Derby disaster

IT was meant to be the popular Lorenzo Pinamonte's stage.

A match-winning goal as a going away present for Albion, or another example of what is to come from the big Italian.

But Pinamonte was upstaged by the other two foreigners on the pitch.

A cosmopolitan moment, created in Belgium, finished in Croatia and with a touch of Yorkshire benevolence thrown in for good measure, decided a dour struggle.

Wim Walschaerts crossed from the right, Andy Crosby made a mess of his clearance and Ahmet Brkovic smashed the ball home.

Brkovic, formerly of Red Star Belgrade, was signed by Orient on a non-contract basis in October after training with Millwall.

Crosby will not remember the midfielder's second goal of the season with any great affection.

He has been a model of consistency since his summer move from Chester. It was a rare, if costly mistake by the big central defender.

Ironically, it was his opening goal on his away debut in the warmth of August at Brisbane Road which helped Albion both end their Orient hoodoo and to the top of the table.

An afternoon for Crosby and the Seagulls to match the miserable weather was complete when he collected his side's only booking with 20 minutes left for a foul on Iyseden Christie.

He is now, like a clutch of his colleagues, one more yellow card away from a suspension, but there are more pressing concerns for manager Micky Adams at the moment. Like how to finish a worrying little goal famine.

Magnum

Prior to kick-off Des Lynam presented Darren Freeman with a specially commissioned magnum of champagne from Football League sponsors Nationwide for netting the first goal of the Millennium against Exeter.

Ninety minutes later there was no reason for Albion's leading marksman to open it. At this rate it will not be until the next Millennium that they score again!

Pinamonte's recovery from a hamstring knock and Danny Cullip's absence with a knee ligament injury encouraged Adams to switch to

4-3-3.

If this turns out to be Pinamonte's farewell performance it was a big let-down. He only threatened to score once, early in the first half, when he delayed too long from Freeman's deep cross and the shot was blocked by a crowd of defenders.

Freeman, playing virtually as a right winger for much of the first half, was the pick of the front trio. But he missed a good chance from the corner which arose from Pinamonte's wasted opportunity after Paul Rogers flicked it on.

Gary Hart's confidence has been dented by a lack of goals. He has hit just two in his last 15 appearances and Adams replaced him with Dave Cameron midway through the second half.

It was the second of three changes made in the space of 13 minutes in an effort to produce an equaliser.

Cameron nodded wide from another corner routine late on, but the Seagulls were pretty punchless in open play. Paul Watson's well-struck volley into the side netting with four minutes left was as close as they came.

The return to a flat back four worked well enough, apart from a dodgy opening ten minutes when Orient could have gone 2-0 up and then in the closing stages, as the game became stretched and the visitors threatened on the counter-attack.

Jamie Campbell looked more comfortable as an orthodox leftback. He could consider himself a little unfortunate to be substituted as Adams sought more attacking impetus from Kerry Mayo once Albion fell behind.

Coach Ian Culverhouse deputised on the bench in the absence of assistant manager Alan Cork for family reasons.

He was sent out by Adams to face the music after another flat note at Withdean, where as many matches have now been lost as won.

Culverhouse defended Crosby and made it clear where he felt the blame lay.

"We got enough balls into the box to cause them problems," he said. "Our crosses, free-kicks and corners were of a good quality, but they seemed to get a free clearance in which is not acceptable.

"When you put defenders under pressure they are bound to make mistakes. That is not happening at the other end at the moment.

"Everyone is gutted and sorry for the fans, but most of all the players are letting themselves down."

The fact that Albion are not, for a change, facing the same plight as Orient were in before this third away win on the trot will be of little consolation to those supporters anticipating a promotion push.

All is not yet lost, but a sustained run is required if the Seagulls are to challenge for a play-off place now.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.