Sat 29th Sep 2001.

Cardiff City
Alexander
Weston
Prior
Gabbidon
Simpkins (Legg 61)
Low (Jeanne 59)
Kavanagh (Bowen 66)
Boland
Hamilton
Brayson
Thorne

Subs not used
Fortune West
Hughes

Brighton
Kuipers
Watson
Mayo
Cullip
Morgan
Jones (Brooker 65)
Oatway (Steele 81)
Carpenter
Rogers
Hart (Pitcher 89)
Zamora

Subs not used
Wicks
Pethick

Brayson in action against Brighton (www.bbc.co.uk)

Report from NigelBlues.
City shared a draw with Brighton but could,and really should, have had so much more.

They were better, bolder, braver against an average looking Brighton side but given a superlative amount of territory and possession, they must reflect that, other than the opening stages and a spell in the 2nd half which eventually produced a deserved equaliser, there still really wasn’t any finished product. It was improved but still some way short of reasonable expectations.

Brighton collected their point with some ease. They were gifted a goal with their only real effort of the game but may still be disappointed they didn’t get a win. The only times City looked remotely effective was when possession was given to Low, Jeanne and Bowen wide. Route One and no width must be killed off without further delay.

More ambition was shown in the two changes from the team defeated at QPR although both replacements were not in their preferred positions. Josh Low was in for the recently disappointing Andy Legg but rather than shuffle the pack, Josh was made to play on the left side. It didn’t seem wise using an out of confidence player like that, it wasn’t a great success either. Paul Brayson played alongside a subdued Peter Thorne, Leo was dropped. He will play anywhere but openly admits he prefers playing behind the front men.

The bench was packed with attacking players – Bowen, Jeanne, Legg & Leo. More significantly, the bench also gave a perfect demonstration of why we have managerial problems and the obvious rifts, no matter how much the club try to deny them.

Alan Cork, Ian Butterworth and Ian Atkins were all there. Training companies could have filmed their their body language and communication to show other managers and companies how not to get results and success.

For a start, how can you have three people instinctively decide what to do? One person must be in control. Cork protests he is that man but he hasn’t visibly shown leadership lately and surrendered to Atkins, it's a weakness.

Cork and Atkins positioned themselves as far apart from each other as was possible at opposite ends of the dugout. Cork was the active, passionate one first half, Atkins took over in the second half. Cork, yet again, sat back and seemed content, even though he so obviously isn’t, to let him take over. Atkins’ own leadership style generally consists of gesturing to wave players and the ball forward and acting as the best paid ball boy in any division.

At no point during the entire 90 minutes did I see our less than dynamic duo chat with each other. In fact, I didn’t even notice them look at each other. Butterworth, positioned nearer Cork, seemed to act as some sort of mediator going back and fore between the two, silently nodding or making points with both. It’s like watching kids sulking after a playground argument. It would be funny if these weren't the people entrusted and handsomely paid to preach to our players about the importance of organisation, communication and teamwork. And they can’t even do it with each other!

On the field, City were at Brighton from the start. In contrast to the management, they showed far more passion and intensity but were still short on real style.

Brighton were neat, compact and organised but limited. After all, two of their players – Charlie‘the jailbird’ Oatway and Nathan Jones – were past Cardiff ‘rejects’ whilst they also had ‘Chippy’ Carpenter, a good midfielder, but you can’t say we miss any of them.

The early chances were all Cardiff’s – a blistering 25 yard Kav low drive which was unfortunately straight at the keeper. Thorne had a header cleared off the line deflecting a
Josh Low mis hit. Then from excellent Simpkins corners, Spencer Prior twice came close with downward headers.

Kuipers, Brighton’s keeper, got lucky with the first effort which hit him, he knew little about it. The second effort saw him make a great save, tipping what looked like a definite goalbound header over on the rise. Kuipers didn’t look comfortable, he kicked long but kept rushing out of goal.

Cardiff used width, a very welcome change,with Weston and Simpkins trying to push on. Josh had the beating of his marker but was rarely given the ball in space. When he did, he threatened trouble, won free-kicks and corners but struggled because, quite simply, he can’t really cross with his left foot so always looks to cut in. The opposition quickly realise that and adapt to it.

On the opposite side, credit to Rhys Weston for pushing on. He doesn’t go hiding when he’s out of form and cares deeply but that’s not to say he is good enough currently. He really has a lot to learn if he is to make anything of his current role.

Few City fans have doubts that AndyThompson is more accomplished presently and would probably do better but he is not even considered. Weston was good defensively but, going forwards, his crossing was terrible, a series of high, floated balls with little vision. Not once did he vary the tactic, it was debatable whether he was capable of doing so. Brighton soaked it comfortably as would any competent team.

It was promising despite the deficiencies when City gifted what should be the softest goal they concede all season on 36 minutes but the sort of thing we seem to do with alarming frequency.

Brighton hit a diagonal ball across the area from 35 yards, Weston was underneath in no pressure and cushioned the perfect header to the centre of goal taking the pace off the ball. To his and everyone’s horror, Neil Alexander had charged out and was on the far edge of the 6 yard box behind him.

There was a total communication breakdown. Many believed it was another example of poor Weston play but the keeper really has to look at himself also. Alexander chased back, quite slow to reactit seemed, and pushed the ball out, many believed the ball had crossed the line anyway, but it was academic as Zamora nudged the ball into an empty net with Alexander laying helpless on the ground.

Everything City had done for 35 minutes meant nothing. The more things change at City, the more they stay the same. We continually giveaway soft goals, nobody ever does that for us. Bobby Zamora must love us. A terrible Matt Brazier back pass gifted him the goal at Withdean in February and gave Brighton victory.

After that, City were glad to see half-time, their fragile confidence was knocked badly. Prior, not that impressive again, earned a silly yellow card for a poor challenge on Zamora near halfway as frustration set in.

In the two added minutes, City created an outstanding chance as Peter Thorne put Brayson clear but he completely scuffed his shot which summed the half in one kick. Sometimes, I wish Brayson would just shoot when clear, he scores plenty for us but in one-on-ones, it’s noticeable how he always tries to chip, lob etc rather than just hitting the ball.

City went off with boos from some in the crowd. That was unfair and undeserved but frustrations were running high.

Half-time: City 0 Brighton 1

In the second period, the noticeable thing was Leonne Jeanne and Leggy never stopped warming up. Oh, and Cork cocooned into his shell whilst Atkins came out of his and was more prominent.

On the pitch, City woke up briefly and almost equalised when, after two crunching Kavanagh tackles and a Brayson split pass, Low produced a great run and chipped a cross cum shot which sailed over the keeper, narrowly missing the far post. Josh is showing form again but was never going to produce his best on his wrong side.

Long before this stage, Brighton, just like Huddersfield last week, had dug in and settled for what they had with 10 bhind the ball and Zamora as a lone striker. They also indulged in blatant timewasting. City were now losing their way totally.

Midfield was a bit of a mess with Low out of position, the right side empty as Hamilton was made to start wide but kept tucking inside and Kavanagh suffered by trying to do too much single-handedly. In the process, he didn't really do much at all.

Willie Boland was the pick of midfield but wrongly given man of the match as Daniel Gabbidon had an outstanding game snuffing Zamora totally. It wasn’t his fault Zamora scored. Zamora showed some great touches and skills but Gabbidon prevented him being any threat atall. A quality display.

After an hour, City introduced all three substitutes within 7 minutes. Two of them were due to injuries but, it proved decisive, as City at long last looked a real threat. Josh Low, a limping Simkpins and Kav holding his groin departed with Legg, Leon Jeanne and Jason Bowen all thrown on. For the first time, we posed real questions.

Leon Jeanne had one of the biggest cheers heard all season and was soon beating men and crossing into the danger zone. Before he came on, Sam Hammam shook his hand as did all of the City subs, a nice touch. He has a lot of work to do, is still short of fitness but how exciting is he to watch? He put more balls over in the final 20 yards of the pitch than the whole team had in the previous four matches.

Leggy was a great help to him and showed Michael Simpkins how the role should be played. And Jason Bowen was electric too charging down the right on mazy runs. Some of the crossing was extremely poor, several balls sailed into the Grange End when, with 14 minutes remaining, City’s best move produced a quality goal.

Leggy rolled the ball to Leon who took 2 defenders with him before laying the ball back for Leggy to whip the perfect cross, Bowen was first to react and headed brilliantly from 15 yards. The ball beat Kuipers but agonisingly hit the inside of the post and rolled across goal. It seemed to last ages but in came Paul Brayson to convert at the other side of the net and spark wild celebrations.

The tannoy announcer sounded ok at the start of the season but he’s now getting irritating with his “make some noise,give it up for the boys” war cry and continual mistakes. He announced Leon Jeanne as the scorer and never bothered correcting it. Their squad numbers both include 4 and they’re both short but there aren’t too many other similarities.

Hopes that City would go onto win were quickly dashed as Brighton suddenly woke up and pushed City back for the only time all game. They were held rather comfortably.

Overall, Brighton have probably started the season over-performing whilst we all know Cardiff are badly under-performing, we all know the reasons why too. Brighton’s start to the season is a credit to them and their manager.

Realistically though, they are poorer,individually and collectively and genuinely nothing too good. It felt like one point gained after the recent run and the way this game was going but, in the final outcome, it was two lost. Brighton were there to be beaten, we couldn’t do it.

I suspect Brighton will fall away once the season really settles down. Cardiff, if only they can put their problems right, still have the players and quality, and will get up the table, they are more than good enough. As far as management are concerned however, that’s a different story altogether.

Report from The Western Mail
ON A day when Dave Bassett was being tipped as being Sam Hammam's latest recruit to Ninan Park, little Paul Brayson netted a late equaliser to prevent Cardiff City slipping to their third successive defeat.

Just when it seemed Brighton's smash and grab raid was going to pay off, Brayson cancelled out Bobby Zamora's first-half opener when he smacked home the re-bound after Jason Bowen's 79th-minute header came back off the post.

It was the least City deserved since they dominated the game and if it had not been for the agile goalkeeping of Michael Kuipers in the first half, the Bluebirds would have won comfortably.

Nevertheless, the stalemate with table-topping Brighton means City have collected onlyt four points from the last 15.

In an effort to reach the First Division next May, club owner Sam Hammam spent £3.6m on new players during the summer and he surely will not be happy with City's current league position or form, hence the speculation regarding Bassett, one of his managers at Wimbledon.

At the moment City are an unexciting unit playing without any real cohesion or rhythm. When a team contains such gifted individuals as Graham Kavanagh, Jason Bowen and Des Hamilton then Andy Legg's long throws should be one of many attacking options and not the only one.

There are several potential reasons for this indifferent start to the 2001-02 campaign. New signings such as Kavanagh and striker Peter Thorne could still be finding their feet in the Welsh capital while Scottish goalkeeper Neil Alexander has yet to adjust to the pace of the game south of the border.

Also, several key players - and Josh Low and Rhys Weston immediately spring to mind - are performing below their potential. But despite Hammam's heavy outlay on new personnel there is a feeling that this City team are still a few players short of being genuine promotion contenders.

Thorne is a proven goalscorer in the Second Division and should prove an excellent acquisition for the club, but why buy bullets when you don't have the trigger to fire them in the first place? It will be no surprise if, in the next few weeks, Hammam pulls out his chequebook again, this time to strengthen other areas of the team.

Because of international commitments, Alan Cork's men now have to wait until tomorrow week for their next league game and that means if results go the wrong way, the Bluebirds could find themselves in the bottom four when they take on Bristol City at Ashton Gate on October 9.

Considering they will have three, maybe four, games in hand over their rivals it would be a misleading picture but surely this was not what Hammam or City's optimistic supporters envisaged before the start of the season.

Bassett, who took Hammam's Wimbledon from the old Fourth Division to the First, is now rumoured to be joining City's coaching staff to help out former pupil Cork. Hammam is refusing to comment on this issue but it does make sense. Bassett, whose last job was with Barnsley nearly a year ago, is looking for a club and Hammam is keen to surround himself with his old Wimbledon pals at Ninian Park.

With the home draw against Brighton following defeats against Huddersfield and QPR, not to mention the speculation

over Bassett, it has not been the best of weeks for Cork. It was timely, therefore, that Brighton manager Micky Adams should be in town during this difficult period for him.

Adams and Cork are best friends. They have worked together at three clubs and Adams was best man at Cork's wedding this summer. If the City manager needed someone to lean on then Adams was the perfect man.

"The other clubs see us as a big-spending club and because of that they try to stop us playing.

They try to stop the likes of Graham Kavanagh and Des Hamilton passing the ball around. We've got to earn the right to play," said Cork after Saturday's game.

"Only one team has re-ally beaten us over 90 minutes this season and that was Cambridge. Apart from that the other games we've lost were against teams who only had one or two shots against us."

Cork, who quit his post as Brighton's assistant manager to join City a year ago, added, "We've done well in a few matches but we haven't got anything out of them. Look what happened today - their goalkeeper made five good saves, then they scored a silly goal and that was their only shot in the entire game.

"We could have been 5-0 up and instead we were 1-0 down. That's what happens when you're having bad luck."

The Seagulls, containing three former City players, Richard Carpenter, Charlie Oatway and Nathan Jones, arrived at Ninian Park as the division's form team after bagging 13 points from the last 15.

Adams's tactics suggested he would be happy to leave South Wales with a draw. He played five in midfield leaving Zamora as the lone figure up front. Despite the cautious approach they went ahead in the 36th minute, totally against the run of play.

Kuipers saved efforts from Kavanagh, Thorne and Prior before Zamora, whom Hammam tried to sign last season, scored arguably the easiest goal of his young career so far.

Weston headed the ball back to Neil Alexander unaware his goal-keeper was off his line. As the ball bounced towards the City goal Alexander sprinted back, dived and scooped it off his line but it ended up at the feet of Zamora who gratefully claimed his sixth goal of the season. "Corky what's the score!" chanted the travelling Brighton fans.

In the second half Brighton camped in their own territory as they clung tenaciously to their fragile lead, with Oatway trailing Kavanagh across the park in a bid to snuff out Cardiff's playmaker while defenders Danny Cullip and Simon Morgan kept Thorne quiet.

Just as he did in the first half, Hammam left his place in the directors' box and deserted his VIP guests to stand behind Kuipers's goal, hoping he could bring his side luck. Instead he had to endure taunts of "What a waste of money!" from the pocket of Brighton fans to his left.

Low's ambitious 55th-minute shot from a tight angle zipped past the Brighton upright but it was only after Cork changed his entire left flank - replacing Michael Simpkins and Low with Legg and Leon Jeanne - that the home side threatened an equaliser.

It came with 11 minutes left. Substitute Bowen headed Legg's excellent cross against the post but Brayson was there to follow up for his second goal of the season. Thorne and Hamilton tried to win the match for the Bluebirds in the dying minutes but the south coast side held on for a point.

Report from www.sports.com
Cardiff City and Brighton shared the points in a fiercely fought competitive match at Ninian Park in front of 12000 fociferous fans.

Brighton absorbed early Cardiff pressure and keeper Michels Kuipers was soon in action, saving well from a beautifuly struck right-footed 25-yard low drive from midfielder Graham Kavanagh.

Kuipers again saved the visitors ten minutes later when defender Spencer Prior at the far post nodded the ball across the goal but the alert keeper tipped his effort over the bar.

Prior caused further problems in the Brighton defence in the 20th minute with another well timed powerful header, but Kuipers again produced a fine diving save to foil him.

The visitors took the lead in the 36th minute after an horrendous defensive mix-up between Reece Weston and keeper Mike Alexander.

A back header from Weston eluded the keeper and bounced menacingly toward the goalline and as Alexander desperately pulled the ball back from the line unmarked striker Bobby Zamora followed up and powerfully shot right footed into the Cardiff net from close range.

The Bluebirds almost equalised on the stroke of half time as a defence-splitting pass from Thorne found fellow striker Paul Brayson but his left footed shot from 12 yards was held by the diving Kuipers.

Some seven minutes into the second half Josh Lowe caused a problem on the left flank for the league leaders and almost equalised for the Bluebirds but his deft left-footed angled shot went inches wide of the far post.

Cardiff introduced substitutes Leon Jeanne, Andy Legg and Jason Bowen within five minutes but the well organised Brighton defence held firm until ten minutes before the end.

Cardiff's equaliser came from a hanging left footed cross from Legg which found the advancing striker Thorne whose header from 10 yards rebounded off the post and fell to Brayson who coolly stroked in the rebound to give Cardiff a well earned and valuable point.