For a few days it looked like a period of normality and predictability was breaking out in the Championship.
The top four were all on a roll, the real strugglers were – well – struggling. And Derby were hit and miss.
Then Blackburn upset Middlesbrough and gave us a reminder of how this division can serve up the unexpected.
But, as a top four just start to show signs of breaking away and the season goes into its final quarter, the doyen of Championship analysts has given his view as to why Albion can stand the pace.
And it is largely down to the pace, movement and options they suddenly have going forward.
Leeds legend Eddie Gray watches his old team home and away while working for local radio. Always immaculate in suit, shirt and tie. Always ready to talk football or to pose for pictures with fans.
He remains a dignified ambassador for an often turbulent club and surely one of the most knowledgeable members of the band of reporters and summarisers who follow the Championship circus around the country.
On Monday at the Amex, the smile had been replaced by an ashen-faced scowl as he watched in a state of shock as his beloved club were embarrassed in the first half.
The 44 passes with which Albion ended the first half (interrupted only by a foul on Connor Goldson after 32) were just a little reminiscent of what Leeds and Gray once famously did to Southampton at Elland Road back in their heyday.
But he took time at the end of a long evening to assess the Seagulls – and tell The Argus why they can compete seriously for automatic promotion.
The former Football League champion and Scotland international, pictured above, said: “I felt Brighton did well and the big thing about them just now is they are scoring goals.
“They started the season well and then had a lull and now seem to be hitting form at the right time.
“Basically you are on the run-in now. You are running into Easter and there is no reason given the players they have got and especially the movement they have got in the side that they can’t push on and challenge the top teams.
“Watching the game on Monday, I don’t think we really tested them.
“They were very comfortable. They basically cruised through the second half.
“To be fair to them, they took their foot off the pedal a little bit.
“But you look at Chris Hughton taking important players off because the game is in the bag after 45 minutes.
“I can see them being up there.”
Before Middlesbrough slumped at Ewood Park on Tuesday, the current top four – Boro, Hull, Burnley and Albion – had collectively lost just once in their last four games (or 16 in total). That was the 4-1 setback suffered by the Seagulls at Cardiff.
Those four teams plus Sheffield Wednesday were all in the top eight in the current form table (last six games).
The three sides who look like going down – Rotherham, Charlton and Bolton – were all in the bottom five.
On Saturday, Albion return to the part of the country where their resurgence kicked off with a 1-0 win at Blackburn.
They aim to extend a run of 19 points from eight games away to a Preston side who have won five of their last six at Deepdale.
But one key to the Seagulls’ progress since Bobby Zamora hit the winner in the Lancashire snow has been the way they have not had to rely on one or two players for goals.
Goal or assist? Sam Baldock adds to the stats against Leeds
Nine of their players, plus two opponents, have netted in that eight-game run, including six forwards or wingers.
And ten can reasonably be credited with assists if you include Liam Rosenior’s winning of the early penalty against Leeds and Sam Baldock forcing an own goal a few minutes later.
Tomer Hemed has five goals in his last five starts and his now trademark right-heeled flick has played a part in three more, including two at Bristol City.
Things can change in this division. Upsets happen as Blackburn showed on Tuesday.
It perhaps speaks volumes for what we expect from the division that eyebrows were raised when the Seagulls had convincing wins away to a Bristol City side who were 21st at kick-off and a Leeds outfit deep in the bottom half.
In many leagues, such results would have been half-expected. In the Championship, you never quite know.
But, if a legend of the 1970s has got it right, Albion’s attacking options will help them go the distance.
DIFFERENT SCORERS IN LAST EIGHT GAMES
(Teams currently in top six)
9: Albion** (Hemed 5, Murphy, pictured, 3, Zamora 2, Knockaert, Wilson, Kayal, Stephens, Baldock, Dunk).
6: Middlesbrough* (Nugent 2, Rhodes, Ramirez, Adomah, Leadbitter, Forshaw).
5: Burnley* (Gray 4, Vokes 4, Arfield 3, Barton, Boyd); Hull (Hernandez 6, Diame 3, Clucas, Snodgrass, Hayden); Sheffield Wednesday (Hooper 6, Lee 2, Forestieri, Joao, Nuhiu); Derby (Butterfield 2, Martin 2, Bryson, Hendrick, Christie).
*: Have also benefited from an own goal.
**: Have also benefited from two own goals.
GOALS PLUS ASSISTS
(Last eight games)
8: Tomer Hemed (5+3).
5: Jamie Murphy (3+2).
4: Beram Kayal (1+3).
3: Bobby Zamora (2+1), Anthony Knockaert (1+2), Dale Stephens (1+2).
2: Sam Baldock*(1+1), own goals (2+0).
1: James Wilson (1+0), Lewis Dunk (1+0), Andrew Crofts (0+1), Jiri Skalak (0+1), Liam Rosenior (0+1).
Assist figures are our own judgment, not an official stat, and include players forcing own goals. No assist given for Tomer Hemed’s second goal versus Leeds
Original article
The top four were all on a roll, the real strugglers were – well – struggling. And Derby were hit and miss.
Then Blackburn upset Middlesbrough and gave us a reminder of how this division can serve up the unexpected.
But, as a top four just start to show signs of breaking away and the season goes into its final quarter, the doyen of Championship analysts has given his view as to why Albion can stand the pace.
And it is largely down to the pace, movement and options they suddenly have going forward.
Leeds legend Eddie Gray watches his old team home and away while working for local radio. Always immaculate in suit, shirt and tie. Always ready to talk football or to pose for pictures with fans.
He remains a dignified ambassador for an often turbulent club and surely one of the most knowledgeable members of the band of reporters and summarisers who follow the Championship circus around the country.
On Monday at the Amex, the smile had been replaced by an ashen-faced scowl as he watched in a state of shock as his beloved club were embarrassed in the first half.
The 44 passes with which Albion ended the first half (interrupted only by a foul on Connor Goldson after 32) were just a little reminiscent of what Leeds and Gray once famously did to Southampton at Elland Road back in their heyday.
But he took time at the end of a long evening to assess the Seagulls – and tell The Argus why they can compete seriously for automatic promotion.
The former Football League champion and Scotland international, pictured above, said: “I felt Brighton did well and the big thing about them just now is they are scoring goals.
“They started the season well and then had a lull and now seem to be hitting form at the right time.
“Basically you are on the run-in now. You are running into Easter and there is no reason given the players they have got and especially the movement they have got in the side that they can’t push on and challenge the top teams.
“Watching the game on Monday, I don’t think we really tested them.
“They were very comfortable. They basically cruised through the second half.
“To be fair to them, they took their foot off the pedal a little bit.
“But you look at Chris Hughton taking important players off because the game is in the bag after 45 minutes.
“I can see them being up there.”
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Before Middlesbrough slumped at Ewood Park on Tuesday, the current top four – Boro, Hull, Burnley and Albion – had collectively lost just once in their last four games (or 16 in total). That was the 4-1 setback suffered by the Seagulls at Cardiff.
Those four teams plus Sheffield Wednesday were all in the top eight in the current form table (last six games).
The three sides who look like going down – Rotherham, Charlton and Bolton – were all in the bottom five.
On Saturday, Albion return to the part of the country where their resurgence kicked off with a 1-0 win at Blackburn.
They aim to extend a run of 19 points from eight games away to a Preston side who have won five of their last six at Deepdale.
But one key to the Seagulls’ progress since Bobby Zamora hit the winner in the Lancashire snow has been the way they have not had to rely on one or two players for goals.
Goal or assist? Sam Baldock adds to the stats against Leeds
Nine of their players, plus two opponents, have netted in that eight-game run, including six forwards or wingers.
And ten can reasonably be credited with assists if you include Liam Rosenior’s winning of the early penalty against Leeds and Sam Baldock forcing an own goal a few minutes later.
Tomer Hemed has five goals in his last five starts and his now trademark right-heeled flick has played a part in three more, including two at Bristol City.
Things can change in this division. Upsets happen as Blackburn showed on Tuesday.
It perhaps speaks volumes for what we expect from the division that eyebrows were raised when the Seagulls had convincing wins away to a Bristol City side who were 21st at kick-off and a Leeds outfit deep in the bottom half.
In many leagues, such results would have been half-expected. In the Championship, you never quite know.
But, if a legend of the 1970s has got it right, Albion’s attacking options will help them go the distance.
DIFFERENT SCORERS IN LAST EIGHT GAMES
(Teams currently in top six)
9: Albion** (Hemed 5, Murphy, pictured, 3, Zamora 2, Knockaert, Wilson, Kayal, Stephens, Baldock, Dunk).
6: Middlesbrough* (Nugent 2, Rhodes, Ramirez, Adomah, Leadbitter, Forshaw).
5: Burnley* (Gray 4, Vokes 4, Arfield 3, Barton, Boyd); Hull (Hernandez 6, Diame 3, Clucas, Snodgrass, Hayden); Sheffield Wednesday (Hooper 6, Lee 2, Forestieri, Joao, Nuhiu); Derby (Butterfield 2, Martin 2, Bryson, Hendrick, Christie).
*: Have also benefited from an own goal.
**: Have also benefited from two own goals.
GOALS PLUS ASSISTS
(Last eight games)
8: Tomer Hemed (5+3).
5: Jamie Murphy (3+2).
4: Beram Kayal (1+3).
3: Bobby Zamora (2+1), Anthony Knockaert (1+2), Dale Stephens (1+2).
2: Sam Baldock*(1+1), own goals (2+0).
1: James Wilson (1+0), Lewis Dunk (1+0), Andrew Crofts (0+1), Jiri Skalak (0+1), Liam Rosenior (0+1).
Assist figures are our own judgment, not an official stat, and include players forcing own goals. No assist given for Tomer Hemed’s second goal versus Leeds
Original article