Albion 3, Charlton 2
Three more points, gained in remarkable style, are precious in the context of Albion's automatic promotion push.
Just as signifcant to their hopes of staying on top, or finishing as runners-up, was three different strikers delivering them.
The arrival of James Wilson on loan from Manchester United has provided a critical extra boost to the firepower available to Chris Hughton.
When you are struggling like Albion were last season when Hughton was appointed, the starting point is to keep clean sheets guaranteeing at least a draw.
If you are trying to go up you need to score goals and win games. During the Amex era Albion have been top six rather than top two contenders because they have not scored enough.
When they reached the play-offs in 2012-13, only one of the top seven scored fewer goals than Gus Poyet's side. The shortcoming was even more obvious the following year as Albion reached the play-offs again under Oscar Garcia. They were the lowest scorers in the top 17.
In last season's struggle only the relegated teams and Sheffield Wednesday had a worse goals tally.
Hughton recognised the failure as he plotted a recovery. He has been operating this season with twin strikers in a 4-4-2, Tomer Hemed and Sam Baldock before the latter was injured last month, then Hemed and Bobby Zamora, now Zamora and Wilson.
Awarding Wilson his first start at Hemed's expense, following the Manchester United youngster's debut as a second half substitute in the previous home win against Birmingham, could not have worked out better in the end for Hughton.
Wilson brought Albion back into contention after a disastrous start. Zamora equalised with his third goal in as many games and Hemed came on to head the winner, ending a drought stretching back to mid-September.
A sound defence will remain as important as it has been in recent seasons. The Seagulls have now conceded 16 goals in their 19-game undefeated run, which is pretty good.
It is worth noting, however, that closest pursuers Middlesbrough, Derby and Hull all have better defensive records. Preston, in 18th, have been equally mean.
At the other end of the pitch, only Boro, Hull and Ipswich have hit the target more often than Albion.
They will need to maintain the ratio of around three goals every two games to finish first or second, instead of third to sixth.
That is why the capture of Wilson, together with plans to further strengthen the strike force in January, are crucial. He brings a breath of fresh air to Hughton's attacking options.
Wilson's eyecatching individual goal at the start of the second half, manoeuvring his way through the heart of the Charlton defence, was just a glimpse of what he can offer.
His only previous start this season, against Middlesbrough at Old Trafford in the Capital One Cup at the end of October, was interrupted by Louis Van Gaal at half-time when he was replaced by Wayne Rooney.
The goal and completing 90 minutes will empower Wilson. He has made 20 appearances in total for United but his only full game for them was at Yeovil in the FA Cup almost a year ago.
Hughton said: "I think he'll get better. This is somebody that hasn't played many games, so it will take him a little while to get up to full speed.
"But good strikers, as Bobby showed and Tomer, can produce those little bits. The first goal was the one that set us up, no doubt."
The second after Charlton had been reduced to ten men, Patrick Bauer foolishly tugging down Zamora just outside the box with no cover, emphasised the veteran's everlasting knack of being in the right place at the right time.
Zamora tucked away the loose ball when Dale Stephens and Hemed could not quite convert Solly March's cross at the near post. His third goal in as many games brought him level with fellow legend Peter Ward's league tally for the club of 81.
Zamora's prolific burst has contrasted with Hemed's woes in front of goal. Hughton reluctantly left him out after his barren run.
The relief was tangible for Hemed, his supportive team-mates and around the stadium when, straight after Zamora's equaliser, the Israeli headed in a right-wing cross by Rajiv Van Parra, making a vital impact on his debut from the bench on loan from Wolves. Charlton keeper Stephen Henderson got a strong hand to it but could not keep it out.
Hughton said: "It was a tough decision (relegating Hemed) because, apart from going through a barren spell, he's been excellent for us. He works hard, he links up the play well.
"I said to him you might end up coming on as a sub and breaking that barren spell. You could see how pleased everybody was for him."
Hughton was far from pleased at half-time. A shocking opening 45 minutes for his team should not, and will not, be forgotten. They were 2-0 down in five minutes, the ageing rearguard undone by the pace and potency of a young Charlton side's counter-attacking.
Albion were vulnerable every time they had a corner. Ademola Lookman, an 18-year-old plucked out of parks football a year ago with a big future, got the better of Bruno to lash an angled drive past David Stockdale at his near post into the roof of the net.
The left-back situation is a concern. Hughton will pick the bones out of the circumstances leading to Inigo Calderon, the deputy for the injured Gaetan Bong and Liam Rosenior, finding himself in more familiar territory at right-back when Iranian Reza Ghoochannejhad rounded off another rapid counter-raid to double Charlton's lead.
It will be identified as a weakness by better teams than Charlton looming on the horizon, Derby, QPR and Middlesbrough, as will the manner in which they fashioned their initial supremacy.
Hughton said: "We will analyse the two goals and, from our point of view, they will both be bad goals as regards our organisation, recovery runs. They will look at it as really good quality, counter-attacking football and that's the balance.
"We're fortunate we've got away from it and it's something we will certainly have to learn from."
March, head bandaged after an aerial clash in the first half which forced off the subsequently reckless Bauer's central partner Harry Lennon, was named man-of-the-match by the sposors.
March was very good again, down the right flank and when switched to the left, but the vote should have gone to Stockdale. Charlton would have been out of sight without saves he made in the first half with a combination of hands and feet from Ghoochannejhad, Gudmundsson and Lookman.
Stockdale and the rest of the defence still have a key part to play but Wilson, Zamora, Hemed and Hughton's other attackers will define where Albion finish.
Original article
Three more points, gained in remarkable style, are precious in the context of Albion's automatic promotion push.
Just as signifcant to their hopes of staying on top, or finishing as runners-up, was three different strikers delivering them.
The arrival of James Wilson on loan from Manchester United has provided a critical extra boost to the firepower available to Chris Hughton.
When you are struggling like Albion were last season when Hughton was appointed, the starting point is to keep clean sheets guaranteeing at least a draw.
If you are trying to go up you need to score goals and win games. During the Amex era Albion have been top six rather than top two contenders because they have not scored enough.
When they reached the play-offs in 2012-13, only one of the top seven scored fewer goals than Gus Poyet's side. The shortcoming was even more obvious the following year as Albion reached the play-offs again under Oscar Garcia. They were the lowest scorers in the top 17.
In last season's struggle only the relegated teams and Sheffield Wednesday had a worse goals tally.
Hughton recognised the failure as he plotted a recovery. He has been operating this season with twin strikers in a 4-4-2, Tomer Hemed and Sam Baldock before the latter was injured last month, then Hemed and Bobby Zamora, now Zamora and Wilson.
Awarding Wilson his first start at Hemed's expense, following the Manchester United youngster's debut as a second half substitute in the previous home win against Birmingham, could not have worked out better in the end for Hughton.
Wilson brought Albion back into contention after a disastrous start. Zamora equalised with his third goal in as many games and Hemed came on to head the winner, ending a drought stretching back to mid-September.
A sound defence will remain as important as it has been in recent seasons. The Seagulls have now conceded 16 goals in their 19-game undefeated run, which is pretty good.
It is worth noting, however, that closest pursuers Middlesbrough, Derby and Hull all have better defensive records. Preston, in 18th, have been equally mean.
At the other end of the pitch, only Boro, Hull and Ipswich have hit the target more often than Albion.
They will need to maintain the ratio of around three goals every two games to finish first or second, instead of third to sixth.
That is why the capture of Wilson, together with plans to further strengthen the strike force in January, are crucial. He brings a breath of fresh air to Hughton's attacking options.
Wilson's eyecatching individual goal at the start of the second half, manoeuvring his way through the heart of the Charlton defence, was just a glimpse of what he can offer.
His only previous start this season, against Middlesbrough at Old Trafford in the Capital One Cup at the end of October, was interrupted by Louis Van Gaal at half-time when he was replaced by Wayne Rooney.
The goal and completing 90 minutes will empower Wilson. He has made 20 appearances in total for United but his only full game for them was at Yeovil in the FA Cup almost a year ago.
Hughton said: "I think he'll get better. This is somebody that hasn't played many games, so it will take him a little while to get up to full speed.
"But good strikers, as Bobby showed and Tomer, can produce those little bits. The first goal was the one that set us up, no doubt."
The second after Charlton had been reduced to ten men, Patrick Bauer foolishly tugging down Zamora just outside the box with no cover, emphasised the veteran's everlasting knack of being in the right place at the right time.
Zamora tucked away the loose ball when Dale Stephens and Hemed could not quite convert Solly March's cross at the near post. His third goal in as many games brought him level with fellow legend Peter Ward's league tally for the club of 81.
Zamora's prolific burst has contrasted with Hemed's woes in front of goal. Hughton reluctantly left him out after his barren run.
The relief was tangible for Hemed, his supportive team-mates and around the stadium when, straight after Zamora's equaliser, the Israeli headed in a right-wing cross by Rajiv Van Parra, making a vital impact on his debut from the bench on loan from Wolves. Charlton keeper Stephen Henderson got a strong hand to it but could not keep it out.
Hughton said: "It was a tough decision (relegating Hemed) because, apart from going through a barren spell, he's been excellent for us. He works hard, he links up the play well.
"I said to him you might end up coming on as a sub and breaking that barren spell. You could see how pleased everybody was for him."
Hughton was far from pleased at half-time. A shocking opening 45 minutes for his team should not, and will not, be forgotten. They were 2-0 down in five minutes, the ageing rearguard undone by the pace and potency of a young Charlton side's counter-attacking.
Albion were vulnerable every time they had a corner. Ademola Lookman, an 18-year-old plucked out of parks football a year ago with a big future, got the better of Bruno to lash an angled drive past David Stockdale at his near post into the roof of the net.
The left-back situation is a concern. Hughton will pick the bones out of the circumstances leading to Inigo Calderon, the deputy for the injured Gaetan Bong and Liam Rosenior, finding himself in more familiar territory at right-back when Iranian Reza Ghoochannejhad rounded off another rapid counter-raid to double Charlton's lead.
It will be identified as a weakness by better teams than Charlton looming on the horizon, Derby, QPR and Middlesbrough, as will the manner in which they fashioned their initial supremacy.
Hughton said: "We will analyse the two goals and, from our point of view, they will both be bad goals as regards our organisation, recovery runs. They will look at it as really good quality, counter-attacking football and that's the balance.
"We're fortunate we've got away from it and it's something we will certainly have to learn from."
March, head bandaged after an aerial clash in the first half which forced off the subsequently reckless Bauer's central partner Harry Lennon, was named man-of-the-match by the sposors.
March was very good again, down the right flank and when switched to the left, but the vote should have gone to Stockdale. Charlton would have been out of sight without saves he made in the first half with a combination of hands and feet from Ghoochannejhad, Gudmundsson and Lookman.
Stockdale and the rest of the defence still have a key part to play but Wilson, Zamora, Hemed and Hughton's other attackers will define where Albion finish.
Original article