Write off Charlton as warm up for the Premier League return

From watching football coming from the warm, dark evenings of Qatar to the damp and drizzle of South London on a dismal December night. Charlton away in the League Cup was quite a culture shock for both Brighton players and supporters.

We had all been waiting for the Albion to return to action; however the final result at the Valley did not go in our favour.

To be beaten in sudden death of a penalty shootout and miss out on a chance to go through to the quarter finals of the League Cup for only the second time in Albion history was disappointing, but was it really surprising?

Regular Brighton supporters know that the Albion do not do things the easy way. Strange and shock results like this have gone both for us in the past and against.

Charlton have played throughout the World Cup with League One receiving no winter break. They had a match sharpness Brighton did not, in what was really a final warm up match before the Premier League returns on Boxing Day.

If losing to Charlton means the players are better prepared and sharper at Southampton, then that seems like a good thing. It is the Premier League which matters most, would you agree?

Southampton might even be lured into overconfidence if they listened to BBC Radio Sussex and heard both Johnny Cantor and Warren Aspinall’s commentary of the game. They both seemed frustrated.

I was listening as I could not go to Charlton. If I had, then it appears the ticket situation would have meant queuing to collect outside the Valley because of the number of duplicate tickets needing to be distributed due to the Royal Mail strike.

Brighton had more than 6000 fans at Charlton and had taken over the area around the commentary position, leaving Johnny and Warren in the middle of the Albion support.

It could be clearly heard over the airwaves what they thought of referee Thomas Bramall’s decisions to dismiss two Albion calls for penalties. There was no VAR to check and commentary told us Mr Bramall was not even to give a fair decision on the issues.

We all know that from time to time, a game comes along where we get none of the decisions going our way because of referees not wanting to enforce the rules.

Emiliano Martinez got away with constant timewasting when we lost to Aston Villa in November. He was booked in the World Cup final because of a stronger referee.

There appeared to be a lot of timewasting going on from Charlton, which they were allowed to get away with like Martinez. It sounded like they were playing for a draw right from the start to take their chance on penalties.

Johnny and Warren informed us before kick off that Charlton had not won in League One for eight games. That explains their approach but also sounded like a kiss of death for the Albion!

Charlton number 33 Miles Leasburn had the home side’s first chance at the far post when he tried to beat Jason Steele but without success.

Lewis Dunk had a header fairly early which missed the target. Brighton were soon into their stride, playing some of the lovely passing football we have come to expect.

Tariq Lamptey turned and poked right to play a one-two with Solly March. Lamptey streaked away and made an early cross which got to Adam Lallana, weaving a little to hit a shot from the edge of the penalty area which clipped the top of the bar.

Steve Sessegnon sounded prominent for Charlton but thankfully the chances he had did not pass either Dunk or Steele. It was 0-0 at the break with Warren saying the Albion’s general play was too narrow and also too slow.

The second half brought an early penalty shout from Deniz Undav not given. Brighton did not get any luck after that as great attempts from March, Levi Colwill and Leandro Trossard were missed.

There were several great crosses put across the Charlton goal but no Albion player available to get the touch needed to turn them into the net.

Kaoru Mitoma came on and tried to weave some magic without much success. A second penalty appeal was waved away when Pervis Estupinan went down in the box.

Jonny and Warren thought Jesurun Rak-Sakyi had chopped Estupinan’s legs away and it sounded like the Albion fans around the commentary position agreed.

When the full time whistle blew on Charlton 0-0 Brighton, it was straight to penalties. Brighton won the toss which meant Pascal Gross took the the first kick in front of the Albion supporters.

Gross missed by hitting the left post. Jayden Stockley for Charlton then hit the right post. Next came Trossard who hit the right side of the bar.

Former Albion player Jake Forster-Caskey became the first player to score, giving Charlton a 1-0 lead after two penalties each.

Evan Ferguson got Brighton off the mark, so we have a 1-1 situation. Steele saved from George Dobson with a great stop to his left.

Dunk made it 2-1 and when Steele made another brilliant save from Rak-Sakyi, March had the chance to win it. He stepped up and did a Harry Kane, skying the ball miles over.

Corey Blackett-Taylor beat Steele to make it 2-2. Lamptey scored and Brighton led 3-2. Sessegnon continued his fine 90 minutes by converting his penalty by sending Steele the wrong way.

At 3-3, Moises Caicedo missed. With the shootout in sudden death, Samuel Lavelle scored to send Charlton into the quarter finals 4-3 on penalties.

Roberto De Zerbi apologised for the Albion’s elimination afterwards and I am sure the result gave him and the squad plenty of food for thought.

Penalties look like an area they need to work on, not just for this type of knockout game but in the Premier League too. With Alexis Mac Allister not around, who of our experienced players would you back to score when the pressure is on?

Brighton though could be excused their rustiness in a first competitive game for nearly five weeks. It was almost like a pre-season friendly for the Albion against opponents who have been playing twice a week through November and December.

With a busy holiday period coming up, it is better to use the League Cup to get rid of the cobwebs than Southampton in the main business of the Premier League.

Had the Albion played Charlton immediately after the Villa and Arsenal games back in November, the momentum would probably have seen us win at the Valley.

We support the squad through the good and the bad. What is needed now is plenty of PMA – yes, positive mental attitude. That goes for the players as well as the fans.

Merry Christmas everyone – and if you are looking for a late gift or to treat yourself, remember my book The Seagulls Best Ever Season is available via Amazon at this link. I expect the Amex superstore has sold out by now!

Tony Noble @Noble1844Tony