Withdean Years: 2006/07 Season On Seagulls Tv

The 2006/07 League One campaign was a season of transition for Brighton & Hove Albion’s young side, as the club’s management changed and a number of young players came through the ranks into the first-team squad.

After being relegated from England’s second tier, Mark McGhee prepared his team ahead of their first season back in League One, starting with an away fixture against Rotherham United on the opening day.

The Seagulls had signed non-league striker Alex Revell from Braintree Town, and the forward made a perfect start to his Albion career, as he fired the winning goal at Millmoor after Dean Cox was sent off.

Jake Robinson then scored the winning goal when Gillingham visited the Withdean Stadium three days later, but a draw and three defeats followed, spelling the end of McGhee’s time in charge.

Dean Wilkins was initially appointed caretaker manager, and in his first game against Millwall at the New Den, Albion played over half the game with ten men before snatching a 1-0 victory in the 88th minute.

Wilkins was permanently appointed as Albion’s manager in September, but results soon took a turn for the worse, as the Seagulls lost five consecutive games, including a disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Blackpool in front of the Sky cameras.

With Scunthorpe United having won five in a row, a tough test came at Glanford Park, but Albion rose to the occasion as Cox and Gary Hart scored to secure a 2-1 victory over the Irons.

Some impressive results followed leading into November, as Robinson notched a hat-trick in a 3-0 win at Huddersfield Town, Dean Bowditch scored a late winner in a 3-2 victory at Bradford City, and Albion romped to an 8-0 win over Northwich Victoria in the FA Cup.

But some unpredictable results began to appear as Wilkins’ youthful side showed their inexperience over the festive period, losing six consecutive games, including a 3-0 defeat to West Ham United at Upton Park in the FA Cup.

Bas Savage lifted the mood when he arrived on a one-year contract in January, and the striker stole the attention with his famous moonwalk celebration, as he helped Albion to a 4-1 win at Leyton Orient and a 1-0 victory over former side Gillingham.

The triumph against Orient at Brisbane Road started off a hat-trick of league wins for the Seagulls, but Wilkins and his team were only able to pick up eight points from their final 12 matches of the season.

Despite their unconvincing end to the campaign, Albion finished up in 18th position, six points clear of the relegation zone.

To relive Albion’s 2006/07 season on Seagulls TV, click here.