Albion picked up another point in their fight for Championship survival with a goalless draw away to Sheffield Wednesday.
The Seagulls were indebted to two fabulous first-half saves from David Stockdale and had to survive a couple of late chances before registering a second successive 0-0 draw.
Chris Hughton’s side remain outside the relegation zone*following Millwall’s 1-0 defeat at Leeds.
Albion are now a point ahead of third-bottom Millwall with a better goal difference.
On a poor pitch, it was the home side who had the first real chance on 19 minutes when Albion failed to deal with a corner but Will Keane headed over the crossbar.
Stockdale came to Albion’s rescue on 26 minutes with a fabulous save to tip over Sergiu Bus’s header from a Liam Palmer cross.
The visitors’ first and best chance of the opening half came on 31 minutes when Beram Kayal’s corner from the left found Rohan Ince at the back of the six-yard box and his fierce striker narrowly cleared the crossbar.
Four minutes later there was almost a carbon copy chance but this time Ince scuffed his shot wastefully wide.
In between those two chances, Wednesday skipper Jose Semedo – a doubt before kick-off – limped off injured.
In first-half stoppage time, Stockdale made another tremendous save to keep the scores level, this time from Keane’s close-range header.
Keane was replaced at half-time as Wednesday threw on top scorer Atdhe Nuhiu.
Albion had the first chance of the half with a Joao Teixeira shot which was blocked within two minutes of the restart, then soon after at the other end Kieran Lee flicked Jacues Maghoma’s ball into the six-yard box wide of the far post.
It was Wednesday applying the pressure for much of the half, with occasional breaks forward from Albion.
The hosts looked like they would break the deadlock with 20 minutes remaining when Lee got in behind the defence but Inigo Calderon recovered to make a great block.
Moments later Lee threatened again but Stockdale saved low down.
Albion responded with a decent chance of their own, Leon Best’s deep cross was pulled back by Teixeira for Bruno but he fired high over the bar.
As Wednesday pressed for a winner, Lewis Dunk made an important block from Nuhiu, who had caused problems after coming on.
By that stage, Albion were almost a man short as substitute Greg Halford picked up a knock soon after coming on and was hobbling through the closing stages.
In the final minute of the 90, the goal opened up for Nuhiu but he skied a great chance from eight yards.
Albion: Stockale; Calderon, Greer, Dunk, Bennett, Ince; Bruno, Kayal (Stephens 73); Teixeira, Best sub Mackail-Smith 78), Baldock (sub Halford 78). Subs not used: Hughes, LuaLua, O’Grady, Walton.
Sheffield Wednesday: Westwood; Palmer, Lees, Zayatte, Helan; Maghoma, Semedo (sub Hutchinson 33), McGugan, Lee; Bus (sub May 81), Keane (sub Nuhiu 46). Subs not used: Mattock, Dielna, Kirkland.
Referee: Scott Duncan (Northumberland).
Original article
The Seagulls were indebted to two fabulous first-half saves from David Stockdale and had to survive a couple of late chances before registering a second successive 0-0 draw.
Chris Hughton’s side remain outside the relegation zone*following Millwall’s 1-0 defeat at Leeds.
Albion are now a point ahead of third-bottom Millwall with a better goal difference.
On a poor pitch, it was the home side who had the first real chance on 19 minutes when Albion failed to deal with a corner but Will Keane headed over the crossbar.
Stockdale came to Albion’s rescue on 26 minutes with a fabulous save to tip over Sergiu Bus’s header from a Liam Palmer cross.
The visitors’ first and best chance of the opening half came on 31 minutes when Beram Kayal’s corner from the left found Rohan Ince at the back of the six-yard box and his fierce striker narrowly cleared the crossbar.
Four minutes later there was almost a carbon copy chance but this time Ince scuffed his shot wastefully wide.
In between those two chances, Wednesday skipper Jose Semedo – a doubt before kick-off – limped off injured.
In first-half stoppage time, Stockdale made another tremendous save to keep the scores level, this time from Keane’s close-range header.
Keane was replaced at half-time as Wednesday threw on top scorer Atdhe Nuhiu.
Albion had the first chance of the half with a Joao Teixeira shot which was blocked within two minutes of the restart, then soon after at the other end Kieran Lee flicked Jacues Maghoma’s ball into the six-yard box wide of the far post.
It was Wednesday applying the pressure for much of the half, with occasional breaks forward from Albion.
The hosts looked like they would break the deadlock with 20 minutes remaining when Lee got in behind the defence but Inigo Calderon recovered to make a great block.
Moments later Lee threatened again but Stockdale saved low down.
Albion responded with a decent chance of their own, Leon Best’s deep cross was pulled back by Teixeira for Bruno but he fired high over the bar.
As Wednesday pressed for a winner, Lewis Dunk made an important block from Nuhiu, who had caused problems after coming on.
By that stage, Albion were almost a man short as substitute Greg Halford picked up a knock soon after coming on and was hobbling through the closing stages.
In the final minute of the 90, the goal opened up for Nuhiu but he skied a great chance from eight yards.
Albion: Stockale; Calderon, Greer, Dunk, Bennett, Ince; Bruno, Kayal (Stephens 73); Teixeira, Best sub Mackail-Smith 78), Baldock (sub Halford 78). Subs not used: Hughes, LuaLua, O’Grady, Walton.
Sheffield Wednesday: Westwood; Palmer, Lees, Zayatte, Helan; Maghoma, Semedo (sub Hutchinson 33), McGugan, Lee; Bus (sub May 81), Keane (sub Nuhiu 46). Subs not used: Mattock, Dielna, Kirkland.
Referee: Scott Duncan (Northumberland).
Original article