Snow causes chaos in Brighton and Hove. Albion travel to Norwich after earning a draw against Arsenal. Latest news and sports from across Sussex.
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00:32Hello and welcome to Latest TV News.
00:34I'm Sam Morton, reporter for Sussex World,
00:37and in this week's show we'll be reflecting on
00:39Brighton & Hove Albion's 1-0 draw against Arsenal
00:42before we look ahead to the FA Cup trip to Norwich City.
00:45First, here are the top stories from across Sussex.
00:48Heavy snow fell in parts of Sussex on Wednesday afternoon,
00:51with Brighton & Hove particularly affected.
00:54The snow caused significant delays,
00:56with some road users even having to abandon their vehicles
00:59due to the weather.
01:01AA Traffic Watch reported that traffic was gridlocked,
01:04in particular in Brighton.
01:06We spoke to some road users who had been impacted by the traffic,
01:09who reported up to three hours of delays.
01:12One road user who is in Eastbourne said,
01:14it's chock-a-block, people are slipping and sliding around the roads,
01:17it's really dangerous out there.
01:19We've been in the car for two hours already,
01:21and it may take another two to get home.
01:23Another driver from Brighton said it was bad,
01:25traffic is backed up, I drove down to Hove
01:27and some steeper roads are becoming impassable.
01:29There was also lots of ambulances around.
01:31I hope that everyone making their way home is OK.
01:34Sussex Police posted a statement on social media,
01:36which stated the county was experiencing severe weather
01:39with snow, ice and freezing rain.
01:41This was particularly affecting the A23 and the A27.
01:45The police said they were responding to reports of multiple collisions
01:48and asked people not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
01:52They asked people to listen to local radio for ongoing updates
01:54on weather conditions and road closures.
01:57Two men were arrested after a short police pursuit in East Sussex.
02:01Officers were alerted to a possible stolen vehicle,
02:04a silver Volkswagen Golf, at around 6.20pm on Sunday January 5th.
02:09Sussex Police said the driver of the vehicle failed to stop officers
02:12and drove dangerously through the Queen's Park and Hanover area of Brighton.
02:16This included travelling in excess of 60mph in a 20mph zone,
02:20going through red light signals, going the wrong way along a one-way street
02:24and travelling on the wrong side of the carriageway, police said.
02:27After a short pursuit in Albion Hill and into Grove Hill,
02:30the vehicle was safely stopped by officers from the Roads Policing Unit
02:33and Tactical Firearms Unit.
02:35Sussex Police said a passenger who decamped from the vehicle
02:38was pursued on foot and arrested.
02:40The driver was also arrested at the scene.
02:42A hospital trust in Sussex says surgical face masks
02:45are being made available for visitors
02:47and those with symptoms of respiratory illness are asked not to attend.
02:51The University Hospital's Sussex NHS Foundation Trust,
02:55which runs hospitals in Chichester, Worthing, Hayward Teeth and Brighton,
02:59has introduced enhanced measures to deal with the challenging winter period.
03:04This comes after a critical incident which has since been stood down
03:07at East Surrey Hospital to help control the spread of winter viruses
03:11such as flu and norovirus.
03:13The Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust had asked patients
03:17whose condition wasn't life-threatening to utilise other NHS services.
03:21Plans to convert a rural hotel into shared housing
03:24have been approved at appeal.
03:26In a decision notice, a planning inspector has granted permission
03:29to convert part of the Crockstead Farm Hotel near Halland
03:33into a home in multiple occupation.
03:35According to documents submitted as part of the application,
03:38the hotel had closed its doors in March 2020
03:41as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
03:44Finally, after eight years, Glynde finally has a pub once more
03:47after the restoration of a derelict building.
03:50The owners of Steamworks at Seaford Station
03:53has now opened Steamworks Glynde
03:55after their latest planning application was approved.
03:57Steamworks Bakehouse and Bar had previously applied in February 2024
04:02to change the building at the station into a bar and a light refreshment facility.
04:06Stay tuned for the Goldmouth Action Podcast.
04:10Welcome to another episode of the Goldmouth Action Podcast
04:13where we take a look at the latest games on at Brighton, Hove Abbey and Crawley Town.
04:17I'm Matt Pole and this week I'm joined by Brighton Riot Darren Howard,
04:20Crawley Town expert Mark Dunford as well as Sam Morton
04:23who covers both the Seagulls and the Reds.
04:25João Pedro's unusual penalty secured Brighton a 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal
04:29in their first game of 2025.
04:31We'll look back at an excellent game at the Amex
04:33plus we'll bring you all the latest from Crawley Town
04:36including all the news from a busy festive period for the Reds.
04:39You can read all the stories we are talking about
04:41with videos and pictures online at sussexworld.co.uk forward slash sport
04:44and you can check out other great videos on shotstv.com and freeview channel 262.
04:48You may also be watching on latest TV so thank you very much for tuning in
04:52but we'll start at the Amex where João Pedro scored a second-half penalty
04:56to then Arsenal's title hopes as the Gunners were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton on Saturday evening.
05:01Arsenal went ahead in the 16th minute through Ethan Nguernieri
05:04before Pedro struck from the spot just after the hour.
05:07Sum that one up for us, Deren, please, if you can.
05:10Not much time to do it but there's plenty of talking points.
05:13There's so many talking points and it really summed Brighton's season up
05:18in a nutshell, to be honest.
05:20They've been so inconsistent and Sam and I went to the game
05:24and afterwards we were just saying what a strange game it was.
05:29Brighton were way off the pace in the first half.
05:33They looked far too passive and weren't really involved in the game
05:39other than an Idinga chance which he put wide.
05:42It was pretty comfortable for Arsenal, really.
05:45As you mentioned, they took the lead early on which was a bit of an error from Bart van Bruggen.
05:51I think he should have done better to keep that one out.
05:56But then the second half, they were unrecognisable.
05:59They made a couple of changes.
06:01Ruta came on, Jankuba Minta came on for Gruda
06:05and the crowd really got involved.
06:08There was just so much more energy in the team.
06:12When Jal Pedro got the goal, you really thought that Brighton
06:17could go on to actually get the winner against Arsenal
06:21who probably, to be fair, weren't at their best.
06:24Arsenal gave a good performance but they were a little way off
06:29from the best and what you'd expect to see from them.
06:33Another frustrating game for Brighton.
06:36They can't seem to string 90 minutes together.
06:39They play well in patches but they're just so inconsistent
06:43and that's why they dropped down the table to 10th position.
06:47As you mentioned about talking points, the main talking point was
06:50when Jal Pedro had a clash of heads with I think it was Saliba
06:55in the penalty box for the Arsenal defender.
06:58Arrived probably a little bit late.
07:01Pedro had flicked the ball up in the air and it was basically
07:04a headbutt to the side of his head and he crumpled to the floor.
07:08It was a pretty instant decision for the referee.
07:11The referee gave it.
07:13There was a bit of criticism from it from Arteta, the Arsenal players
07:17and from some pundits as well.
07:19Overall, my thoughts were and Sam and I spoke about this
07:22after the match as well.
07:24I thought it was a penalty because there was definitely contact
07:26in the box.
07:28He took him out whether it was with his head, if he'd take him out
07:31with his foot or his body.
07:33One way or another, what he did to Pedro made him fall onto the floor.
07:38So, yeah, it was a penalty really.
07:41Again, it was a frustrating game but it was another point
07:45and a bit more promising as we go into the new year.
07:49Well, you've described the penalty situation perfectly, Darren.
07:53As you said, the decision caught in both debate and controversy.
07:56What did you make of the decision, Sam?
07:58I'm of the opinion that any decision that goes against Arsenal
08:00is the right decision but you might have a more balanced take.
08:04Yeah, it was a really strange one because when it first happened,
08:08I must admit, I didn't think it was a penalty.
08:10When I saw it happen, I saw the replays on the screens in front of us
08:13in the stadium, I was thinking, surely that can't be given.
08:16I was just waiting for VAR to intervene and say it wasn't.
08:20But I think after seeing it again and seeing more replays of it,
08:23I have changed my mind.
08:25I think it is a penalty because Saliba does get there late in the day
08:28and he does get a bit of the ball but he does take most of Jal Pedro's head.
08:32At the end of the day, it's a foul with any other part of the body.
08:35If he's tripped him over or he's kind of hit him on the knee
08:38or whatever, it's a penalty.
08:40So, it's an unusual one.
08:42The bone of contention is that it's just so unusual in the sense
08:45that we just don't see penalties given for this kind of thing.
08:48That's what all the Match of the Day pundits were saying.
08:50They all agreed it wasn't a penalty.
08:52There was also a clip I saw of Michael Owen and Howard Webb discussing it.
08:56I think they have a show where they review incidents over the weekend
08:59and that kind of thing.
09:01They disagreed with each other.
09:03Michael Owen said it definitely wasn't a penalty
09:05and Howard Webb was explaining why it was.
09:08It's probably one that I don't think anyone's going to agree on.
09:11You're always going to get different viewpoints of it.
09:13I think it was just about the right decision
09:16but such a difficult one to make at the heat of the moment as well
09:20because even after watching multiple times, people still can't agree.
09:23So, I don't envy the referee in that decision that was made.
09:27But I think in terms of the match, it was more than deserved.
09:30Writing the performance in the second half,
09:32a point was the very least they deserved from the match.
09:35They could have won it as well, as Darius mentioned.
09:38But, yes, another point, fourth draw in a row.
09:41So, they need to start turning these draws into wins.
09:44Well, absolutely. You mentioned it there, Sam.
09:46Brighton are now without a win in eight Premier League games.
09:48But did that second half showing, Deron, kind of make it a positive start
09:53or a positive feel to the second half of the 2024-25 campaign for Albion?
09:57I think it did. I think it did.
09:59But it's funny, isn't it?
10:01Because if they'd have gone ahead and then Arsenal
10:03could have played better in the second half,
10:05then everybody would have left the stadium with a different feel to the game.
10:08But because Brighton were poor in the first half
10:10and then better in the second half, got the equaliser
10:13and probably maybe could have got the winner,
10:15everybody's sort of left with a bit of a slightly more upbeat feeling
10:19than perhaps they have done in the past.
10:23But, yeah, it's 10 draws now in the Premier League.
10:26That's the most of any team in the Premier League.
10:30And as Sam said, they really need to start turning some of these
10:34into three points if they are to push on and challenge for Europe.
10:40But I think you look at the last two.
10:44So they had draws against Brentford and West Ham,
10:46which I think you could come away from those and feel pretty frustrated.
10:50Again, the Leicester draw was frustrating.
10:53But the last two draws away at Villa and then at home against Arsenal,
10:57I think most people would be quite happy with those results.
11:02Obviously at home against an Arsenal team that weren't quite fiery
11:05and it could have been different.
11:07But overall on balance, I think the two draws against Villa and Arsenal
11:12are pretty good results for Brighton.
11:15And it does give them something to build on as well.
11:18Remember, they are still really struggling with injuries at the moment.
11:23So they've got a number of players out.
11:25As a lot of Premier League teams have,
11:27they've got some injuries which they need to deal with.
11:30But that's why they've got that squad.
11:33That's why they spent £200 million.
11:36You can't feel too sorry for them because they've got a massive squad there
11:40who they can pick and choose from and change it around when they need to be.
11:46But the main concern at the moment is in that central area.
11:49There was an injury to Louis Dunk.
11:52He had a calf injury ahead of the Arsenal game.
11:55And then also Igor Julio, he went off with a hamstring injury as well.
12:00So he's going to be out.
12:02He posted on social media to say that he's expected to be out for a few months now.
12:06So that is a concern for Brighton, that central area.
12:10Adam Webster has only just come back from his hamstring injury as well.
12:14So they may want to tread carefully with him.
12:17Van Geck has just played and played and played and played.
12:20So they'll just be praying that he can continue to keep going, really.
12:27But yeah, I think overall, though, against Arsenal,
12:30it was a positive second half performance and gives them a good platform to build on.
12:36Well, off the pitch, one of the major talking points of the January transfer window
12:40so far surrounds the future of young seagull striker Evan Ferguson.
12:44What's the latest we're hearing about the Irishman, Sam?
12:46And other than Ferguson, are there any other potential departures from Brighton
12:49we should be keeping an eye out for?
12:51Yeah, so I think on Evan Ferguson, it's a strange one, isn't it?
12:55Because a couple of years ago, he was banging in the goals.
12:58I remember he scored a hat-trick against Newcastle
13:00and he was thought to be the next big thing.
13:02He's been valued at around £100 million by some people.
13:08And just, yeah, just seemingly the sky, the only way it was up for him,
13:12the sky was the limit in terms of his trajectory.
13:15But it hasn't turned out that way at all.
13:17And he hasn't played that often.
13:19I know he had a bit of an injury to his foot last season that kept him out for a long time.
13:22But he's returned this season and his game time has been limited.
13:26And the official line at the moment is that he's also out with an ankle issue.
13:31But the cynics may say that it's clearing away for a January move because it's difficult
13:36because obviously you've got these injuries, Danny Welbert being out injured.
13:39You kind of think that would be an opportunity for Ferguson to really step up
13:43and take the mantle in that striker position.
13:46But it hasn't really happened for one reason or the other.
13:49He hasn't managed to put running games together and get his scoring run back up again.
13:55So it would not be a shock, I don't think, if he does move in January.
13:59But it's a difficult one for the decision-makers at Brighton
14:02because they probably don't want to sell him or loan him, I should say,
14:05to a Premier League rival because that could hinder them in the league.
14:09I know Chelsea and Man Utd have been linked.
14:11And you never know.
14:12Obviously, it could come down to fine margins where they finish in the league,
14:15especially Man Utd, who obviously are having a poor season.
14:20Probably Brighton wouldn't want to strengthen them in the transfer market.
14:24So it's an odd one.
14:26But when Hetzel was asked about it, he said, first of all,
14:28he needs to get back on the pitch.
14:30He won't discuss the rumours in public.
14:31He thinks it's very important that the player knows the idea,
14:34that we know the idea from the player.
14:35And it's most important to be honest with each other
14:37to find the right solution for the club and also for the player.
14:40And he's really happy that Evan's in his squad.
14:42He's hoping that he's back on the pitch as soon as possible.
14:45So, yeah, it's a difficult one, but I wouldn't be surprised
14:48if he does go on loan in January to get some minutes again
14:52because he's still a highly talented player.
14:54A long contract at Brighton until June 2029.
14:57And Brighton have no need to sell him.
14:59So I think if he was to go, a loan move would be most likely.
15:03I think that would help all parties, I think.
15:07Well, this Saturday sees the Albion in FA Cup third round action
15:10at Championship Outfit Norwich City.
15:12Deren, what kind of Brighton team do you expect to see at Carrow Road?
15:15Do you reckon there'll be heavy rotation?
15:17And how do you rate the Seagulls' chances of progress
15:21in the FA Cup this season?
15:22I think there's a great chance for a bit of silverware for them in this.
15:25Yeah, yeah, I think you're right.
15:28I think most Albion fans now, if they are going to be around
15:31this mid-table mark, they'd love to see Brighton go really strong
15:35in the FA Cup.
15:37But as far as the team selection goes, it's really tough.
15:40I was just playing around, I saw the question on the podcast
15:43and I was just playing around with a potential XI
15:46and it's a potential Brighton XI for this game.
15:49And it's very difficult to know which way he's going to go for this.
15:54I would imagine that Jason Steele could be in goal
15:58and then Lamptey in for Joel Veltman.
16:01Depends whether he wants to risk Van Heck with all the injuries.
16:04So there could be an opportunity for Rory McConville,
16:07who's a young Ireland international.
16:09He's actually played twice for Northern Ireland,
16:11but he's yet to make his debut for Brighton,
16:13but very highly thought of and very, very good defender.
16:16Adam Webster I expect to start, Estupinan.
16:19There could be also a debut for Diogo Gomes as well,
16:22who's the Paraguay signing.
16:24He joined on the 1st of January, 12 million from Inter Miami.
16:28So look out for that one, that he could be playing in midfield.
16:32Whether he rests for Lieber or not, I'm not sure.
16:35I expect Yancuba Minte to start as well.
16:38And then you could see Soli March as well.
16:41Soli March could be back for his first start.
16:43He's made a couple of appearances from the bench.
16:45And again, it's just whether he wants to risk Pedro Matoma
16:49and how he sees them in training this week,
16:51how their fitness levels are.
16:54So it's going to be an interesting start in XI.
16:57So I'm quite intrigued to see how he goes for this one.
17:01We've got the press conference tomorrow that I'll be going to.
17:04So we'll have a bit more on the Sussex World website
17:06about injury updates and potential plans
17:09and get more of a feel for who might be in this start in XI to face knowledge.
17:14Excellent. Brilliant plug for the website as well, Deren.
17:16I like your work.
17:17And we're going to take a quick break.
17:19And when we come back, we're going to talk all things Crawley Town.
17:31Welcome back to part two.
17:43And before we talk about Crawley Town's game at Barnsley on Saturday,
17:47we are going to look back at the Reds' festive period.
17:49And it was certainly a packed one for Rob Elliott's men,
17:51with his side playing five League One matches in 13 days.
17:55A lot to fit in there, Mark.
17:56But how did the Reds equip themselves over Christmas and New Year?
18:00Not very well at all.
18:04Next question.
18:05No, to me, it was a tough, tough...
18:07I mean, they had a horrible fixture list.
18:10They had Birmingham at home on the Monday night,
18:14which was moved forward from the Saturday.
18:16Or moved back. Moved back from the Saturday originally.
18:20So they had a shorter time to prepare between that and Boxing Day.
18:24Birmingham, I thought they played well without really threatening Birmingham.
18:28They defended really well.
18:29Dion Conroy was back, which was a huge bonus.
18:32And he played really well.
18:33Showed what they've been missing with him in defence.
18:36But they lost 1-0.
18:38Jay Stansfield, who cost four times as much as the whole Crawley squad,
18:42scored the winner.
18:44It was a good occasion.
18:46But yeah, they played well, but just didn't do quite enough.
18:50And Birmingham just had that one bit of quality that separated the sides.
18:54Boxing Day is a day to forget.
18:56They lost 3-0.
18:57He made a few changes to the side.
18:59I think it was just the rest of a few players.
19:01Obviously, thinking of they had Exeter and then Charlton in the next week.
19:06Didn't work what he'd done, what Rob Elliott did.
19:09And they lost 3-0.
19:10And it could have been a hell of a lot more
19:11if Leigh Norwood didn't sort of ease off towards the end.
19:14And then Exeter away.
19:17They, 45 minutes, the best football Crawleys played all season.
19:21They were 4-1 up at halftime. Incredible.
19:23They were great goals.
19:25Will Swans, in particular, was a really good ball from Conroy in the deep.
19:29Sort of semi-reminiscent of Don Telford's goal at Hartlepool,
19:34his famous one-way or a die-kick in the long ball.
19:37He took it down beautifully and rounded the keeper and slotted home.
19:40But then second half, it was a mixture of Crawley being awful
19:45and Exeter suddenly being really good.
19:48But whether that was because Crawley allowed them to be really good,
19:52I don't know.
19:53But, yeah, they came back and got the equaliser in injury time to make it 4-1.
19:57As soon as it went 4-2 and then 4-3.
20:00And the decision, it shouldn't have been a third goal.
20:02It was a foul on Jojo Wolcott.
20:04He was bundled over direct from a corner.
20:07But as soon as that went in, you knew where it was going.
20:10And it was disappointing.
20:11It felt like a defeat in the end, I think, for the Crawley fans.
20:14And then you had Charlton, which was absolutely shambolic
20:17and they didn't even play.
20:19It wasn't the club's fault.
20:22I mean, it was never going to be on.
20:24But the referee messed about.
20:26There was a lack of communication.
20:27What was going on?
20:29And then called it off 20 minutes before kickoff after three inspections
20:32when it was going to continue to rain.
20:34It was utterly ridiculous why it wasn't called off earlier.
20:37So, for that whole Christmas week, it was quite a bit of a shame for Crawley.
20:42Only one point and then we're going to get on to the Barnsley game, aren't we?
20:46Yeah, we are.
20:47And Saturday saw the Reds 4-3, 3-0 defeat at playoff chase in Barnsley.
20:51The result leaves Crawley 21st in League One on five points,
20:54a drift of safety.
20:55And it doesn't sound that it was much better at Oakwell, Mark,
20:58by the tone of your voice.
21:00No, it was, again, they were very poor.
21:03I think it's sort of the first time we've properly seen Rob Elliott
21:06not slam his players, but certainly criticise them in his post-match.
21:11He was in the stands because he was serving a one-game suspension
21:15and that included a game at Gateshead.
21:17I think he picked up a booking and then he's got a couple here in Crawley.
21:20But, yeah, it was a very, very poor performance
21:25and it looked a little bit like men against boys, really.
21:29Barnsley looked like a good professional outfit.
21:31They did a proper job on Crawley.
21:33Crawley looked good in the last 20 minutes,
21:35but obviously they were 3-0 down.
21:37And, yeah, I think Rob Elliott said afterwards,
21:40he said it's no good playing well when you're 3-0 down.
21:42You've got to play well from the start.
21:44They gave them a 3-0 lead and then just sort of, yeah.
21:48The keeper pulled off a couple of good saves.
21:50They could have got a couple of late consolation goals, but they didn't.
21:53And that's the second 3-0 defeat to Barnsley this year
21:56after losing 3-0 earlier in the season at Broadville Stadium.
22:00Well, post-match, Elliott gave an update on transfer rumours
22:04surrounding two Crawley midfielders and sensationally revealed
22:07that one of them will be leaving the club in the January transfer window.
22:10Who did Elliott discuss, Sam, and who looks set to leave the Rebs?
22:13It's J Williams, which I don't think will come as a surprise to anyone.
22:17I think we knew that a while ago that he would be on the move
22:20and it's now been confirmed by Rob Elliott that he will be leaving the club.
22:24He also clarified the situation with Ronan Darcy.
22:29Both players were part of the promotion when he signed last season
22:32and have been rumoured to leave for quite a while
22:35and following the 3-0 defeat to Barnsley on Saturday.
22:39And he was asked about both players' futures and he said,
22:41I think J Williams will be leaving.
22:43He's out of contract and he thinks there's been interest in him.
22:46He thinks J will be leaving the club.
22:48Whilst Darcy has had an issue with his groin and being unavailable,
22:51he's managed it previously and got through the games,
22:53but he's just got to a point when obviously he can't keep playing.
22:56It's a real strange one and the player won't mind him saying
22:59that he doesn't like missing games, but he's got a lump in the groin
23:02which is restricting his mobility. It's not an injury as such,
23:05it's just more of an issue, but he's still fired up in terms of that
23:09and just wants to get back to playing again.
23:12So it's an interesting one with him.
23:13There's obviously no confirmation about any moves for Darcy,
23:16but it has been confirmed, as I say, that Williams will be on the move.
23:20Thank you for watching latest TV news.
23:22For more stories from across the county, please visit sussexworld.co.uk