swindonseagull
Well-known member
A defensive masterclass by brighton
Bristol City 0 v 1 Brighton
Bristol City's promotion dream was killed off for another season after one of the scrappiest games of the entire campaign.
But winners Brighton will have no complaints after they stopped City from creating any clear cut chances and then pounced on a rare opening in the Robins' rearguard.
Just as the Seagulls had done in a league match at Ashton Gate two months earlier, Mark McGhee's side put on a defensive masterclass. And when they did launch a rare attack it was a foul by Danny Coles that led to an 84th minute penalty which was converted by Leon Knight.
City will complain long and loud that Knight fouled Coles in the build-up to the decision, but they will also know deep down that they did not do themselves justice.
As expected Wilson had restored Lee Miller to the starting line-up in the absence of the injured Lee Peacock. It was Miller's first start in 11 games but he never threatened and was replaced after little more than an hour.
After eight minutes Brighton's lively Nathan Jones burst past Louis Carey and steamed down the left before the Bristolian recovered to make a good tackle. Jones reacted angrily and Carey pushed him away. Sensibly referee Richard Beeby chose to take no action.
At the other end Brian Tinnion's 10th minute free-kick didn't really trouble Brighton keeper Ben Roberts. But it proved to be City's only real shot on target of the whole game.
City thought they had missed a golden opportunity when Tony Butler won the ball in front of Roberts from a Craig Woodman free-kick. The centre back fired over the bar but was then ruled to have fouled Roberts.
Moments later Carey was adjudged to have fouled Jones on the edge of his own box. Brighton's previously anonymous top scorer Knight took the kick and hit the top of the bar before the ball fell to safety.
At the other end, City skipper Tommy Doherty was only narrowly over the top with a free kick of his own.
Knight was laid out by Coles three minutes into the second half. The defender won the ball first but Knight needed treatment after being caught by his marker.
Then, after Roberts had punched away a Doherty free- kick, Tinnion was a yard wide with a low driven effort from 20 yards. After 61 minutes Scott Murray replaced Miller to huge acclaim but he made little impact and is yet to match the form he showed for City in his first spell with the club.
City kept Brighton penned in their half for long spells and when the Seagulls did break free, Chris Iwelumo blasted wildly off-target.
Doherty had been sick in the dressing room at half-time and that delayed the start of the second half. But if he was feeling rough the midfielder did not show it and was one of City's better performers. Indeed he joined Brighton's Adam Virgo in the referee's book on 69 minutes for a foul on Iwelumo.
Cullip then clattered Christian Roberts, who needed lengthy treatment.
However, the referee somehow awarded Brighton the free-kick and after a melee Iwelumo just failed to react to a clear chance before Phillips dived on the ball.
City boss Danny Wilson then replaced Tinnion with Luke Wilkshire in what may prove the City veteran's final game for the club.
Seconds later Knight forced his way past Coles inside the area. The ball broke to Iwelumo and, just as the Scot was about to pull the trigger, Coles, in a desperate attempt to get back, caught Iwelumo's leg, leaving referee Beeby no option but to give a penalty.
Knight stepped up and although Phillips dived the right way, put the ball past the diving keeper's right hand.
A late rally from City failed to come to anything and at the final whistle it was Brighton who were able to celebrate a famous victory.
Bristol City (4-4-2): Phillips; Carey, Coles, Butler (Goodfellow 88), Hill; Rougier, Doherty, Tinnion (Wilkshire 82), Woodman; C Roberts, Miller (Murray 61). Subs not used: Stowell, Burnell.
Brighton (4-4-2): B Roberts; Virgo, Butters, Cullip, Harding; Hart, Carpenter (Reid 61), Oatway, Jones (Piercey 78); Knight, Iwelumo. Subs not used: Kuipers, Mayo, Hinshelwood.
Attendance: 65,167
Bristol City 0 v 1 Brighton
Bristol City's promotion dream was killed off for another season after one of the scrappiest games of the entire campaign.
But winners Brighton will have no complaints after they stopped City from creating any clear cut chances and then pounced on a rare opening in the Robins' rearguard.
Just as the Seagulls had done in a league match at Ashton Gate two months earlier, Mark McGhee's side put on a defensive masterclass. And when they did launch a rare attack it was a foul by Danny Coles that led to an 84th minute penalty which was converted by Leon Knight.
City will complain long and loud that Knight fouled Coles in the build-up to the decision, but they will also know deep down that they did not do themselves justice.
As expected Wilson had restored Lee Miller to the starting line-up in the absence of the injured Lee Peacock. It was Miller's first start in 11 games but he never threatened and was replaced after little more than an hour.
After eight minutes Brighton's lively Nathan Jones burst past Louis Carey and steamed down the left before the Bristolian recovered to make a good tackle. Jones reacted angrily and Carey pushed him away. Sensibly referee Richard Beeby chose to take no action.
At the other end Brian Tinnion's 10th minute free-kick didn't really trouble Brighton keeper Ben Roberts. But it proved to be City's only real shot on target of the whole game.
City thought they had missed a golden opportunity when Tony Butler won the ball in front of Roberts from a Craig Woodman free-kick. The centre back fired over the bar but was then ruled to have fouled Roberts.
Moments later Carey was adjudged to have fouled Jones on the edge of his own box. Brighton's previously anonymous top scorer Knight took the kick and hit the top of the bar before the ball fell to safety.
At the other end, City skipper Tommy Doherty was only narrowly over the top with a free kick of his own.
Knight was laid out by Coles three minutes into the second half. The defender won the ball first but Knight needed treatment after being caught by his marker.
Then, after Roberts had punched away a Doherty free- kick, Tinnion was a yard wide with a low driven effort from 20 yards. After 61 minutes Scott Murray replaced Miller to huge acclaim but he made little impact and is yet to match the form he showed for City in his first spell with the club.
City kept Brighton penned in their half for long spells and when the Seagulls did break free, Chris Iwelumo blasted wildly off-target.
Doherty had been sick in the dressing room at half-time and that delayed the start of the second half. But if he was feeling rough the midfielder did not show it and was one of City's better performers. Indeed he joined Brighton's Adam Virgo in the referee's book on 69 minutes for a foul on Iwelumo.
Cullip then clattered Christian Roberts, who needed lengthy treatment.
However, the referee somehow awarded Brighton the free-kick and after a melee Iwelumo just failed to react to a clear chance before Phillips dived on the ball.
City boss Danny Wilson then replaced Tinnion with Luke Wilkshire in what may prove the City veteran's final game for the club.
Seconds later Knight forced his way past Coles inside the area. The ball broke to Iwelumo and, just as the Scot was about to pull the trigger, Coles, in a desperate attempt to get back, caught Iwelumo's leg, leaving referee Beeby no option but to give a penalty.
Knight stepped up and although Phillips dived the right way, put the ball past the diving keeper's right hand.
A late rally from City failed to come to anything and at the final whistle it was Brighton who were able to celebrate a famous victory.
Bristol City (4-4-2): Phillips; Carey, Coles, Butler (Goodfellow 88), Hill; Rougier, Doherty, Tinnion (Wilkshire 82), Woodman; C Roberts, Miller (Murray 61). Subs not used: Stowell, Burnell.
Brighton (4-4-2): B Roberts; Virgo, Butters, Cullip, Harding; Hart, Carpenter (Reid 61), Oatway, Jones (Piercey 78); Knight, Iwelumo. Subs not used: Kuipers, Mayo, Hinshelwood.
Attendance: 65,167
