Scouting Report:
So, despite possibly feeling that Liverpool at Anfield might be difficult to overcome, and chasing a playoff place and possibly even a promotion place, Poyet fielded a weakened team last night and it bit him on the arse. Before the game, I remarked to the girlfriend that he'd be an idiot not to go all out for a Championship position and have a half-hearted but good go at the FA Cup. The team list went up and my girlfriend laughed at me and gave it the 'what the hell do you know?' stuff.
Buckley, Vicente and El-Abd (Buckley is their highest scorer this season - albeit he is a wide midfielder, El Abd a no nosense defender and Brighton player of the season last year) weren't even in the squad. LuaLua and Noone (tricky quick wingers) were on the bench. A mix of regular first teamers and some loanees and reserves on the pitch.
Passing is woeful, and apart from Calderon playing a few blinding crosses that no one managed to control and do anything with, they had no cutting edge at all. Millwall (languishing in 20th) went 1-0 up after half an hour. Although enjoying less possession their passing was better and more purposeful.
During the second half Brighton managed to equalise - Sam Vokes was probably the only player (along with Calderon) to emerge with any credit from this game.
Millwall scored again a few minutes later. After throwing LuaLua and Noone on, LuaLua takes a freekick on about 90 minutes and lucklily for Brighton, the Millwall keeper does an uncanny impression of Robert Green and lets a ball coming straight at him, dived, body behind the ball, squirm up out of his grip and spin over his shoulder to trickle into the net.
A lucky draw.
Brighton were very poor, their minds didn't look to be on this game at all. They've rested their best players and seem to be focusing on us on Sunday. I just hope they are still as poor as last night, even with all the big boys back.
