Brighton
and Hove Albion - Features
Aston
Villa v Brighton and Hove Albion - Match Preview
It
seems like an eternity since Frank Skinner paired the
Albions number 22 ball with Aston Villa's number 17 ball
in the draw for the fourth round of the FA Cup, but the
biggest game of the decade is nearly upon us.
The
inevitable ticket fiasco has been and passed ("we've
sold more tickets than we have been allocated"; "Ban
all ticket sales in home ends to BN postcodes") with
a striking resemblance to something out of an episode
of ChuckleVision, and this Saturday 6,500 Seagulls supporters
will travel into Birmingham along with countless more
in the home sections of Villa Park who haven't had their
ordered cancelled.
Since
the big boys came into the competition at the third round
stage, there have been relatively few shocks - although
two have been massive. Liverpool have been disposed of
by Reading in an extra-time replay at Anfield, and Manchester
United were on the end of a 1-0 defeat against Leeds (although
if you are Micky Adams, it probably didn't come as a shock
at all - no disrespect to Hereford, but they are THE Leeds
United).
It
doesn't provide much comfort to fans of the Seagulls who
will be hoping to see Martin O'Neill's team disposed of
in another great FA Cup surprise. But, there are a suprisingly
large number of reasons to be optimistic about the trip
into the black country. And here they are:
1)
Villa are fighting on three fronts still
They are/were (delete as applicable after Wednesday's
Carling Cup Semi with Blackburn) still involved in three
competitions. A first Wembley appearance since 2000 is
on the cards in the Carling Cup, and in order to get there
they need to beat Blackburn - a task that should denote
a full strength team. Then, on the Wednesday after our
FA Cup meeting, they welcome Arsenal to Villa Park in
a game that could have a massive bearing on their realistic
Champions League hopes. Brighton and Hove Albion at home
should be a formality that may tempt Martin O'Neill into
fielding a weakened team, which in theory should still
be too strong for us. Teams have been burnt by underestimating
lower league opponents in the past though, and the psychological
boost that the Seagulls would gain from knowing they are
facing a second string could help them pull off an upset
2)
We have a suprisingly good record against "Bigger
Clubs"
In the past, we have gone to the likes of West Ham
United, Leicester City, Sheffield United and Crystal Palace
in league games and got victories that our status really
did not justify. Throw in the FA Cup showings against
Tottenham and West Ham (until the Carlos Tevez show kicked
off), and we have never been embarrassed when facing a
supposedly bigger club. The role of the underdog used
to suit the Albion well, and that is very much what we
will be at Villa Park
3)
The Crowd
If the Albion players cannot get themselves fired
up playing in Premiership surroundings, and more importantly
in front of a bigger away following than watches them
at Withdean, then they really should question why they
are professional players. The boost that the traveling
support can give our players works in tandem with the
fickle Villa fans - they booed their team off at times
last season despite looking the most likely to break the
top four monopoly, so goodness knows how they will react
if they find themselves being held or, heaven forbid,
behind against little Brighton in their opponents cup
final
4)
We're on a good run
Mutter it quietly, but we are actually on a suprisingly
good run. Unbeaten in the last four, with three wins on
the bounce, all away from home. Our away record since
Gus Poyet has come in is a stunning five wins out of seven
games. The momentum is there, and with it comes confidence
- something which could prove priceless going into this
one
5)
Our record against Villa is poor
Not a reason to be optimistic you would think. But
records are made to be broken. We have played 19 times
in the past, with Villa claiming 10 of those victories.
5 have ended in draws, which all you mathematicians out
there will no doubt have already worked out means that
we have won only 4. We have met each other in the FA Cup
only once, way back in 1955, when a 2-2 draw at the Goldstone
was followed by a 4-2 replay defeat at Villa Park. Lets
be honest, we not going to have much chance to improve
on our head-to-head with the Villains in the near future,
so Saturday is an opportunity to do it
7)
We beat Villa to become "Champions of England"
One of those four victories over Aston Villa came
in the Charity Shield of 1910. Back in those days, this
was not a game in which the champions and the FA Cup winners
pratted about in a pretty meaningless pre-season friendly
that ultimately ends in a penalty shoot out because neither
team can be bothered. Oh no, 100 years ago it was the
real deal. The Football League First Division Champions
would meet the winners of the Southern League - with the
winners earning the unofficial title of best team in the
land. And so, in September 1910, the Southern League Champions
Brighton and Hove Albion were shock 1-0 winners over Aston
Villa to become the best team in England - 100 years on,
it would be poetic justice for another shock
8)
Baby Potts is attending
Fans of Crocs
on Tour will have seen the mascot that has been in
attendance at recent away games - a plastic baby doll
entitled Baby Potts. Not a factor to have Mr O'Neill lying
in bed awake at night you might think, but the baby has
a phenomenal record - he has been to every away win this
season, with the only game he has attended that hasn't
seen us pick up the victory being Norwich away. And the
good news - he will be at Villa Park on Saturday
Convinced?
No, if I am honest, neither am I. The fact that a plastic
baby doll acquired from a charity shop is a reason to
be optimistic about victory against a side packed full
of England internationals says everything really. Still,
win, lose or draw, all those Albion fans lucky enough
to have tickets should be in for a top day out. Don't
forget to check out We Are Brighton for comprehensive
coverage of the day after the game - come on you Seagulls!
