Blog C

Lesson now learnt. If you can’t say anything nice don’t say owt at all. This is my motto from now on.

By the time I had negotiated the more submerged end of Station Road on Saturday afternoon, the weather was none too bad. However the Withdean floodlights illuminated a very grey and threatening sky. But as I keep telling my wife, when she moans how cold and wet it’s becoming’’yeah but its November.’’ Block C was unusually full,even the seat next to me, which has been empty since Paul Kitson last scored for the Albion had a bod in it. First suspicions were it was a Leeds fan; the tracksuit and brogues gave it away. Small, even diminutive, Graeme Smith, replaced, giant friendly ogre like, Michel Kuipers in goal. The Murray and Forster partnership was restored. Liam Dickinson wasn’t in the squad. Rumours he was carting young ladies around Brighton and Hove like a human rickshaw were unfounded. Someone grassed him up to the Argus regarding his little adventure. Some people have got nothing better to do.....ahem! Actually Liam was injured, but will hopefully be back for the Norwich game.

Sadly it wasn’t long until Leeds took the lead. Young Smith seemed to be venturing towards the directors box, so far was he off his line, when the ball whistled over his head. Maybe he was going to see if Chris Moyles really was sitting next to Tony Bloom. Not long after they scored again. This time everyone around me in Block C screamed that it was ''offside'' and the ‘lino’ was ''not up with play''. It was onside and a good goal. It does make me laugh when everyone berates the poor linesman ,each one in turn thinking they’re funnier than the last. The linesman, alright assistant referee, can’t answer back; he probably can’t even hear them. I used to have business dealings with a football league linesman, in those far off days when I worked in the City. He appeared at Withdean quite often as he was based in Essex.

I asked him once if he could hear the crowd at Withers having a go at him. ‘’Oh yeah’’ he replied ‘’every time I hear them scream and cry, I think they must have dropped another stitch’’. Implying we are all a bit girlie amused me, especially when John told me he had been brought up as a Palace fan.

Soon into the second half the pantomime really took off. Waldorf and Statler, have sat about three rows behind me for nearly 10 years! I don’t know their names but, I like many others have often asked them to be quiet in some polite way or another, usually saying ‘’will you SHUT UP.’’ One of them, was once an Albion 99, and I don’t mean an ice cream. They moan about everything. One had major sulk when he turned up late and the Albion had scored before he got to his seat. One other classic foot stamp was when, one or the other was one digit out on the Withdean Wager. He was actually going to confront the guy who bought the ticket before him, and insisted he would never buy a ticket again. This was only for the second prize of the football!

On Saturday they began shouting instructions to the players ‘’Coxy, Coxy, behind you, behind you.’’

I thought I was at the Theatre Royal on Boxing Day. I was expecting Dean Cox to respond with hello boys and girls have you seen the ugly sisters? (Weren’t they on the pitch at half time) .

Waldorf and his mate, whichever is which; do not so much support the Albion they spit venom at them. I really think they consider these professional footballers, coached by a former Uruguayan international, are going to discard the boss’s instruction and cup their ears towards Block C.

During the second half the inevitable late autumn monsoon started at Withdean. A bit like Millwall last season, but at least we won that day.

Brighton did have a go at Leeds but just couldn’t put the ball in the net. Gus changed it around, Alan Navarro came on and proved he could win the ball well enough, but not distribute it quite as well. Craig Davies also got 20 or so minutes. He never got sight of goal though, as the Albion adventurously went with three up front. This was their final undoing, as Leeds got a quick and well worked third goal on the counter attack.

So the Albion lost, but the performance in defeat was much better than the performances in defeat earlier in the season. Is that good or not? I am firmly on the Gus bus; I just hope Waldorf and Statler aren’t moaning about the lack of empty seats up stairs.