Brighton & Hove Albion 0-2 Watford - 25/04/2015

Surely how worried you are about next weeks game, hinges on tomorrows game and the results of the other teams around us which will follow

 

Good luck Watford, it would be nice to see you seal promotion with a game to spare.

If there's a party, I hope you have a lovely time!

 

Thank fook, almost Saturday! good luck going, watching or listening to the game everybody and sleep well COYH!!!

 

And hope you stay up mate with at least a game to spare which looks more than a possibility on current form! It would be a shame to see all three promoted clubs come back down (yes, even QPR for whom I don't get the hate, they're more a symptom rather than cause of what is wrong with football at the top level).

 

Longest week EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Cheers, complete dejection has turned into squeeky-bum excitement and anticipation over the last few weeks. Football eh?

 

Just wait until next week. Unless we go up this weekend.

If we don't...prepare for the most agonising week of your life.

 

I'm going to be at the station from 10am with HappyHornet24 grabbing some breakfast at The Cyclist....they serve beer :drinking:

 

Can't sleep ...

 

https://www.facebook.com/james.hodgins.7/videos/o.401325703283083/10153816746779517/?type=2&theater

 

Why has everything on the forum gone back to last night?!

Was today a dream?

 

God, do we have to do it all again?

 

Re-live this day.....YES!!!

 

Only if results stay the same.......

 

Forum gone into meltdown?

Can't handle the excitement!

It will vaporise next Saturday....

 

Here's the match report I posted round about 5 pm today, which I wisely saved just before the forum went into meltdown. I started typing when the 3pm games were still being played, so had to change a few things accordingly!


Well. What an emotionally draining experience and I wasn't even there! I hope those who were in attendance can just relax and enjoy the rest of their day/weekend in Brighton after our promotion has already been confirmed, you and of course everyone else connected with this great club has well and truly earned it.

For anyone who didn't see it, don't be fooled by the scoreline - it was far less comfortable than 2-0 suggests, and the last ten or so minutes were quite horrible as I just wanted the game to end and was desperate for a p1ss but couldn't take my eyes off the screen in case of a possible car crash incident. I was quite surprised by Brighton as they looked a far cry from a side 5th from bottom and managed by Hughton - they looked really up for the game from the start, passing the ball nicely and putting us largely on the front foot for much of the game until Joka's astute tactical change in the 25th minute; the only thing they lacked was a finisher, but even so without a goalie of the calibre of Gomes it's a game we could have easily lost (and against a side that have picked up a fair few nifty results against the top teams) and likely would have done up to four months ago. I saw the game in a local Irish pub amongst a few people whose only interest in the game was due to the fact that Gomes was playing and it featured a side that could be in the Premier League in a few months' time (attracting the usual snide remarks from the kind who clearly hadn't seen WFC play all season - "they haven't got a prayer") including one guy who found it childishly amusing that one of our players was called Tozser ("oh look, there's a ****** on the pitch" - try looking at yourself in the mirror matey).

A few random thoughts:

The first twenty of so minutes was pretty tough viewing as many of the players clearly let the occasion get to them. Our strikers were isolated and rarely got sufficient service, too often possession was surrendered cheaply as Brighton won the midfield battle, with Paredes and Connolly standing out as among the few players whose nerves weren't affected. The substitution of Tozser for Anya (who didn't have too bad a game) was a tactical masterstroke, as we needed someone to shore up the midfield, with Watson replacing Anya on the left and Ighalo dropping deep. Gradually we imposed ourselves on the game as Brighton tired and lost their forward impetus, but it still wasn't a vintage performance by any means - at this stage of the season it's the result that counts. I'm hoping for a calmer and more disciplined display against Sheff Wed as we go for the Championship trophy, as the card count was a bit worrying - by means show some passion boys, but don't lose your heads!

Gomes - outstanding as always.
Connolly - great defensive play both in the air and on the ground, linked well with the midfield, our best defender.
Angela - not at his best as was at fault for Brighton's best chance of the game, but passed the ball out of defence reliably enough.
Cathcart - didn't venture forward as much as against Birmingham but made some usual interceptions, with a nice backward header to Gomes.
Anya - tended to give the ball away but was pretty lively.
Watson - kept possession well and was instrumental in setting up our first goal (with a little help from the Brighton defence), great team player.
Abdi - not his best game but a threat at set-pieces and got stronger as the game progressed, with some fine defensive play.
Tozser - a little quiet but his presence clearly made a difference as Brighton found it increasingly difficult to create chances.
Guedioura - ended his last game with us in fitting style, winning the ball well at both ends of the pitch, and nearly scoring a goal. Please let's sign him up!
Paredes - this guy is really coming into his own. Energetic and pacy up front and covering the danger well at the other end, it's a credit to his performance that I was confident we'd get the result we needed with him in the team, even with the few heart-in-the-mouth moments we suffered mainly early on.
Ighalo - didn't convince before the sub, but was outstanding thereafter, covering a lot of ground and making us a much more threatening outfit, great link-up play with Deeney that led to our goal.
Deeney - seemed a little frustrated at times, not sure if it was at his own performance or the patchy displays of his teammates, but can't fault him too much given he scored one goal and set up another. Workrate was impeccable as always, tracking back whenever necessary, proving once again that his goal tally, impressive though it is, scarcely does justice to what this WFC great has to offer.
Vydra - great finish to seal what has been confirmed as a glorious promotion as I type this.

WE ARE GOING UP!!!!!!!!!!

:mengoal:

 

Hope we can get the posts back, was hoping to be reduced to tears for a second time trawling through all the raw elation. I love you Watford.

 

Am still high on today and just watching the Football League show.....Gomes is phenomenal, he has made this promotion for us

 

You're missing a trick here.

To the bookies!

 

I keep reading we have been promoted. I can't believe it. There is still a game to go and we could lose that. This season no team can be promoted with one match left. It is against the rules. What will there be to stress about during the week?

 

MK Donny is a bit quiet on the forum tonite.

 

Looking forward to the 0-0 result with Sheffield Wednesday this week.

 

No you just need Italian mates.

 

Slap up feed. Got pissed. Fell asleep before FLS. Early call 6 a.m.

 

Groundhog Day.

Can't sleep ...

 

BrightonEye - I stayed after the game and went round to the East Stand just after 3pm primarily to watch the other results come in. I've got to say I was a bit sceptical about the idea of a disco there but hats off it was a cracking atmosphere with the DJ playing stuff perfectly aimed at a footy crowd. Sadly my phone died on me otherwise I'd have posted vid of the whole end kicking off to tracks by Madness, Bad Manners etc etc. The Brighton crowd were a good friendly bunch and helped make a great day.

 

Loving this, have a look at SJ's reaction after the first goal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wnvWJgqF7Y

 

I'm not sure this day could have gone any better. Watford win, all other results go our way. Hoban, Pudil, Munary, Bond, Doyley and Gilmartin in Oceana Disco room. The most friendliest guys ever, approachable and did not mind how many pictures I had with each of them. Champagne sprayed all over us on the dancefloor by the WFC players. Trying to sleep but finding it hard with the amount of excitement that it's given me. I wished them the best of luck for the Sheffield Wednesday game and that I'm sure we'll do it. Next week in town will be even better I'm sure, tonight was bloody amazing though. You 'ornsssssssss!!!!!

 

It's... it's beautiful. God knows what I'm doing up at 6:50 am.

 

You still missed us on the football league show repeat.

 

Just wanted to add my own thoughts , what a day ,as someone who at 52 has been following the orns for a while ,I really can sing since I was young ! .it was one if not the best days ever ! .the crowd were fantastic ,the fact we looked a bit nervous ,but managed to overcome added to the day .And to me as the second goal went ,one guy fell over not sure how but everyone stopped to help him .sort of summed up our season to me .Lets not forget moo ,really hope hearing the news might have at least put a small smile on his face . Let's enjoy the ride next year COYH

 

So proud to be Watford. Deeney Immense, Gomes the rock.
Oh to smash Arsenal,
YOU HOOOOORRRRRRRRRNNNNNNNNNNNSSSSSSSSS :mengoal:

 

Just woke up to find virtually no comments on here. Is everybody still out celebrating? What an unbelievable day. Really not bothered how we played but thought we were comfortable. The celebration for the second goal I thought would take some beating but when Fulham got their winner those at the disco in Brightons ground went completely mental. Fair play to the Brighton fans who were all offering their congratulations. I have a massive hangover but I'm still insanely happy. Let's win it now

 

Big respect to Brighton.
Friendly fans - fantastic ground !!