hughes offered some late Derby spark.
Hughes’ deflected shot forced a fine save from Stockdale, although it might have been ruled out for offside anyway.
Right at the death, a cross somehow evaded both Bent and Stockdale in the goalmouth. But Albion deserved their point – and arguably a bit more.
[h=4]Promoted stories[/h]
Original article