WeAreBrighton.com Player of the Month - April 2013

A superb April for the Albion saw them book their play-off spot with three draws and three wins from six games.

That included a first win in donkeys years at Middlesbrough to all but end their promotion challenge, a record Amex win 6-1 (SIX) against a Blackpool side who were utterly outclassed and another 2-1 win at Leeds with another winner coming very late in the game.

So many players have contributed to the 12 point haul that it is a ridiculously long shortlist of 11 names we are asking you to select from for the WeAreBrighton.com April player of the month.

 

April 2013 Player of the Month - Andrea Orlandi (28.76% of the vote)
	Incredibly, this is only the second time that Andrea Orlandi has appeared in the top three for a player of the month since his arrival from Swansea City. It was another productive month for the midfielder as he netted in the victories at Middlesbrough and the rout of Blackpool. If Liam Bridcutt is the key man defensive wise then he is the key man going forward as shown by the fact he leads the charts for the season in terms of goals involved in with 17 either scored or assisted. No coincidence the only game Gus Poyet's side failed to score in in April was the one he missed at home to Charlton. Played 5 (5 starts, 0 sub). Scored 2.
	Second: David Lopez (17.65% of the vote) Another poll, another top three place for Spanish Dave making it five in a row since November. That highlights that he has probably been the most consistent Albion player all season and April featured another two goals - including that memorable lob away at Middlesbrough.
	Third: Matt Upson (9.8% of the vote) The former England defender helped the Seagulls to record three clean sheets and confirm their place as the best side defensively in the division. Even weighed in with a goal at home to Blackpool, underlining why he finished England's top scorer at the 2010 World Cup.

 

The contenders:
	Ashley Barnes - His stupidity in tripping over the referee away at Bolton cost him a seven game ban but with Leonard Ulloa crying out for a rest he was straight back in the team for two goals and a man-of-the-match performance in the rout of Blackpool.
	Liam Bridcutt - Rested for the visit to Leeds but otherwise another impressive month for the defensive midfielder who continues to make the Albion tick. If the Albion don't make the Premier League next season, it's hard to see how he will remain at The Amex.
	Wayne Bridge - Another excellent month was capped with his naming in the PFA Championship team of the year and his engagement to Frankie from The Saturdays. Another to have been rested at Leeds.
	Will Buckley - A run in the side and back-to-back goals at home to Blackpool and at Leeds was the result for the wideman who had his best month since being compared to Wilfried Zaha back in November.
	Gordon Greer - Imperious in the games in which Albion kept clean sheets against Charlton, Middlesbrough and Peterborough, he continues to benefit from having Matt Upson alongside him and is one of the main reasons in a much improved defensive performance.
	Tomasz Kuszczak - Returned from missing the Nottingham Forest game with a clean sheet against Charlton and excelled in a game in which the defence was under more pressure than normal at home to Leicester. Immense at Peterborough.
	David Lopez - Another month, another two goals for Spanish Dave. Scored the calmest lob you are ever likely to see away at Middlesbrough and followed that up with a goal against Blackpool. Sign him up Gus.
	Kazenga LuaLua - Came off the bench after just 11 minutes to torment the Leicester defence, eventually leading to his equalising goal. Played a huge role in Ashley Barnes' late brace against Blackpool, again from the bench.
	Andrea Orlandi - Another one of the signings of the season added two more goals to his tally away at Middlesbrough and at home to Blackpool. After the problems of no goals from midfield last season, he has well and truly addressed them.
	Leonardo Ulloa - Finally got his much needed rest when Barnes returned against Blackpool and followed that with the late winner at Leeds. Brings so much more to the team than his goal scoring, where would the Albion be if he'd been here from the start?
	Matt Upson - Unbeaten alongside Gordon Greer before the home leg of the play offs. The Albion had automatic promotion form in the second half of the season, which coincided with the arrival of the Stoke City loanee.