This week’s Gullmouth Action podcast delves into all the latest goings on at Brighton & Hove Albion, Crawley Town and sport in Sussex.
Matt Pole is joined by Brighton expert Derren Howard, Sussex sport guru Steve Bone, and football writer Sam Morton
Matt Pole is joined by Brighton expert Derren Howard, Sussex sport guru Steve Bone, and football writer Sam Morton
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SportsTranscript
00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 - Welcome to this week's Goldmouth Action Podcast
00:19 where we take a look at all the latest goings on
00:21 at Brighton, Hove Albion, Crawley Town and Sporting Sussex.
00:24 I'm Matt Pole and this week I'm joined by Brighton,
00:26 Hove Albion writer, Darren Howard,
00:27 Sussex Sport guru, Steve Bone and Sam Morton
00:30 who covers both the Seagulls and the Reds.
00:32 Albion suffered defeat at Champions Match
00:33 at the sea on Saturday, but it was a close run thing.
00:36 We'll pick over the bones of a Brighton's loss
00:37 to the Etihad and look ahead to Thursday's huge
00:39 Europa League clash against the seemingly beleaguered Ajax.
00:43 We'll also take a look at Crawley Town's performances
00:44 this week and reveal why one of our non-league clubs
00:47 has taken aim at the FA and South Yorkshire Police.
00:50 You can read all the stories we are talking about
00:52 along with videos and pictures online
00:54 at sussexworld.co.uk/sport
00:56 and you can check out other great videos
00:58 on shotsdv.com and Freeview channel 276.
01:02 But first, Albion were beaten 2-1 at City on Saturday.
01:05 Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland netted for the hosts
01:07 in the first half, four Anssi Fatih struck in the second.
01:10 Manuel Kandji was sent off in second half stoppage time,
01:13 but it was too little too late by them for the Seagulls.
01:15 How would you sum that Brighton performance up for us, Darren?
01:18 There's certainly no shame in a 2-1 defeat
01:20 at the treble winners.
01:22 - No, that's right, Matt.
01:24 Yeah, City aren't really at their fluent best at the moment,
01:27 but in spells, they really played like the champions
01:32 that they are.
01:32 And I thought the new signing on the left, Jeremy Doku,
01:37 he looked really dangerous in particular for City.
01:40 James Milner was playing it right back
01:42 and he tried to cut them down to size a few times,
01:45 but he was just too quick for him.
01:47 He looked really impressive.
01:51 Having said that, Albion were a bit timid
01:53 in the first 45 minutes.
01:55 And once again, they went 2-0 down again,
01:58 that seems to be the pattern this season.
02:00 But yeah, in the past, they've clawed it back
02:04 at Marseille and against Liverpool,
02:05 they clawed it back from 2-0 down, but not this time.
02:08 They were better in the second half.
02:10 They asked more questions
02:12 and they got the goal that they deserved.
02:14 And I think that would give them confidence going forward,
02:18 especially for Anssi Fatih, who came off the bench
02:22 and got the goal.
02:23 But there were positives.
02:24 Carlos Filiba, he got more minutes as well
02:28 in a really tough environment.
02:30 And it's tough for him at the moment.
02:32 He's sort of a combination of,
02:34 he looks world-class at some stages
02:37 and then he's making mistakes
02:39 all within the space of five minutes.
02:40 So it's a real sort of contrast for him at the moment.
02:43 But I think by the looks of it,
02:45 Brighton do have another really good player on their hands.
02:48 He's only 19, so he'll just need time
02:51 to sort of iron out his game.
02:53 But I think that game will help him no end.
02:55 Karim Atoma as well,
02:58 he's fresh from signing his new contract.
03:01 He looked every inch of an 80,000 pound a week player
03:04 against one of the best defenders in the world,
03:08 Karl Walker.
03:09 He's just a total nightmare for defenders,
03:13 the way he runs at them and attacks them.
03:15 And he's played up against Trent Alexander-Arnold
03:18 and Karl Walker in the last couple of weeks.
03:20 And he looks really good, really good.
03:23 At Dingra 2, he gained some more experience as well.
03:27 So I think overall, it was a bad defeat,
03:32 but one which Brighton would probably take,
03:35 I think, when it's all said and done.
03:38 - Another negative to come from that game
03:40 is Albion's makeshift left-back,
03:41 Soli March, was stretched off with,
03:43 I think it's a reported knee injury, isn't it, Darren?
03:45 I think.
03:46 - Knee injury, yeah.
03:47 Yeah, it really didn't look good at the time
03:50 and De Serby confirmed in his press conference
03:54 just today ahead of the Ajax game
03:55 that he is going to be out for a significant amount of time.
03:59 Certainly, I'd be amazed if he's back this year.
04:05 So I think January, February time
04:08 we could be looking at for that.
04:09 But it's, yes, it's a real blow.
04:13 He was covering at left-back, as you say,
04:15 Pervez Estupiñan, he remains injured.
04:18 He hasn't been since Aston Villa.
04:21 And the other main left-back cover, Tarek Lamptey,
04:24 he was excellent in Marseille
04:26 and then he hasn't featured since either.
04:27 So there is a concern on that side of the pitch
04:32 at the moment.
04:33 But yeah, big blow for March in particular,
04:36 who is playing really well this season
04:38 in a number of positions, yeah.
04:40 - Are there any other injury concerns
04:41 Brighton have going into Ajax?
04:42 It seems like there's a litany
04:44 of walking wounded at the moment.
04:45 (laughs)
04:46 - Yeah, they're struggling.
04:48 It's this, you know, a lot of senior players as well
04:51 and players that would be in the first team as well.
04:54 Danny Welbeck, he pulled up in the first half
04:57 at Manchester City as well with a hamstring injury.
04:59 So he's going to miss the Ajax game.
05:03 It's not quite clear yet how long he's going to be out for.
05:07 De Serb is never really one to give too much information
05:11 out on injuries.
05:12 But yeah, it looks like a hamstring issue for Danny Welbeck.
05:16 So I'll be surprised if he's fit.
05:19 Well, he certainly won't be playing against Ajax
05:20 and Fulham, I'd be amazed if he plays against Fulham as well.
05:25 Julian Sisso, he's already out with his knee injury.
05:27 He's hoping to be back at some point in December.
05:30 Tarek Lamptey hasn't played, as we said, since Marseille.
05:33 He's ruled out for the Ajax game.
05:36 Estupinien and Adam Lallana,
05:38 they were both sort of involved in some light training today.
05:42 But they were training away from the group.
05:44 So I don't think they'll be involved against Marseille either.
05:50 Adam Webster could play potentially,
05:52 especially if Igor plays at left back to cover that.
05:56 So Adam Webster could come in.
05:57 But the one plus point is that Jakob Moda,
06:00 he hasn't played for over a year with a serious ACL knee injury.
06:05 He's been spotted training with the group this week
06:08 and he's closing in on a return, which will be great news.
06:12 Central midfielder, been out for a year,
06:14 hasn't even played under De Serbi.
06:15 His last game was against when Graham Potter was in charge.
06:19 So, yeah, really promising if he can come back.
06:22 The signs are looking good for Jakob Moda,
06:24 but not for Ajax probably.
06:27 Whatever happens to Graham Potter, eh?
06:28 You remember him.
06:29 Brighton's Europa League opponents, Ajax,
06:32 meanwhile are in free fall.
06:34 Coach Maurice Stein left Ajax by mutual consent
06:36 after four months in charge on Monday,
06:38 after winning just two of his 11 games in charge.
06:40 The 36-time Dutch champion,
06:42 six second from bottom in the Eredivisie
06:44 with just one win from seven league games.
06:46 With all that in mind, Deron,
06:47 I don't think injuries aside for Brighton,
06:50 there couldn't be more of a perfect time for them to play Ajax, surely?
06:53 Yeah, they're in a bit of a spot of bother at the moment.
06:56 As you say, they're struggling down near the bottom of the league
07:00 and they've had sort of issues with their fans as well.
07:02 They've had crowd trouble this season.
07:04 Their derby against Feyenoord was forced to finish behind closed doors.
07:09 The loss at Utrecht as well,
07:12 which spelt the end for Stein,
07:15 that was temporarily suspended late on as well.
07:17 So it really is not a happy camp at Ajax at the moment.
07:23 But so, yeah, you would think it would be a good time to face them.
07:26 But it's also that flip side where, you know,
07:29 it's all going wrong for them in the league.
07:31 So they may see the Europa League as a bit of an escape for them at the moment.
07:35 And that's still very much in contention in the group stages as well.
07:39 So, yeah, it could be a good time to play Ajax,
07:44 but you just don't know how they're going to respond to losing the manager.
07:47 And they've still got some talented players in the team.
07:49 You know, Steven Bergwijn, the Tottenham player, he's dangerous.
07:53 He scored a couple of the weekend, I think.
07:55 They've got the former Brighton loanee as well,
07:57 Chubba Akpong, who they signed for Middlesbrough in the summer.
08:00 He hasn't featured much for them so far this season,
08:03 but he's a goal threat as well.
08:06 So, yeah, it's going into the unknown again for Brighton in this one.
08:14 So, yeah, you could write Ajax off, but I personally wouldn't.
08:17 I still think they're a dangerous outfit.
08:20 Would you agree with that, Sam? Write Ajax off at your peril?
08:24 Yeah, I agree. I think it's a difficult one.
08:27 Now they've sat the manager.
08:28 It's kind of a problem in that sense of maybe not knowing what to expect tactically.
08:32 I think obviously it's the second time it's happened with Mars Sajsak
08:35 and their manager before facing Brighton.
08:37 So it's a bit of bad luck in that sense.
08:38 Obviously, it's a myth that a new manager bounce can really help teams,
08:43 but then it can also work the other way as well.
08:44 So it'd be really interesting to see how the game goes.
08:48 But I think from Brighton's perspective,
08:50 they're never really going to get a better chance at beating a team like Ajax.
08:53 So I think it's going to be a game that Brighton have to win, really,
08:58 to keep their hopes alive of progressing through to the next round.
09:01 I think they obviously got to play Ajax twice.
09:03 I think they arguably got to get four points from those two games.
09:07 I think you can be confident that they'll do that when you look at the form that Ajax have been on
09:11 and compare that to Brighton.
09:12 And I think it definitely is a game that Brighton should be winning.
09:16 And now they've got a couple of games under their belt,
09:18 a bit of European experience behind them.
09:20 And I think that can definitely really help Brighton to get the three points they really need in this game on Thursday.
09:28 It shows how far Brighton have come, Joe,
09:29 in that we're going, 'Oh, Brighton are clear favourites for a game against a side that's won their league 36 times.'
09:34 It shows how far they've come, doesn't it?
09:35 That's right.
09:36 It's heady times for Brighton and to be performing at this level is still a pinch-yourself moment for some fans,
09:43 for the Dutch champions to be coming over to the Amex.
09:46 But Brighton are going to need to improve massively on the performance that they put in against AEK Athens in their opening group game.
09:53 They were all over the place defensively that night and it's been a problem for the Seagulls all season.
09:58 They just can't keep a clean sheet at the moment.
10:01 But attacking-wise, I think they've certainly got enough to hurt Ajax,
10:06 but they have to be tighter in defence and that left-back slot is going to be an issue for De Serby to work out.
10:13 But I think Brighton will get the win.
10:16 I think they will get the win tonight and it will put them in the mix for qualifying from this group.
10:21 The group would be wide open if Brighton can get the victory tomorrow night.
10:26 Very quickly, Sam, Deren's mentioned the defensive frailties.
10:29 At what point, I think they've conceded the most goals in the Premier League, sorry,
10:33 but at what point does it become a concern when they start shipping too many goals?
10:40 Sorry, Matt, was that one for me?
10:42 It was indeed, Mr Morton, yes.
10:45 Yes, I think it's a difficult one.
10:47 I think Brighton, obviously, this season have been brilliant going forward.
10:52 And even in games that they've been completely dominant, they still kind of ship a goal at the end.
10:55 And it's something I asked De Serby about in his pre-Man City press conference.
10:59 And he said that it's definitely something he's really focused on, focused on improving,
11:05 kind of trying to keep tight in the back, even when you're in control of games.
11:09 And obviously against Aston Villa, it was kind of a disaster from that point of view,
11:12 where everything defensively went wrong and could have done.
11:15 So it's just trying to avoid that happening.
11:17 And he said the best teams are able to be dangerous going forward, but then tight in the back as well.
11:22 So it's a really tough balance.
11:24 And I think it's difficult enough as it is, let alone with the injuries they've got.
11:27 So it's difficult to blame them too much for that.
11:31 I think it was such key players being out, obviously they missed Lewis Duncan in the game against Athens.
11:36 And you would hope that now he's back in the team and seemingly back at his best as well.
11:40 So he's had some exceptional performances from late that will really help against Ajax.
11:44 So it'll be interesting to see how they get on.
11:45 And I think it's not one to be overly concerned about just yet.
11:49 I think it was just obviously early teething problems for some of the new players.
11:53 Igor still wasn't fully settled in.
11:55 But I think as time goes on, these players will start to settle and will get used to De Serby's ideas.
12:00 And I think it will get better as the season goes on.
12:02 Yeah, I don't think it's a major concern just yet.
12:05 Well, we shall see when we're going to take a very quick break.
12:07 And when we come back, we shall discuss Crawley Town and trouble for one of our non-league teams in the FA Cup.
12:13 Crawley Town suffered a 4-2 home defeat at the hands of Crew Alexandra in a game that was marred by Reds goalkeeper Corey O'Day receiving abuse from a home supporter.
12:21 You were watching that one from afar from us, weren't you, Sam?
12:24 Could you tell us a little bit about the bother that Corey O'Day got himself into and the general feeling about the performance against the Railway Men on Saturday?
12:32 Yeah, it was a real disappointing defeat, really.
12:34 I think Crawley obviously took the lead twice in the game and they looked like they were back to their best after a really poor run of form that they were on.
12:43 And you thought maybe they can try and get back to winning ways.
12:45 And it did start really well.
12:47 It was just a real shame, really, that they managed to lose that game, obviously, in the end.
12:52 And I think Corey O'Day obviously put out a post on Twitter after the game to say that one of the fans put his middle finger up at him after the game, which is not nice to see.
13:03 And he was just trying to get the fans to kind of support the players, really, and say that it doesn't help the players, that kind of thing.
13:09 And you don't really like to see that kind of thing.
13:12 But it sounds like it didn't affect him too much from what he already had an outstanding game last night.
13:17 And it helped him get a draw in the end.
13:19 So, yeah, I think it's a difficult one for Crawley, really, where they were in a great run of form in September and it's gone to pot a little bit in October and they've not been able to get a win just yet.
13:28 So you wonder if that's going to be a long-term problem or if they'll be able to get back to winning ways soon.
13:35 But from what I've heard on Saturday, it started really well.
13:39 They were good going forward, but just fell apart defensively in the second half and ended up losing that second half 3-0.
13:44 So, yeah, a bizarre one.
13:47 A bizarre one that has kind of gone this way.
13:49 But I think Crawley defensively haven't been great all season.
13:52 I think they were great going forward in September, scored loads of goals.
13:56 And the fans didn't mind because they were loving it in those days, the team of football.
13:59 But now the goals seem to have dried up a little bit and it's not going all their way.
14:04 Well, no, you touched upon it there Tuesday night.
14:07 They saw that Crawley transferred a draw 1-1 at Walsall.
14:10 Then Ilo Orsi struck in the second half, stopped his time to help the Reds sail for the draw at the Sadlers, who themselves went ahead with a minute to go.
14:17 Would you say that's a good point on the road for Crawley, Sam?
14:20 And again, you've sort of mentioned it.
14:21 Or is it concerning that they've now gone four League Two games without a win?
14:26 I think it's a good point.
14:26 I think it's very, very important not to lose, first of all.
14:30 I think to concede an 88th minute winner is never nice, but especially if it's going to be a fourth loss in a row.
14:35 So the fact they've managed to get a point, halt the winning run, sorry, halt the losing run they were on.
14:42 And hopefully that gives them a little bit of momentum.
14:44 And it also just shows that fighting spirit they've still got in the team.
14:48 Meanwhile, Sussex non-league club Horsham FC have been dealt a major blow ahead of their highly anticipated FA Cup first round proper tie ex-Premier League club Barnsley.
14:56 The Hornets' Cup clash at the Tykes will kick off at 7.45pm on Friday, November 3rd, following consultation with local emergency services.
15:04 There's been a bit of a furore about this, isn't there, Steve?
15:07 Can you explain why this move has been met by such a negative reaction from Horsham and Barnsley supporters and why it's caught the ire of Horsham manager Dominic De Paola?
15:15 Yes, so massive game for Horsham.
15:19 One of the biggest in their history, although they obviously got to the first round a couple of years ago, played Coal Isle.
15:24 You know, these things don't happen too often to clubs at the level of Horsham.
15:28 So they're away to Barnsley, Barnsley third in League One, a huge day out for the fans, great occasion for the players, the management, the staff and everybody.
15:37 And a great cup tie for the neutrals as well.
15:39 And it's been switched basically from Saturday afternoon to Friday night.
15:44 It seems that the police were the sort of leaders in this decision, didn't want it played on Saturday afternoon because of other sporting commitments they've got around their county that day.
15:55 What we don't know and what we don't understand is why it couldn't have been switched to Sunday afternoon.
15:59 A lot of these early round cup games do get switched to Sunday.
16:04 And I think that would have suited Horsham and their fans almost as much as Saturday.
16:08 You know, it's a change of date, but it's still, it's easier to go up there and back in a day for an afternoon game.
16:14 Yeah. And the reason for the anger now from Horsham is that a lot of people are not going to be able to go.
16:19 You know, if you're a Horsham fan who's got to work on Friday, you're not going to have time to get up there.
16:24 A lot of the Horsham players have full time jobs away from football.
16:27 This is what I think some of the football authorities forget sometimes at this stage of the FA Cup.
16:32 That, you know, for all we know, one or two of the players could be struggling to make it.
16:36 Hopefully they've all got nice bosses that will realise the big occasion and will give them a bit of time off.
16:41 So, yeah, as you say, Dominic de Paola, the Horsham manager, pretty livid about it,
16:46 saying he just doesn't understand why all those involved in making the decision just couldn't give it a bit more thought.
16:53 And it does seem like Horsham have made representations on this and haven't had a lot of response.
16:57 You know, they're arguing their case and getting nowhere, which is really disappointing.
17:02 It's going to take the gloss off the tie for them, I think.
17:05 As an addendum, South Sussex County Times, a newspaper that falls under our company umbrella,
17:09 have also got in contact with the South Yorkshire Police.
17:12 But so far we have not heard anything yet.
17:14 And do we expect to hear anything yet, Steve?
17:16 No, I don't think we probably don't.
17:18 I think you can imagine where this is on South Yorkshire Police's list of priorities.
17:23 It's probably not very high up.
17:24 But if it was just somebody there, they must have a football liaison officer there who works with Barnsley
17:29 about arrangements for tickets and fans and things like that.
17:33 You would think that somebody there would have just got involved and at least explained the decision to us and to Horsham.
17:39 Even if they're not going to change their minds.
17:41 But no, really disappointing.
17:43 But Horsham will just have to go up there and win and get a tie somewhere other than South Yorkshire in the secondary.
17:49 Yes, as someone who's now going to be doing Barnsley and has previously done Carlisle, Crawley away would be the dream, Steve.
17:55 Let me tell you, that would be the idea.
17:57 A little bit closer for you.
17:58 Absolutely.
17:59 But moving on to cricket, Sussex stars Joffre Archer and Ollie Robinson have been handed central contracts by England for the 2023-24 campaign.
18:07 Archer has been handed a two-year central contract, while Robinson has received a one-year deal.
18:12 What do you make of these contract decisions, Steve?
18:15 Are you surprised by the contract length for both players?
18:18 I think me and you have both discussed away from it that we're surprised that maybe Joffre Archer, considering his injury history, has been given such a contract.
18:26 It's an interesting one, isn't it?
18:27 It's the first time that England have done multi-year contracts, I think.
18:31 So, they've given out a couple of three-year contracts, or three three-year contracts, quite a number of two-year contracts,
18:36 and then a smaller number of one-year contracts.
18:39 I think with Joffre, I think it's good news for Joffre that he's got a two-year contract,
18:43 because it shows that despite all the injury problems he's had now for two or three years,
18:48 the England hierarchy have still got great faith in him.
18:52 They think he's going to come through those injuries.
18:53 You know, he's out at the World Cup with them at the moment,
18:56 he's doing a lot of net sessions, a lot of fitness work.
18:59 I think the two-year contract for him shows great faith,
19:04 and it shows that he is a player that they really want it to work for.
19:08 You know, they want him to get fit and they want to use him,
19:11 probably across all three formats, when he is fit.
19:15 For Robinson, one-year contract, he may be a little bit disappointed with that.
19:20 I'm not sure. He may have wanted a two-year contract as well.
19:23 I think you have to look at last summer, when he started the Ashes in the team.
19:28 He didn't make a great impact, certainly didn't make the impact that he would have wanted.
19:32 And he wasn't the only one, you know, in those early tests,
19:34 England did struggle to find their best bowling, didn't they?
19:40 I think a one-year contract for him is probably an indication
19:43 that he's still very much in England's thinking, but he's got work to do.
19:48 You know, he needs to prove himself over this winter
19:50 with whatever time he gets in the England camp,
19:54 whether that's matches or training camps.
19:56 He needs to prove his fitness,
19:59 and prove that he can still be a frontline bowler for England
20:02 when next summer's tests come around.
20:04 We shall wait and see, won't we?
20:06 We shall have a quick stroll down the Steve Bowne School prediction corner this Saturday.
20:09 It sees Brighton and Hove Albion host Fulham.
20:12 I can see this being a tight one, but how do you see it going, Deron?
20:16 Yeah, Brighton are struggling to keep clean sheets.
20:19 So I think a 1-1 or a 2-2.
20:21 I still think Brighton are still getting used to this Sunday,
20:25 sort of Thursday-Sunday transition.
20:27 So yeah, I think 1-1 or a 2-2.
20:31 Mr Bowne, how do you see it going?
20:33 I'm sticking to my policy of predicting draws for Brighton,
20:37 not just for the sake of it.
20:38 I can actually, like Deron, I can see this finishing a draw.
20:41 It is hard for teams new to Europe to go from Thursday to Sunday.
20:46 I'm going to go for an exciting 3-3.
20:49 Ooh, blimey, that'd be entertaining.
20:51 And assuming, because this will be coming out before the Ikes game,
20:54 very quickly, Deron, how do you see that one going, Brighton win?
20:57 Yeah, I can see a Brighton win for this one.
20:58 I'm going to go 3-1 for this one, for Brighton.
21:02 Steve, what about yourself?
21:03 I think you're going to be frustrated in this one as well.
21:05 I'm going 1-1, which is not really enough.
21:08 Not really enough.
21:08 And it's going to put pressure on them to win the away game in Ikes.
21:12 Is a draw enough for them, Deron?
21:14 Brighton?
21:15 It could still, yeah, it wouldn't be a disaster, I don't think,
21:18 if they got the draw.
21:19 It'd put them under pressure, as Steve said.
21:21 But I think as long as they don't suffer another defeat,
21:24 they just need to defend better.
21:25 They've just got to defend better than they did against AEK Athens.
21:28 And I think they've got the natural ability up front
21:32 to score goals against this Ajax team.
21:35 So for me, it's all about their defensive play.
21:38 And if they can get that better,
21:40 then I think they've got too much for Ajax.
21:43 Moving on to Crawley, this Saturday sees them travel to second
21:46 from bottom Forest Green Rovers.
21:49 Steve, how do you see this one going?
21:50 A win is a must for Crawley, surely?
21:52 I think they're going to get a win there, actually.
21:54 Yeah, Forest Green struggling.
21:57 They really struggled last year when they went down
21:59 and haven't really recovered their momentum yet.
22:02 I'm going to go 2-1 Crawley for this one.
22:05 And finally, Deron, how do you see this one going?
22:07 Yeah, I can see Crawley getting a result there.
22:09 I'm going to go 2-0 Crawley for that one.
22:12 Brilliant.
22:12 Thank you very much for your time, chaps.
22:14 I'd like to thank Sam Morton, wherever he may be.
22:16 He may be hurtling towards winners for all we know.
22:19 Yeah, absolutely.
22:20 But thank you very much, Sam, wherever you may be.
22:23 You can catch up with all the latest sports news,
22:24 covering everything we have talked about today
22:26 at sussexworld.co.uk/sport.
22:28 And you can watch more excellent videos on shotsdv.com
22:31 and Freeview channel 276.
22:33 Thank you very much for watching,
22:34 and we'll see you all next week.
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