SeagullSimon
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Tommy Mooney believes Brighton may pay for their early celebrations at the County Ground. At the final whistle of yesterday's play-off semi-final first leg the Albion players punched the air and embraced, having won 1-0.
And Town striker Mooney is hoping the Sussex club will be made to regret their gestures after Thursday's second leg at the Withdean Stadium.
"Their reaction at the end of the game almost showed they think they've won it," said Mooney.
"So we can go out there and relax and play football on Thursday, and if we produce the performance we did today we will be all right.
"That's the advantage of having the second leg at home - you think it's going to be an easier game.
"It's our job now to prove it won't be."
Mooney went close to scoring with a 35th minute diving header and also hit the crossbar after 63 minutes.
"Smithy (Grant Smith) had put so much power on the cross I just thought 'stay onside and get some contact'," he said.
"Unfortunately I got too good a contact and it rattled back off the woodwork.
"We're disappointed with the result but pleased with the performance.
"To be so far on top and get nothing out of the game is hard to swallow but we know we can go to Brighton with confidence.
"We came very close to breaching their defence and they are not unbreakable."
Goalkeeper Rhys Evans said the players felt hard done by, but would pick themselves up for Thursday.
"The goal was the first shot on target they had and we battered them today," he said.
"It was a bit of an SAS job from them - they have come in the back door and sneaked out on us.
"I just hope we don't come to regret the chances we had because that was our best performance for quite a while.
"After playing so well it just deflates you to lose, but we need to pick ourselves up for Thursday night.
"We are confident because we played well and it's just a case of overcoming this kick in the knackers and then we're very much still in this tie."
Meanwhile, Brighton manager Mark McGhee said his approach to the game had worked.
"We had a game-plan here and I was confident as it panned out," he said.
"It was what we expected and we dealt with it well.
"We are not a free-scoring team and it will be a disciplined performance from us at the home match."
And Town striker Mooney is hoping the Sussex club will be made to regret their gestures after Thursday's second leg at the Withdean Stadium.
"Their reaction at the end of the game almost showed they think they've won it," said Mooney.
"So we can go out there and relax and play football on Thursday, and if we produce the performance we did today we will be all right.
"That's the advantage of having the second leg at home - you think it's going to be an easier game.
"It's our job now to prove it won't be."
Mooney went close to scoring with a 35th minute diving header and also hit the crossbar after 63 minutes.
"Smithy (Grant Smith) had put so much power on the cross I just thought 'stay onside and get some contact'," he said.
"Unfortunately I got too good a contact and it rattled back off the woodwork.
"We're disappointed with the result but pleased with the performance.
"To be so far on top and get nothing out of the game is hard to swallow but we know we can go to Brighton with confidence.
"We came very close to breaching their defence and they are not unbreakable."
Goalkeeper Rhys Evans said the players felt hard done by, but would pick themselves up for Thursday.
"The goal was the first shot on target they had and we battered them today," he said.
"It was a bit of an SAS job from them - they have come in the back door and sneaked out on us.
"I just hope we don't come to regret the chances we had because that was our best performance for quite a while.
"After playing so well it just deflates you to lose, but we need to pick ourselves up for Thursday night.
"We are confident because we played well and it's just a case of overcoming this kick in the knackers and then we're very much still in this tie."
Meanwhile, Brighton manager Mark McGhee said his approach to the game had worked.
"We had a game-plan here and I was confident as it panned out," he said.
"It was what we expected and we dealt with it well.
"We are not a free-scoring team and it will be a disciplined performance from us at the home match."
