' Brighton Fans: Opposition View '

Brighton and Hove Albion: Opposition View- Inside Cardiff City

http://insidecardiffcity.co.uk/brighton ... tion-view/

We spoke to lifelong Brighton supporter Andy ahead of tomorrow’s clash between Cardiff and the Sussex club. Andy is part of the North West Sussex Seagull’s (Supporters Club) and as you would expect, he was feeling as confident as ever with Brighton leading the way at the top of the Sky Bet Championship.

1. You’ve had a great start to the season despite a poor season of last, was it something Brighton fans saw coming and most importantly, do you think you can sustain it?

I not sure many Brighton fans would have predicted that we would be top of the table and still unbeaten as we enter October (A new club record BTW) but then again most of us couldn’t believe that we could be as bad as we were last season.
For me the signs that we were likely to have a better season started on the preseason tour. The players looked fitter and more prepared than they did the previous season. Player recruitment has been much better over the summer and maybe having a manager going into the summer break, something we haven’t had for the past couple of summers, I think helped.
Can we sustain it? I don’t see why not, player confidence and belief go a long way in the Championship. Look at both Bournemouth and Brentford last season, both unfancied, one got promoted and the other just missed out.

2. What were you aims before the season and have they changed based on how you have started?

Realistically top ten was my hope and maybe a good run towards the end of the season that would take us into the play-offs. I’d probably still take that.

3. Some fans fear the worst with Lua Lua out injured as he is very much a key player, can you live without him? How do you think you will cope without him?

Kaz has been great for us this season. Unfortunately it looks like he will be out for a few weeks (months) but we have cover this season, something we haven’t had for at least two season. Murphy’s banned for tomorrow (3 match ban) due to a lot of theatricals by Neil Dunns up at Bolton last week but Elvis will probably come in and from we have seen, he will do a job.

4. Ahead of Saturday’s game, looking at the Cardiff team, what players do you think will cause you the most problems?

Joe Mason looks to be your main threat and Albion old boy Craig Noone, who will get a great reception if he plays, maybe not if he scores, which always seems to happen when ex-players play against their previous team mates. Of course Alex Revell could also get a game, another Albion old boy and with Mr Baldhead as manager, there is yet another Albion link. I’m surprised Russell is still with you, when we played each other at your place last season, there was a lot of unrest about his management style. Again Russell will get a good reception from the Amex crowd.

5. What is the mood amongst the Brighton fans going into the Cardiff game? Are you confident you can win or would you accept a point to keep the unbeaten start going?

Buoyant I would say. We are top of the league after all! We have drawn three matches this season, the only points we have dropped. In each of those games, all away from home, we could’ve easily run out as winners. In fact in two of them, the last two, against Wolves and Bolton we should have. Before a ball was kicked at Wolves and Bolton I said I would accept a draw, for the game on Saturday, I expect and will only accept a win.

6. What is you’re score prediction for Saturday’s game?

We haven’t been the most prolific in front of goal this season, winning by the odd goal in the games we have won and I expect this to be the case tomorrow. I image you will score, we have only kept a clean sheet in 4 of our games this season but we are likely to score a couple with maybe Albion legend Bobby Zamora netting his first since his return. 2 – 1 to the Albion

7. Lastly, where do you think Cardiff will finish the season?

In the four or five seasons before you got promoted, to the Premier League, you were there or there about’s when it mattered in May. Last season you were just outside the top 10 but that’s often the case in the first season back into a very competitive league that’s the Championship. I would expect you to be in the play-offs.

Good luck for Saturday I hope you have a great day out, enjoy Brighton, it’s a wonderful place to visit, especially in the sunshine, but don’t expect to take anything more than a stick of rock home.

(Andy, North West Sussex Seagulls)

We place on record our thanks to Andy for helping us out and wish him luck with the rest of the season (not including tomorrow of course).

Hadn't read that before and thanks for posting. Good read and a very honest and not biased interview

Good read Jamie

Point 1 sounds like what most of our fans thought about us at the start of the season!