WeAreBrighton.com Player of the Month - March 2013

Two wins from six but the Albion got the one that mattered - a first triumph over Crystal Palace at home for 25 years.

And it wasn't just a triumph really was it? It was more of an absolute battering over our promotion rivals as the month ended with the Seagulls back in the top six.

The other win came against Huddersfield Town with Leonardo Ulloa becoming the first man to score a hat-trick at The Amex.

We failed to register a shot away at bottom-of-the-table Bristol City in a 0-0 draw with another two points chucked away after a Casper Ankergren howler at Nottingham Forest. And the less said about Bolton the better.

 

March 2013 Player of the Month - Leonardo Ulloa (88.89% of the vote)
	Who's that man from Argentina? Well, he is now the record holder of the biggest winning margin in WeAreBrighton.com Player of the Month history having racked up nearly 90% of the votes for March. He bagged seven goals - a hat-trick at home to Huddersfield, one at Barnsley, one at Forest and of course that brace against Crystal Palace that left every Albion fan feeling Glad Ulloa. It's not just his goals though - off the ball he has been superb, in the air he wins over 75% of challenges and is the true heir to Glenn Murray. Just think where we might be had he have been here from August... Played 6 (5 starts, 1 sub). Scored 6.
	Second: David Lopez (4.44% of the vote) A fourth successive month in the top three for Spanish Dave in another month in which he impressed. He was on target from the penalty spot at home to Huddersfield and scored a stunning free-kick against Palace on the stroke of half time to help set up victory for the Albion.
	Third: Tomasz Kuszczak (2.22% of the vote) Importance was highlighted with the two points that got away (got between Casper Ankergren's legs) at Forest and he made some vital saves in the draw at Bristol City and in preventing a first half Matt Upson own goal that could have seen the Palace game turn out very different.

 

The contenders:
	Liam Bridcutt - Missed the victory over Huddersfield suspended and the draw at Forest with illness but again ran the show in the games he played, particularly dictating play against Crystal Palace before earning his first Scotland cap away in Serbia.
	Wayne Bridge - The left back returned to the side and we looked far more solid defensively. Had his best game of the season against Palace. It would be no surprise to learn Wilfried Zaha is still in his pocket today.
	Inigo Calderon - Injury to Bruno gave him his first real run of games in the starting eleven and he responded superbly with an excellent month culminating in a superb performance against Palace's lively widemen.
	Gordon Greer - Took advantage of Adam El-Abd's suspension to return to the starting line up against Palace and was an absolute rock at the back. Continued that form away at Forest and it is hard to see how El-Abd will get back in at this moment in time.
	Tomasz Kuszczak - The draw at Forest showed just how vital a player he is to the Albion. Repelled everything Bristol City threw at him in keeping a clean sheet and his performance in the opening 20 minutes against Palace set the foundation for victory.
	David Lopez - Lived up to his reputation as a DB7-esque set piece expert with a superb strike for the second goal against Palace. Had he of been on the pitch at Barnsley, it's not unreasonable to think we'd have a point thanks to another successful penalty.
	Leonardo Ulloa - He left Albion fans feeling Glad Ulloa this month with an absolutely storming six games in which he scored eight times - including that brace against Palace and a hat-trick against Huddersfield.
	Matt Upson - No coincidence that conceding woes of the end of 2012 and start of 2013 disappeared with his arrival. Superb all month, he has become a vital cog in the team and gave no opposition attackers a chance.