Match Reports

Report: Albion 1 Huddersfield Town 1

By Alex Stedman • 07 April 2018

Brighton & Hove Albion played out a 1-1 draw against Huddersfield Town on Saturday afternoon at the Amex Stadium. 

A first-half strike from Solly March was immediately cancelled out by Steve Mounie in the opening period, and in the second half Davy Propper was shown a straight red card as both sides had to settle for a point.

Chris Hughton made two changes to the side that lost 2-0 to Leicester City seven days earlier on the south coast - Solly March replaced Jurgen Locadia and Dale Stephens returned to the starting line-up in place of Beram Kayal.

The home side had a glorious chance to go ahead inside the first minute. Ezequiel Schelotto’s perfectly-weighted ball over the top found the run of Propper in-behind – but the Dutchman fired agonisingly wide after being clean through on goal.

Albion’s superb start continued inside the opening few minutes – Propper’s sublime and deft skill ended with a cross being scrambled clear and March saw a fierce drive blocked.

Mounie’s volley was parried clear by Mathew Ryan at the other end in a frantic start to the game, before Glenn Murray glanced Gaetan Bong’s cross from the left over the bar.

Jose Izquierdo was thwarted by Jonas Lossl in the away goal after being found by Murray from the edge of the area, and the game looked to have quietened down after its lively opening.

But on 29 minutes, Solly March put the home side ahead. The midfielder picked up possession down on the right-hand side and cut in well before seeing his low effort hit the post and rebound in off Lossl.

But no sooner had the home side taken the lead, the game was level.

Shane Duffy’s misplaced back pass didn’t reach Lewis Dunk or Ryan, and Mounie nipped in to intercept and round the goalkeeper to put the away side back on level terms. 

Jonathan Hogg then saw his fierce drive from the edge of the area well blocked by Duffy, but that was the last meaningful action of an entertaining first half. 

The home side had the first big chance of the second period – as Dunk went close to re-handing Albion the advantage. March’s floated free-kick to the far post found the defender, but he skewed his header back across the face of goal and wide.

On the hour mark Albion went close to retaking the lead once more. Gross’s intelligent ball to the edge of the area was well laid off by Propper, and Stephens’ drive was tipped over by Lossl in one of the best moves of the match. 

Mounie headed Florent Hadergjonaj’s cross over the bar as the Terriers created their first chance of the half on 64 minutes, before Leonardo Ulloa replaced Murray with just over 25 minutes to play.

With the game approaching the final 15 minutes, Hughton’s side were reduced to ten men, as Propper was shown what looked to be a harsh red card as he challenged Hogg inside the Huddersfield half – it meant Kayal replaced Gross in the home side’s second change.

Izquierdo was then denied when he found himself one-one-one with Lossl, following Ulloa's defence-splitting pass, but the Terriers goalkeeper raced out to block before Schelotto's follow-up was tipped over.

Duffy’s header from the resulting corner was scrambled off the line, before the Irishman headed March’s second delivery agonisingly over the crossbar. 

That was the last action of the game on an eventful afternoon on the south coast – the result leaves Albion in 13th position in the Premier League with six matches of the campaign left to play.

Albion line-up: Ryan, Schelotto, Dunk ©, Duffy, Bong, March, Stephens, Propper (sent off 74), Izquierdo, Gross (Kayal 75), Murray (Ulloa 66).

Subs not used: Krul, Bruno, Goldson, Locadia, Baldock.

Huddersfield Town line-up: Lossl; Hadergjonaj, Jorgensen, Schindler, Kongolo; Ince (Depoitre 90), Hogg (Billing 80), Mooy, Van La Parra (Quaner 89); Pritchard; Mounie.

Subs not used: Coleman, Smith, Malone, Lowe.

1901 CLUB LOTTERY

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1ST GOAL TIME 29 MINS