WeAreBrighton.com Player of the Month - November 2016

The month began with an excellent 2-0 win away at Bristol City including Steve Sidwell scoring one of the best goals from an Albion player that we can remember seeing with his effort from the halfway line. That was followed by two home games in which we struggled compared to recent high standards, taking a point from improving Aston Villa and then rallying to defeat Fulham.

It's a rather shorter short list this month than we've become accustomed too, although it certainly doesn't lack quality and picking a winner from it isn't as easy as it first looks which is reflected in how tight the final vote turned out to be.

November 2016 Player of the Month -  Sam Baldock (23.89% of the vote)
	In the closest Player of the Month poll we have had for some time, it was Sam Baldock who eventually triumphed by just 0.88% of the vote from his strike partner Glenn Murray. The former Bristol City striker has been in sparkling form over the last couple of months, already equalling his best goal haul for the Albion and finally beginning to look like a player that is worth the £2m odd we forked out for him. Particularly impressive was his performance against his former side as well as the absolutely stunning volley which provided the foundation for the comeback win over Fulham. Played 3 (3 starts). Scored 1.
	Second: Glenn Murray (23.01% of the vote) Two more goals in three November games was another good return from the on-loan forward. He rescued a point against Aston Villa with an equaliser and then scored a fine volleyed finish which turned out to be the winner against Fulham at home. Without him, where would we be this season?
	Third: Lewis Dunk (16.81% of the vote) Every month one of him or his defensive partner Shane Duffy seems to make the top three. Although there was only one clean sheet in November away at Bristol City, that was an impressive one and the only mark on his copybook is that he has managed to collect eight bookings already this season.

The contenders:
	Sam Baldock - Arguably the most improved player this season, the striker scored a stunning volley to drag his side back into against Fulham. With six goals to his name, has already equalled his best season for the club.
	Shane Duffy - It is rare for a side to come to the Amex and attack these days but that is what Aston Villa did. Thankfully, anything they could throw at the back line was repelled with ease by the defender who continues to look an absolute steal at £4m.
	Lewis Dunk - If the Premier League scouts weren't circling before, they certainly will be now. Another excellent month from the centre back whose partnership with Duffy played a huge part in ensuring seven points were won over the course of November.
	Glenn Murray - Three more games, two more goals. The striker on-loan from Bournemouth hit a brilliant equaliser to earn a point against Aston Villa and netted the winner against Fulham as his fantastic season continues.
	Steve Sidwell - Beram Kayal's absence through injury continues to be made light work of thanks to his replacements performances. Not only has he got through a lot of unnoticed work, but he also managed to score from the half way line at Bristol City.
	David Stockdale - One clean sheet out of three in November but that doesn't take away from his contribution, particularly in the game against his former side Fulham in which the goalkeeper made a string of saves to lay the groundwork for the comeback win.