9th February 2002 

bhafc.net (brightonhovealbion.rivals.net) Oldham Athletic 2-0 Brighton and Hove Albion Albion went down to only their 5th defeat of the season today with Oldham Athletic enjoying a 2-0 win over Peter Taylor's side. To make things worse for the Seagulls Bobby Zamora saw a red card on 84 minutes for "violent conduct".  The first shock of the day came even before a ball was kicked when Peter Taylor chose to leave Bobby Zamora on the bench with Daniel Webb starting as Albion's loan front man. Zamora, who is injury free, was being rested with the important game against Reading this Monday at the Withdean. It was a move that clearly didn't work for Peter Taylor with Oldham enjoying most of the possession in the first half with Albion creating very few chances at all. The opening goal came on the half hour mark when midfielder Matty Appleby, who is currently on loan from Barnsley, shot through a crowded area and past the unsighted Michel Kuipers in the Albion goal. The Seagulls only chance of the half came from a good Paul Rogers run, but he sent his shot just wide of the target when he broke free from the Oldham defence. The Seagulls played much better in the second half and will feel a little unlucky that they didn't pull a goal back before the home side extended their lead on 81 minutes.Most of the Seagulls travelling support thought Taylor would bring Bobby on for the start of the second half but they had to wait until the 56th minute for the Seagulls top scorer to make an appearance. His arrival onto the pitch was welcomed with a large cheer from the travelling support. And it didn't take long for Bobby's class to show through when he headed a cross onto the bar from close range just two minutes after coming on. Zamora was again in the thick of the action moments later when he linked up well with Gary Hart before setting Harty free but his effort from no more than 10 yards out was straight at Oldham's keeper Rachubka. The Seagulls continued to put the pressure on but couldn't find a way past the Oldham defence and the home side killed the game off with just under 10 minutes to go when Paul Watson gave away a silly free kick on the edge of the area. Up stepped John Eyres who fired the 20 yard free kick into the top corner. But the worst was yet to come. On 84 minutes Bobby Zamora was sent off for violent conduct meaning a three match ban which could cost Albion dearly with the season coming to an end.Not a good day at the office at all for Peter Taylor's side who now have to pick themselves up for the massive game against Reading at the Withdean Stadium this Monday.

Latics's man mountain, Julien Baudet shared his views on today's game with www.oldhamathletic.co.uk. "This is a great result for us and I am delighted we have beaten one of our promotion rivals. To win at home is important but to beat a team who are higher in the league than us, at the moment, is very good." Julien was then quizzed on his performance today.
"I was very happy with my game today. I am very pleased that I contributed to the win. It is always a bonus when we keep, how do you say, 'a clean sheet'. We have worked very hard in training on our defence tactics and with Iain Dowie's and the Manager's advice we are definitely getting a better team." Julien then spoke about the crowd today.
"I thought our fans were 'mangnifique'. Today, we had a bigger crowd than usual and they really made the difference. When they sing loud it encourages me to play. I like it when they shout come on Oldham. "I am really enjoying my time at The Latics. Not only I am learning new words but I am making lots of friends" Lastly, the player nicknamed the 'Terminator' by his colleagues commented on Latics's chances of promotion.
"That is what I want, I believe we are good enough to get promoted. I want to play at a higher level than Division Two and I want to do that with Oldham Athletic. I know we have a lot of difficult games coming up, especially next week, but if we keep playing the way we are then there is no reason why we can't be in Division One next year."

Albion put up a much improved display in the second period and both Rogers and Gary Hart went close early on. In the second period Brighton were a much-improved side with Rogers and Hart going close early on. After 56 minutes, Albion brought on Bobby Zamora and he nearly converted his first touch into a goal when he got above the Oldham defence to glance a header against the crossbar. Fifteen minutes later, another moment of Zamora magic put Gary Hart clear for Albion's best chance of the match, only to find Rachubka making a brilliant save at the winger's feet. Oldham increased their lead with ten minutes to go following a Paul Watson handball on the edge of the area. David Eyres produced a free-kick straight out of Watson's repertoire and gave Kuipers no chance whatsoever. The Seagulls day went from bad to worse three minutes later when Bobby Zamora was shown the red card following an off-the-ball altercation with Latics Chris Armstrong. Oldham Post-Match - Despite Defeat, Taylor Felt Performance Was Good Peter Taylor spoke to the media after the defeat at Oldham. "I'm disappointed to lose the game, particularly to concede two goals from set-pieces", said the Albion manager. "Apart from that I thought the performance was good, particularly the second half display, but goals are the important things. We didn't get any, and they got a couple. "We always knew it was going to be a difficult match. We set out our plans to stop them and to try and win the game. Overall, in general play, I was quite happy with what we did." 
The main talking point before the match was the absence of  Bobby Zamora from the starting line-up. Taylor explained the decision. "Bobby is very tired, in fact he is completely exhausted. He is the sort of player who doesn't just play in the 18-yard-box. He plays absolutely everywhere for the benefit of the team. "I spoke to Bobby before the Chesterfield game and said to him, that I felt he was looking jaded and that I didn't think it was doing him any good. He agreed, but still wanted to carry on. But he came back to me on Tuesday night and told me that he was shattered. I had to take that as a signal. "With us having another game on Monday it was about the only chance I had to try and freshen him up. To be fair, when he came on he did look quite fresh so I think that, at times, leaving somebody out in those circumstances will do them the power of good. Zamora was still the talking-point after the match, only this time as a result of the red card that was shown. Taylor understood referee Foy's decision, but felt there were mitigating circumstances. "I'm not arguing with the sending-off. All the referee saw was Bobby having a bit of a kick at the left back. I understand that he's got a job to do and in that respect his hands were tied. "However, I have been to talk to the him [Foy] about it.  I would love them to start realising why all-of-a-sudden somebody would take a kick at another player, and the answer to that is that the left-back gave him a full body check to stop him getting to the ball. "So you have one player who has no intention of trying to get the ball and our player who is trying to get the ball. He then gets very frustrated because there is a foul that isn't given, and he has a kick-out.
"It isn't the right way to retaliate, he knows that, but I can understand his feelings and I think that the officials, while being okay throughout the rest of the match, were disappointing in this situation. "There were a few things off the ball that they should have looked at. Daniel [Webb] nearly lost his head with people whacking him off the ball, and that is why I have got the video here. These are some of the things that we were trying to tell the officials and that is why it was a bit frustrating. Oldham Pre-match: Zamora Gets A "Well Deserved Rest" 
Peter Taylor has made the decision to put Bobby Zamora on the bench for this afternoons match at Oldham. Speaking shortly before kick-off he said "I'm giving him a well-deserved rest. I want us to prove than we can win a game without him." Earlier, Taylor had looked back with some satisfaction after his side ground out two valuable wins in the last week. "We need to continue to do what we have done in the last two games", he said at the training ground this morning. "We need to outwork the opposition. We don't pay the top wages that enable us to go out and get players like Graham Kavanagh or Jason Koumas, who we can turn down £2million offers for. We have not got that sort of money and, at the moment, we are playing against lots of teams who are bigger than us. And by that I don't mean crowd potential because we are superb in that respect. "I think that sometimes a result like Brentford can, in a strange way, help the club, from the Chairman down to the players and the supporters. When you go and get deservedly thumped 4-0, it brings a certain reality back to the situation and stops you getting carried away. "People have got to realise that the type of performances that we have witnessed in the last two games are the reason why we are up near the top of the division. It is not because we out-pass anybody for 90 minutes because we don't. We'd like to be as good as that but unfortunately we are not. "We are a muck and bullets team who are very honest, and we happen to have a fantastic goalscorer. That is what we are about. "The supporters have been superb in the last two games and have really helped the team. There was one moment at the start of the second half against Tranmere when it was very quiet. That is when they can really help us by making a lot of noise because it does give the players a lift. Taylor also revealed that he is looking for ways to strengthen the squad and the imminent arrival of Junior Lewis will help in that respect. "I've also involved Chris McPhee and Dean Hammond in the first team training schedules recently. I'm trying to gear up the squad so that I have 25 or 26 players available for the run-in and we may see a couple more new faces. "I will also be trying different options on the bench. With your squad you need to try and cover every position both from an injury and tactical perspective." Taylor reviewed the forthcoming match at Boundary Park. "Oldham are in a very good position. They are will need some watching. They have good players, and Micky Wadsworth has been active in the transfer market again recently, picking up an Argentinian lad amongst others, and I'm expecting a real tough match. "John Sheridan is an excellent passer. If you give him lots of time with the ball then he will hurt you. He is a great set-piece taker and a great midfielder. But as we did with Kavanagh and Koumas we will be paying him special attention as we would always do with any clubs best player. "It's going to be a massive game. Everybody in this division are desperate to keep winning to get into the promotion race and that is where our players here have done so well. At the start of the season Brighton would not have been one of the names on peoples lists for promotion. "Oldham are in very good form, Micky [Wadsworth] has gone there and they really have turned it around and all-of-a-sudden they are play-off contenders, but so were Tranmere when they visited us on Tuesday. That was the first time they had lost in 13 matches and if we can do that again it will be tremendous. If we can get something out of this match then we are really giving ourselves a chance." From his own sides perspective, Taylor has no worries. "We have no injuries. There are one or two tired legs because of the testing conditions but I have a full squad to select from. Michel's leg is getting better and better. He's feeling it a bit after matches but it is improving. I've sent him to see someone and between him and Malcolm [Stuart] they have done really well and he'll soon be 100% free of it."

Jamie Cureton's late goal kept Division Two leaders Reading on course for promotion as he netted in injury-time at home to Notts County to complete a comeback win against the struggling Meadow Lane side. Richard Liburd had put the visitors ahead but a Stuart Garden own goal and Cureton's late strike ensured three points for the Royals.

Oldham did their chances of making the play-offs no harm with a 2-0 home win over high-flying Brighton who also had prolific striker Bobby Zamora sent off for violent conduct. Matt Appleby had already opened the scoring before Zamora was dismissed and David Eyres ensured Oldham took all three points.

Huddersfield also did their chances of a quick return to Division One a power of good as Dutch striker Clyde Wijnhard, out for over a year following a car crash, wrapped up a 2-1 home win over Tranmere Rovers. Paul Rideout had given Rovers the lead but second-half goals from Craig Armstrong and Wijnhard gave the Terriers all three points.

Bottom side Cambridge took the lead at home to Colchester with a first-minute goal by Tom Youngs but Adrian Coote and Kevin Rapley earned the visitors a 2-1 win. Cambridge's Luke Guttridge was also sent off.

Wycombe rocked Bristol City's promotion hopes with a 2-1 win after Lee Peacock had given the visitors the lead. Sean Devine and Mark Rogers scored for Wycombe.

Craig Faulconbridge and Dennis Lawrence both netted as Wrexham won 2-0 at home to Wigan and Brentford's Lloyd Owusu got the winner in the 1-0 home victory over Bournemouth.

Blackpool twice held the lead, with goals by John O'Kane and John Hills, but Peterborough earned a draw thanks to Jimmy Bullard's penalty and an Andy Edwards goal.

Chesterfield's Jamie Burt made it three goals in two games as his double earned a 2-0 home win over Bury.

Jason Bowen's double and Robert Earnshaw's 14th goal of the season for Cardiff saw off Swindon at Ninian Park.

Karl Connolly scored twice in the first half as Queen's Park Rangers led at Northampton but Derek Asamoah and Sam Parkin earned the home side, who also had Roy Hunter sent off, a 2-2 draw.