Ipswich Town v Brighton & Hove Albion preview & match thread
Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2015 8:16 pm
Ipswich Town v Brighton & Hove Albion
Saturday 29th August 2015 – 15:00
Portman Road
Opening Thought – Jamma
The victories keep on coming and the records keep on tumbling! After claiming our first win at Preston since 1966 on Saturday, we have now won 5 games on the bounce for the first time in 11 years, when Joe Royle’s similarly exciting side also went top of the table. It may have taken us slightly longer than we would have liked to get past Doncaster but we seemed to get stronger as the match went on, with our additional quality and fitness eventually telling. In the preview, I had focused on the depth of our attacking options, and our strikers certainly stood up to the plate, with the three who featured all getting on the scoresheet. Tuesday night was a good illustration of the healthy competition that we now have in the strike department. Brett Pitman drew level with Freddie Sears on 2 goals for the season before David McGoldrick got in on the act to reach the same tally. It didn’t take long for Ryan Fraser, introduced as a substitute, to think to himself ‘I’m not having this’, before he promptly edged ahead of the strikers again with his 3rd of the campaign. In between, James Alabi had also taken the chance to stake his claim, getting off the mark and compounding Mick McCarthy’s selection headache for Saturday!
As well as the records, another sign of the success that we are enjoying at the moment is the calibre of matches that we are involved in. As Mick would say, ‘Isn’t it lovely that the youngsters will get the chance to test themselves against Manchester United?’ (possibly). However, before we start thinking ahead to next month’s trip to Old Trafford, we have an equally enticing prospect at Portman Road on Saturday to look forward to. Not many people would have had Ipswich v Brighton down as a top-of-the-table clash before the season got underway, but it is a fixture which gives both clubs the opportunity to make a statement of intent. The winner will go out in front on their own ahead of the international break, effectively setting a mark for the rest of the league. With just one goal setting us apart in the table, there is next to nothing to choose between the two sides. But this will be nothing new, as all of our matches so far have been decided by the finest of margins. Saturday’s outcome could be determined by an individual piece of magic like Ryan Fraser’s winner at Deepdale or an inspired tactical intervention. Home advantage could therefore be crucial and, with the feel-good factor surrounding the Blues at the moment, Portman Road should be bouncing this bank holiday weekend.
The Opposition - Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. were founded in 1901 and, in 1920, they were elected to the Football League's new Third Division, in which they played until 1958, when they were promoted to Division Two. Within 5 years, they had been relegated down to Division 4 and took another 3 years to achieve Division 3 status again.
Mike Bamber was the Chairman of Brighton from October 1972 until 1983. He famously brought Brian Clough to the club later that year and then appointed former England player Alan Mullery as manager. Mullery led the football club to the First Division in the 1978/79 season. The 1982/83 season saw a wildly inconsistent start for the club, with victories over Arsenal and Manchester United mixed in with heavy defeats, ending in relegation at the end of the season.
Despite their relegation, Brighton reached their first (and to date only) FA Cup final and drew 2–2 with Manchester United in the first match. Brighton's goals were scored by Gordon Smith and Gary Stevens. This was the final that featured the "miss" by Gordon Smith with virtually the last kick of the game in extra time, prompting the well- known phrase "and Smith must score". In effect, it was actually a save by the Manchester United goalkeeper, Gary Bailey. In the replay, Manchester United won 4–0.
In 1996, the club's financial situation was becoming increasingly precarious and the club's directors had come to a decision that the Goldstone Ground would have to be sold to pay off some of the club's huge debts. After a terrible start to 1996–97, Brighton were stuck at the bottom of the league by a considerable margin – they seemed certain to be relegated from the Football League just 14 years after they had almost won the FA Cup. They ended up being saved by a relatively unknown Manager in Steve Gritt and a late goal in the last game of the season against the bottom side Hereford, which kept their 77-year history of being part of the Football League intact.
A lifelong fan named d*ck Knight took control of the club in 1997, having led the fan pressure to oust the previous board following their sale of the club's Goldstone Ground to property developers.
The sale of the Goldstone ground went through in 1997 and this led to Brighton having to play some 70 miles away at Gillingham's Priestfield stadium. Micky Adams was appointed Brighton's manager in 1999. For the start of the 1999–2000 season, the Seagulls moved back to Brighton and started playing their home games at the Withdean Stadium, a converted athletics track owned by the local council.
2000–01 was Brighton's first successful season for 13 years. They were crowned champions of Division Three and promoted to Division Two. Brighton maintained their good form the following season, being crowned Division Two champions, winning a second successive promotion, just five years after almost succumbing to the double threat of losing their Football League status and going out of business completely.
In the 2002/03 season, they were relegated to what is now League 1, but came straight back up to what is now the Championship at the end of the following season and, in 2005/06, once again Brighton found themselves going back down to League 1.
During May 2009, Knight was replaced as chairman of Brighton by Tony Bloom, who had successfully secured £93 million funding for the new Falmer Stadium and secured 75% shareholding of the club. Building of Falmer Stadium (known as the AMEX Stadium) was started in December 2008. On 31 May 2011, the club officially completed the handover and were given the keys to the stadium, with an initial capacity of 22,374 seats, signifying the end of 12 years without a home. (Since then, the ground has been developed to include additional facilities and capacity has increased to 30,750 by May 2013.)
They stayed in League 1 until the 2010/11 season, when they achieved promotion back to the Football Championship, where they have played for the past 4 seasons.
Last season, there were expectations that the Seagulls would at a minimum match the previous year’s play-off finishing position, but ultimately they had a very disappointing season, managing only 47 points and ending in 20th place in the table.
One To Watch – Kazenga Lua Lua
Brighton boast some impressive names amongst their squad, with the top 3 surely comprising Kazenga Lua Lua, Gaetan Bong and Lewis Dunk. But this is no reason to select a player for my ‘One to watch’…so luckily the first of these has also had a pretty successful start to the campaign!
Having had to emerge from the shadows of (even better-named) older brother Lomana Tresor, Kazenga has gone on to make a name for himself (excuse the pun!) since his move to the South Coast. He eventually signed permanently from Newcastle in 2011, having taken in two previous loan spells with the Seagulls. Although he shares his brother’s talent for a spectacular somersault goal celebration, as a winger his attributes are focused on his pace and trickery. He does, however, seem to have taken after Lomana with his eye for goal, which has become a more regular part of his game. The 24-year-old Congolese international has enjoyed a particularly prolific start to 2015-16, with 3 goals in 5 league and cup appearances so far.
The Manager – Chris Hughton
A product of Tottenham Hotspur's youth system, the left-back made his debut in 1979. He was a member of the Tottenham side which won both the 1981 and 1982 FA Cups, the 1984 UEFA Cup and was runner-up in the 1982 Football League Cup and the 1987 FA Cup. He played 398 games for Tottenham in all competitions, scoring 19 goals, and is considered one of the best full-backs to have played for the club.
In November 1990, West Ham United signed Hughton, initially on loan, then on a free transfer. He played two seasons at West Ham, making 43 appearances in all competitions, helping them win promotion from Division Two in 1991.
In 1992, he signed for Brentford, again on a free transfer. He played one season for Brentford, before retiring aged 34.
Though being born in England, Hughton qualified to play for the Republic of Ireland as the son of an Irish mother and a Ghanaian father, becoming the first mixed-race player to represent the country. He won 53 caps for the Republic from 1979 to 1991.
Hughton was awarded a testimonial, staged on 29 May 1995 at Lansdowne Road.
He served as the national team's assistant manager under Brian Kerr, from February 2003 to October 2005.
From June 1993 to October 2007, Hughton was a coach at Tottenham Hotspur, initially in charge of the under-21 team, then the reserve side in 1999, being promoted to the First Team two years later. In his time at Spurs, he served under ten different managers. He also served as caretaker manager on two separate occasions. On 25 October 2007, Hughton was dismissed as assistant manager along with then manager Martin Jol.
On 22 February 2008, he was appointed first team coach at Newcastle United.
On 8 September 2008, Hughton was named Caretaker Manager of Newcastle following the departure of Kevin Keegan. Hughton stood down as caretaker and was replaced on a temporary basis by Joe Kinnear. Hughton was promoted to Assistant Manager after the Magpies appointed Colin Calderwood as First Team Coach on 26 January 2009. In February, Kinnear was taken ill before a game and Hughton took charge. In the following week, it was revealed that Kinnear needed a heart bypass operation and that Hughton, along with Colin Calderwood and Paul Barron, would have to take charge of the team for the next few weeks and possibly months. However, after a number of defeats, Newcastle decided to appoint Alan Shearer as Interim Manager until the end of the season.
During the off-season of 2009, owner Mike Ashley announced that he was selling the club. Hughton was again left with the job of Caretaker Manager, when the club failed to further secure the services of Alan Shearer.
Newcastle's unbeaten start to the new season, which saw Hughton win successive Manager of the Month awards for August and September and then again in November, resulted in the board naming him as the new permanent manager of the club, after two stints as caretaker.
On 5 April 2010, Newcastle, under Hughton's control, confirmed their promotion back to the Premier League after just one season away. Newcastle were unbeaten at home for the entire 2009–10 season, including both cup competitions, clinching promotion in record time.
Hughton received praise for his calm management style to stabilise the club, shrewd signings and guiding Newcastle back to the Premier League. Despite leading his newly-promoted side to a healthy ninth place by the end of October, unrest came when star player Andy Carroll was arrested for assault.
Following a defeat at West Brom in December, Hughton became the first Premier League manager of the 2010–11 season to lose his job, as he was dismissed by Managing Director Derek Llambias.
The decision was ill-received by the players and the supporters, with many key figures in the game condemning the action. The club stated that "an individual with more managerial experience [was] needed to take the club forward". Before the match against Liverpool, on 11 December, campaigners from United For Newcastle organised a protest outside St James' Park as an opportunity for supporters to thank Hughton and to show their anger towards Ashley's decision.
After media speculation linking Hughton with a variety of clubs, he was appointed manager of Championship club and League Cup holders Birmingham City in June 2011. In the club's first European campaign for 50 years, he led them into the group stages of the Europa League. During October, Birmingham won four and drew one of their League matches, an achievement for which Hughton was named Championship Manager of the Month. Hughton guided the Blues to a 4th place finish in the Championship, qualifying for the play-offs, where they lost over the two legs of the semi-final against Blackpool.
At the end of the 2011–12 season, Birmingham gave Norwich City permission to talk to Hughton about their vacant managerial post, and he joined the Canaries on 7 June 2012.
His first league game in charge was against Fulham, where Norwich lost, although this result was followed by memorable league victories against both Arsenal and Manchester United, as well as a League Cup victory against Tottenham Hotspur. Norwich, however, experienced bad form throughout the winter and towards the end of the season. Having battled against relegation for the whole of the season, Hughton's first season in charge saw them finish in 11th place.
On 6 April 2014, Norwich City announced that they had "parted company" with Hughton with immediate effect. At the time of his departure, Norwich were in 17th place in the Premier League.
After leaving Norwich, Hughton was offered, and rejected, Assistant Manager roles at various Premier League clubs.
On 31 December 2014, Hughton was announced as the new man in charge of Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion on a three-and-a-half-year contract.
Past Match - Video Highlights - Trev
A look back to what happened on Brighton’s last visit to Suffolk, around this time last year, including a Goal of the Season contender from Daryl Murphy. I’m sure we’d all take a repeat on Saturday!
Trev's Trivia
Players to play for both clubs
Dean Bowditch ITFC 2002-2009 BHA 2006 and 2008 loan
Darren Currie ITFC 2004-2007 BHA 2004
Nicky Forster ITFC 2005-2006 BHA 2007-2010
Dan Harding ITFC 2006-2009 BHA 2002-2005
David Stockdale ITFC 2011-2012 loan BHA 2014-present
Media Watch - K L Blue
Interesting comments regarding the next round of the Capital One Cup (source: Clubcall)
Mick McCarthy intends to keep faith with Ipswich youngsters
Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy intends to keep faith with his younger players in the Capital One Cup despite drawing Manchester United away in the next round.
McCarthy's men sealed victory in extra-time after having to battle all the way against League One side Doncaster.
Speaking after the match but before the third-round draw was made, the Ipswich boss said: "We hope to have some players back by then but will play some of the youngsters regardless of who we get in the draw. "They did well tonight in what was a difficult game for us although I thought we deserved it over the course of the game. "Extra time was the next-to-last thing we wanted because the main objective was to win the game. "We didn't want to lose so we had to go into the extra period to go through. "They had a decent spell after we had started well and they played particularly well at the start of the second half but we had some good chances and we put them away. "David McGoldrick was outstanding and deserved his goal after having a bit of a frustrating time."
McCarthy added: "I'm delighted to have won the game. It was tough but we deserved it."
Doncaster scored first against the run of play with a fine goal from Andy Williams in the 23rd minute before Brett Pitman drew Ipswich level in the 58th minute, slamming the ball home following a goalmouth scramble.
Thorsten Stuckmann made a series of fine saves for Rovers to take the tie into extra time when Ipswich's extra class told.
McGoldrick headed them in front in the 102nd minute from Larsen Toure's cross and then saw a deflected effort enter the net off team-mate James Alabi to put them 3-1 in front.
Substitute Ryan Fraser clinched victory with a low drive in the 113th minute although the final score failed to reflect the effort Doncaster put into the game.
Rovers manager Paul Dickov said: "I thought we played well but over the 120 minutes their extra class made all the difference. "It was a much better performance by us after a dreadful display at Port Vale on Saturday, especially as we had to make changes throughout the game because of injuries. "I thought the youngsters that came on were excellent and our decision-making was very good. "We just couldn't round it off but I thought the final score line was a bit harsh."
Stat Time
Head to Head
Ipswich Wins.............28………......(45.90%)
Brighton Wins............21…………....(34.43%)
Draws......................2……………..(19.67%)
Ipswich Goals...........106 (ave. 1.74 per match)
Brighton Goals...........90 (ave. 1.48 per match)
Head to Head at Ipswich
Ipswich Wins..............20…........(64.52%)
Brighton Wins.............6…………...(19.35%)
Draws......................5…………..(16.13%)
Ipswich Goals............69 (ave. 2.23 per match)
Brighton Goals...........32 (ave. 1.03 per match)
Marko’s Caption Contest
Another decent week with the 5 points going to Barmy Billy.
LEAGUE TABLE:
Quasar 9
Barmy Billy 8
Foxy lady 7
Charnwood 7
Floors 7
DerickIpsw 6
BlueBlood 6
Number9. 6
Herforder 6
James Scharmann 4
IpswichtownNO1 4
Frosty 4
Nicsreamer 3
Ohiotractorboy 3
Bluemike 2
Hallamblue 2
LoudNProud 1
Have a go at this bloke needing a shave:
The Predicted Teams
Ipswich Town
With Mick having said that he won’t rush Daryl Murphy, Teddy Bishop, Kevin Bru and Jonathan Parr back from their respective injuries, we are more likely to see them return after the international break. Tommy Smith will have a late fitness test after being withdrawn late on against Doncaster and Dean Gerken may continue to deputise for Bartosz Bialkowski.
1 Dean Gerken
4 Luke Chambers
5 Tommy Smith
6 Christophe Berra
3 Jonas Knudsen
7 Ainsley Maitland-Niles
8 Cole Skuse
22 Jonathan Douglas
14 Ryan Fraser
10 David McGoldrick
20 Freddie Sears
Brighton
Albion made widespread changes for their League Cup defeat to Walsall in midweek, with only Jamie Murphy retaining his place from the ‘league’ team. The side that takes to the field at Portman Road will be more like the one that also made it 3 wins out of 4 against Blackburn last time out:
13 David Stockdale
2 Bruno Saltor
3 Gordon Greer
4 Uwe Hunemeier
12 Gaetan Bong
13 Jamie Murphy
6 Dale Stephens
7 Beram Kayal
30 Kazenga Lua Lua
9 Sam Baldock
10 Tomer Hemed
Match Referee – Keith Hill
Final Thought - Frosty
Great result over Donny midweek, these games can be a risk/lottery but I think we can only take positives from the performance of new players, young players and some older hands looking for form and fitness. I think the fact that this Starting XI was basically untried is yet another great sign of the playing depth we are starting to build within the club and the overall positive start to the season.
Staying with the Capital One Cup for a sec. You may have seen this article regarding our 3rd round draw versus Man Utd, but this is too good not to share from the Suffolk Gazette:-
Man Utd’s dream clash with Ipswich
Minnows Manchester United were ecstatic last night after being drawn in the cup against the famous Ipswich Town.
United fans roared in anticipation when their team were drawn to play at home against the former FA Cup, League and UEFA champions from Suffolk.
They can’t wait to see how their plucky Old Trafford team, led by up-and-coming players like Wayne Rooney, will get on against such illustrious opposition.
Fans in Manchester won’t care about the likely defeat to Mick McCarthy’s men, who are currently top of the Champonship and unbeaten in all competitions.
Darren Smith, 29, a United season ticket holder said: “The chance to play against Ioswich comes around so rarely.
“It will be fascinating to see how our boys can hold up against them.
“We won’t mind about the result – it will be a night to remember whatever happens on the pitch.”
Meanwhile the Tractor Boys were taking the Capital One Cup draw, made after they beat Doncaster 4-1 in the second round, in their stride.
“It’s a bit of a boring draw, isn’t it?” complained Ipswich supporter Mark Peters, 32, from Bury St Edmunds.
“We were rather hoping for a glamour tie like Carlisle away.”
Anyway, back to the small task at hand on Saturday, here’s the first ‘top of the table’ clash for the season and for once we happen to be part of it.
We have shared the results with the Seagulls over the past few seasons with both sides winning 4 games a piece, with only a solitary draw in the past 9 encounters. A win for either side would create a handy buffer over the current 3rd placed side on the table.
Last season Brighton would have had high hopes of continuing their place in the top half of the table but they had a bit of a mare, and finished in a disappointing 20th place. This certainly will be a tougher opponent than the one we face last season.
In other fixtures of note, MK Dons host Birmingham, Wolves welcome Charlton, Preston travel to Hull and Wednesdays are at home to Middlesbrough.
My sincere hope is that this Saturday we can at a minimum take a point and go into the International Window unbeaten. This will be the 7th game in what has been a great first 21 days of the new season.
For those of you that are making the pilgrimage to Portman Road on Saturday ………. I envy you bastards!
IPSWICH TOWN2 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1
Superb!! 
