[themaclad]

With the International break over, the Football League computer sends North End on another marathon trip, this time to deepest Sussex to meet a Brighton side who have made a more than decent start to the season they lie fourth with 21 points from 11 games four points behind leaders Huddersfield. They are on a decent run of form having beaten Sheffield Wednesday last time out.
Very strong squad at the Amex at Hillsborough they have made a useful signing in Glenn Murray always a useful scorer at this level kept Hamed out, they have signed Duffy from Blackburn who has achieved the fantastic achievement of scoring two own goals in a season, last season at Ewood he was sent off against North End for deliberate handball. Kayal was missing in midfield last time out but they still have the mercurial Knockaert, paid a lot of money for him however sometimes suspects he's not always in the mood to turn it on, interestingly they have also recruited Norwood from Reading, sends in a wicked deadball this lad.
Tough game this both games ended 0-0 last season, suspect another close encounter this time.
After our recent run of better form it was a pity we had a two week break, however gives us a bit of time to clear up injuries, Vermijl should be closer to fitness, nothing in the press in respects of McGeady although if it was a hamstring injury he had against Villa he won't play on Saturday.
A selection of first teamers who have not played recently played in a bounce game at Fleetwood on Tuesday and lost 2-0, Spurr was not playing which could possibly mean he's pencilled in to replace the suspended Cunningham.
Went last season, long journey so thought I would go again, got to practice sitting down for 12 hours as I get to do it a week on Saturday when we go to Naarwich.

Brighton and Hove Albion last three WDW Next three Wolverhampton Wanderers H Wigan Athletic A Norwich City H
PNE last three WDW next three Huddersfield Town H Norwich City A Newcastle United A (Cup)

[themaclad]

Vermijl, Beckford and McGeady all out according to Grayson

[themaclad]

A 602 mile round trip from door to door, a 94th minute equaliser when down to ten and many an acca destroyed add to that swollen ankles and the joys of the M25 all adds up to a priceless away day.
8am set out decent journey down until two seperate incidents on the M25 delayed our arrived at the Amex until five minutes before kick off. As for the game North End started well taking a very early lead due to some extremely haphazard defending by Brighton. Bruno's wayward backpass was not what Stockdale in the Albion would have wanted, he miscontrolled it, Hugill nipped in and scored from about 15 yards. As expected the pressure mounted on North End, Albion had their chances, missed them all although in truth cannot remember Maxwell having a save to make although he got lucky from a Murphey cross cum shot which only narrowly beat the post. North End sporadic attacks came to nothing as the final ball to the hard working Hugill often left him chasing lost causes.
The second half was all one way as Brighton poured forward, Spurr was having a nightmare against Knockaert must have beaten him umpteen times in the first ten minutes of the second half. The goakl was coming and down the right wing went Bruno into acres of space behind Spurr, his cross found Baldock who sent the ball into the net.
Knew it was only a matter of time until they went ahead, Murray turned Baptiste far to easily slid the ball pat Maxwell, uphill from now on in. Albion could not get a third to kill the game off due to some good defending and keeping. As the game drifted towards a close in the last 10 minutes Albion seemed happy to keep possession as North End went down to ten as Welsh injured himself. Fans began to drift off home, but they missed the late twist in the game. Gallagher inch perfect cross found the head of Makienok, at this moment time seemed to stand still, no whistle for a foul, no offside, no movement from Stockdale, then the dawning realisation that we had scored, cue pandemonium of those in thye away end stunned silence from the home fans.
We had another chance to sneak the winner minutes later but that would have been really taking the piss.
Have to say the Amex is a quality stadium, in the main Albion fans are very decent folk, top day out nothing like blagging a point on the road.

Brighton and Hove Albion 2 Preston North End 2 Att 27606


Brighton manager Chris Hughton:

"With games as tough as they are, there is no doubt that this is two points lost."

"Baldock scored with a really good team goal and Murray's strike was a good ball in and a good finish," he added.

"At 2-1 we should be killing the game off and showing more killer instinct as there is always a chance that the opposition will score."

Preston manager Simon Grayson:

"We have taken four points from our last two games against Aston Villa and Brighton and had someone offered that before we would have taken it.

"This can only boost our confidence but we know what we have to do.

"When 2-1 down against a side like Brighton it will test anybody in the league, but you have to dig deep and stay in the game.

"To come here against a real top team, with good individuals, you have to do what you can to get a result, and we did that."