FOOTBALL: Danny Cullip's weekly column (April 1)

BRIGHTON & Hove Albion's great run continued on Saturday with a 3-0 home win over Tranmere.

The result means we have now lost just two of our last 11 games. We lost just once in February and once in March and, when you look back at the fixtures we've had, that is just excellent.

We've played Huddersfield, Norwich and Swindon at home, and Leeds, Charlton and Colchester away, among others, and showed great form. It is a compliment to the hard work the manager and his team have done.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

There have been big, hard games, and to only lose two is an excellent effort, which has put us mid-table.

We have now recorded back-to-back, home clean sheets, with an away one in between, and conceded only one goal in March.

It is a credit to the work that has been done on the shape of the team.

My belief is that the defence is the spine of a side, which you need to get right first and work forwards from there. If you don't concede goals, you won't lose games. I mean, you can score five in a game and still not even get a point if you are conceding.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The first season I came to Brighton we only just missed the play-offs thanks to a great run at the end of the season, where we went 14 or 15 games unbeaten.

We took that into the following season and romped the league. So all the work the team are doing now can be taken into next season.

As far as I'm concerned, there is never nothing to play '“ even when you're safe in a league. Everything we do now will bring the confidence up to build on next year.

Last week was full of big results, what with Chelsea winning 7-1, and Manchester United winning 4-0. And a mate of mine was at Luton's game and he kept texting me when they scored, while I was out trying to have some lunch on Saturday. It finished 8-0 so I got a lot of texts!

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, there wasn't a better result than those from the Worthing Academy sides. Dave Hall's team and mine were both in action up at Hill Barn, in Worthing, and we both picked up great wins.

Dave's side won 8-1 and my team won 6-0, so I was very pleased, especially after I gave them a bit of a telling-off last week.

Albion in the Community have a special week and weekend planned for the end of the season.

It will involve the last game of the season on the Saturday, and an event up at the Withdean on the Sunday. There will also be lots of events going on during the week, including Blue and White events in schools to raise money for charities.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Watch this space and I'll let you know more in the coming weeks.

-------------------------------------

Click here to go back to Worthing sport.

Click here to return to Gazette sport.

Click here to go back to Shoreham sport.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Herald's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Herald: [email protected]