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WeAreBrighton.com Player of the Month - November 2013

With the traditional write off of October out the way, the Albion got back to winning ways in November going through the month unbeaten.

There were not just away wins but away goals as well, 3-1 at Doncaster and 1-0 at Wigan as well as drawing 1-1 with Bournemouth live on Sky.

Only one home game in the month but that was an excellent one as well as Blackburn Rovers were beaten 3-0 although the scoreline didn't tell the entire story with Tomasz Kuszczak excellent that day.

Plenty of contenders for this months award and more pleasingly not a referee in sight to sneak into second place as was the case last time.

November 2013 Player of the Month - Tomasz Kuszczak (36.51% of the vote)
Brighton's number one showed what a difference having a top class goalkeeper can make in the Championship with a string of points saving saves through the unbeaten November. He was solid at Doncaster and could easily have been man-of-the-match at home to Blackburn despite the fact the scoreline ended in a convincing 3-1 Albion win. His best performance of the month came at Wigan including that flying save in the last minute to single handily preserve the victory and he also made two first class stops at Bournemouth to help earn a point. Different class.
Played 4 (4 starts). Scored 0.
Second: Rohan Ince (26.98% of the vote)
Another impressive month from the youngster with an immense performance in particular in the victory over Blackburn. Nothing speaks louder about his recent outings than the fact that even with Liam Bridcutt fit, he kept his place in the starting eleven at both Wigan and Bournemouth.
Third: Andrew Crofts (12.70% of the vote)
Scored yet another vital goal to become top scorer so far this season when popping up with the winner away at Wigan. Month of hard work again from the central midfielder who seems to be benefitting more than anyone from Oscar's arrival in the dugout.

 

The contenders:
Ashley Barnes - Three goals in three games at the end of the month in the centre forwards role including that absolute stunner against Bournemouth. Making life without Leonardo Ulloa easier than it should have been.
Bruno - Much improved performances following the trials and tribulations of earlier in the season although he was probably helped by the fact he isn't play in central midfield anymore. Part of an impressive month for the defence.
Craig Conway - With Will Buckley and Kazenga LuaLua out, the on-loan Cardiff man has had the chance to shine and he has taken it with a number of solid performances out wide. Getting better and better as he gets fitter.
Andrew Crofts - Becoming a vital part of the team not just with his performances from midfield but also his goals, scoring the winner away at Wigan to take himself join top goalscorer for the season.
Jake Forster-Caskey - The youth team product looks to have finally established himself in the first team after never really getting a chance under Gus Poyet. Goals at Doncaster and Blackburn were the highlights of an impressive November.
Gordon Greer - Made an extremely belated Scotland debut helping them to two clean sheets in their two friendlies and has taken that form back to The Amex were he has again been superb at the heart of the defence.
Rohan Ince - Immense against Blackburn and it says everything when he has maintained his place despite the return to fitness of Liam Bridcutt for the majority of November. Arguably his best month so far.
Tomasz Kuszczak - That stunning save at Wigan single handily earned two points from the DW Stadium, he made several key blocks at Bournemouth and without him the Blackburn home game could have been a lot different. First class all month.
Matt Upson - Continues to impress at the heart of defence alongside Gordon Greer. He was superb in helping to keep that unlikely clean sheet at Blackburn and imperious away at Wigan as well.
Stephen Ward - Another key component in defence, he had his best game at Doncaster in the first away win since August. Not as an attacking full back as we may now be used to but defensively as good as they come.