St Andrew’s Success
Ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion’s pre-season friendly against Birmingham City tomorrow afternoon, we take a look at some of the club’s most recent visits to St Andrew's and the success that’s been had. The Seagulls have visited the home of the Blues twice since Chris Hughton’s arrival in January 2015, and Albion were victorious on both occasions in 2016 - by the same scoreline. Most recently, Albion came from behind to seal three points during their promotion-winning campaign to the Premier League, following Lukas Jutkiewicz’s opener for the Blues. Solly March came off the bench and provided an assist for Anthony Knockaert in the 82nd minute, before Glenn Murray connected with the Frenchman’s corner deep into stoppage time to head home. The Seagulls also came from behind to win during the 2015/16 season, and it was goals from Albion’s central defensive partnership that cancelled out Kyle Lafferty’s opener in the West Midlands. Connor Goldson headed his first goal for the club in the 29th minute to draw Albion level, before Lewis Dunk notched the winning goal three minutes after the break to help the club’s challenge for promotion. Wes Thomas scored the winner for Birmingham in 2014, as the Midlanders secured a 1-0 victory over the Seagulls - but more success for Albion came at the start of the 2013/14 campaign. With Oscar Garcia in charge, Albion made up for consecutive defeats to Leeds United and Derby County with a 1-0 win at St Andrew's, and it was Andrew Crofts who struck the important goal in the 73rd minute. Nikola Zigic denied Albion another 2-1 victory in January 2013, as he scored in the closing moments after goals from Ashley Barnes and David Lopez had cancelled out Steven Caldwell’s opener.