LuaLua was instrumental in Albion's rise to the top of the Championship in August
Image by: Paul Hazlewood
What a month it was as Brighton & Hove Albion stormed to the top of the Championship table with four wins from five league games.The Seagulls started the season in front of the Sky Sports cameras on a Friday night at the Amex and Kazenga LuaLua gave Chris Hughton’s side a perfect start with a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
Albion then back flipped their way into the second round of the Capital One Cup as LuaLua struck a late winner at Southend.
After late drama in the cup there was to be even more at Craven Cottage, the scene of one of Albion’s most memorable moments from the 2014/15 season.
Bruno and Sam Baldock combined to put Albion ahead in London but somewhat undeservedly the hosts hit back to level matters before half time.
However, despite a strong finish from Fulham, it was Albion who came away with all three points as LuaLua won a penalty deep into stoppage time, leaving Tomer Hemed to send Albion fans into raptures with his coolly taken first goal since signing for the club.
Albion went from late winners to fast starters when Beram Kayal took just 17 seconds to put Albion ahead at Huddersfield Town, but the winning run was halted by a 1-1 draw at the John Smith’s Stadium as the hosts hit back after half-time.
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Albion returned to winning ways at the Amex the following Saturday as LuaLua once again fired Albion to three points in a 1-0 win, this time over Blackburn Rovers - but the victory was overshadowed by the tragic plane crash at the Shoreham Airshow Disaster.
The following day news emerged that the accident had claimed the lives of 11 people, including Albion employee Matt Grimstone and Seagulls fan Jacob Schilt.
After a sombre 48 hours at the club, Hughton’s men headed to Walsall in the cup where an impeccably observed minute’s silence for the victims of the disaster was held prior to kick-off.
A much changed Albion then tasted defeat for the first time this season as Walsall knocked the Seagulls out of the Capital One Cup with a 2-1 win.Portman Road was where the month ended, as top-of-the-table Ipswich Town took on the second-placed Seagulls as the main game on Channel 5’s Football League Tonight highlight show, and the two sides didn’t disappoint.
Albion raced into a 2-0 lead within 12 minutes, with LuaLua scoring yet again before a Hemed header from Dale Stephens’s free-kick doubled the advantage.
Hughton’s men were in fine form in Ipswich, but the hosts hit back through Freddie Sears and a David McGoldrick penalty after the break.
But it was to be Albion’s day and parity lasted for a mere two minutes, as Hemed headed home from a LuaLua cross to put Hughton’s side top of the pile.
The Seagulls dedicated the win to both Matt and Jacob to finish one of the most testing weeks in the club’s history on a positive note.
Fans can watch extended highlights, reaction and a selection of montages from all the above games on Seagulls Player HD.
[h=3]ALBION V HULL CITY*
[/h]SATURDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER, KICK-OFF 3PM
[h=3]ALBION V ROTHERHAM UNITED*
[/h]TUESDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER, KICK-OFF 7.45PM
[h=3]ALBION V CARDIFF CITY
[/h]SATURDAY 3RD OCTOBER, KICK-OFF 3PM
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