WeAreBrighton.com Player of the Month - April 2014

With one month and one game left to go in the regular season, Brighton and Hove Albion are still in the play off race.

Many fans wrote off the chances of that happen at the end of March but an unbeaten April means that it will all come down to the final game of the season.

Four draws and three wins and some actual attacking football including the most impressive performance of the season in hammering champions Leicester 4-1 away from home is what has led us to this point and with no one individual proving to be outstanding unlike in recent months, this proved to be the closest vote of the season so far.

April 2014 Player of the Month - Jesse Lingard (38.71% of the vote)
	Now fully settled in after completing the second month of his loan spell from Manchester United, it was Jesse Lingard who took home the April award after an impressive month that showed just why he is so highly thought of by the hierarchy at Old Trafford. He opened his Albion account in the stunning 4-1 victory away at Leicester and once that first goal monkey was off his back hasn't looked back, also finding the back of the net against Charlton Athletic and Yeovil Town to make it three goals in five appearances to round off the month along with some superb attacking play. Played 7 (7 starts). Scored 3.
	Second: Dale Stephens (27.42% of the vote) The midfielder is another who has taken time to bed in since arriving in January but April was the month when he really began to look at home. He netted twice in draws away at Blackburn and at home to Blackpool and was instrumental in the hammering dished out to his former side Charlton.
	Third: Stephen Ward (19.35% of the vote) Continues to be the most consistent player in the back four and produced another fine set of performances to go with those that won him last months crown. Even chipped in with another goal, scoring the opener away at Leicester City.

 

The contenders:
	Bruno - Scored the equaliser at Huddersfield Town before admitting even he didn't know what he was doing attacking the goal like that. Continues to see off the challenge of the popular Inigo Calderon for the right back spot.
	Tomasz Kuszczak - Another big month for the big Pole. Missed the Charlton game with illness and had an off day at Blackburn but made up for that with another excellent performance to earn a point at Huddersfield. Please sign a new contract.
	Jesse Lingard - Goals in the thrashing of Leicester City and the home wins over Charlton Athletic and Yeovil Town saw him highlight why he is so highly thought of by the Manchester United hierachy.
	Kazenga LuaLua - With the Albion needing to attack to ensure they make the play offs by winning games, the flying winger has been given a rare run of starts and responded with a number of impressive games including a first goal in nearly a year against Yeovil.
	Dale Stephens - Goals against Blackburn Rovers and Blackpool showed that the midfielder has finally settled in since his January move from Charlton and he was absolutely first class against his former side when they visited The Amex.
	Leonardo Ulloa - Hit the net just once in March, he doubled that tally in one game in April scoring a brace away at Leicester and looking like one of the best strikers in the league. Also netted against Charlton.
	Matt Upson - Missed the Yeovil and Huddersfield games but was absolutely superb away at Leicester and Barnsley in particular. Helped the side to two more clean sheets during the month.
	Stephen Ward - March's winner continued that imperious form into April, adding another goal to his growing collection with the opener at Leicester and remaining the Mr Consistent in the back four.