There have been many memorable moments in Brighton & Hove Albion’s history and the last visit to the City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest definitely falls into that category.Seagulls.co.uk relives the drama of the 2013/14 season’s final day, where Albion headed to Forest needing to better Reading’s result against Burnley to secure a play-off berth.
THE SITUATION
Albion had faltered over the Easter weekend where back-to-back 1-1 draws with Huddersfield Town and Blackpool surrendered the final play-off position to Reading. A 2-0 win over Yeovil Town in the penultimate game ensured the race for sixth place went to the final day but Oscar Garcia’s side had to hope for a favour from already promoted Burnley at the Madejski Stadium if the Seagulls were to sneak in.
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FIRST HALF
Within six minutes Albion’s play-off bid had hit the buffers as Kieran Trippier’s own goal gave the Royals a 1-0 lead. Burnley responded though as Scott Arfield levelled matters on 20 minutes, but the Seagulls’ joy was short-lived as an uncharacteristic error from goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak allowed Matt Derbyshire’s weak header through his hands to give Forest the lead.Six minutes later there was renewed life for Brighton as Burnley completed the turnaround to take a 2-1 lead thanks to Danny Ings’s strike, but the Seagulls still had to find an equaliser and as the four teams went in at the break, it was the Royals sitting in sixth place.
SECOND HALF
Burnley’s lead meant Albion were still one goal away from the play-offs as the second half began, but on 53 minutes Stephen Ward ignited wild celebrations as he swept home from close range.
News rang round the Madejski that Albion had found an equaliser and now Nigel Adkins's side had to do the same to keep their Premier League ambitions alive, and they didn’t take long to do it. Just six minutes later Gareth McCleary’s wonder goal restored parity at 2-2 and once again it was the Berkshire outfit occupying that all-important sixth position.
There was still half an hour to play in both games and any goal would have massive consequences on who would reach the play-offs. Albion huffed and puffed but could not find a second to put themselves in pole position, while Reading had a host of chances go begging in their pursuit of the three points that would claim the final play-off spot as theirs.
Crunch time arrived as Albion entered the so called ‘last-chance saloon’ but the game was seemingly up for Oscar’s side as both fixtures entered injury-time.
But, in astonishing fashion, Kazenga LuaLua burst through the midfield, played the ball out wide to Craig Mackail-Smith, whose inch-perfect cross was nodded home by Leo Ulloa to spark mas celebrations from everyone connected with Albion at the City Ground.
Adkins and his side received the news but their one last roll of the dice proved fruitless and it was Albion in the play-offs in sensational fashion.
[h=2]UPCOMING HOME FIXTURES[/h][h=3]ALBION V CARDIFF
[/h]TUESday 30TH september, KICK-OFF 7.45PM
[h=3]ALBION V MIDDLESBROUGH
[/h]SATURDAY 18th OCTOBER, KICK-OFF 3PM
[h=3]Albion v ROTHERHAM
[/h]saturDAY 25TH october, kick-off 3pm
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