Vote for your WeAreBrighton.com Player of the Month for January 2013
Just like 12 months ago, Brighton and Hove Albion welcomed in the new year by putting a disappointing January behind them with a much improved January which yielded eight points from a possible 12 and two strong FA Cup showings against Premier League opponents.
Three consecutive wins kicked things off, a stunning 3-0 success away Ipswich Town which included a 35 yard rocket from Wayne Bridge being followed up by the elimination of Newcastle United in the FA Cup for the second year running and a 2-1 home success against Derby County.
Tomasz Kuszczak made his first real mistake in an Albion shirt as he dropped the ball and with it two points in the final minute of the 2-2 draw away at Birmingham City. If we felt hard done by for not leaving St Andrews with all three points then the boot was on the other foot three days later when David Lopez’s penalty with virtually the last kick of the game salvaged an undeserved draw away at Blackburn Rovers.
The month ended in defeat but there was no disgrace in that, the Albion pushing Arsenal all the way in front of the Amex’s first 30,000 crowd before going down to a 3-2 defeat against Arsene Wenger’s top flight superstars.
Ashley Barnes
Returned from a spell out of the starting XI with his best month of the season, scoring three times from both his customary position out on the left away at Birmingham and home to Arsenal and when givne a rare opportunity to lead the line through the middle in the win over Derby.
Liam Bridcutt
The best bit of business that Gus Poyet did in the January transfer window was keeping the defensive midfielder amid firm Norwich City interest. If there were any doubts about whether he could step up to the top flight, two man-of-the-match showings in the FA Cup meetings with Newcastle and Arsenal should have silenced them.
Wayne Bridge
He showed his Premier League quality with a commanding display against what was admittedley a third-rate Newcastle side. There was also another absolute rocket from a full 35 yards away at Ipswich as he continues to create his own personal Goal of the Season category.
Dean Hammond
He set the Albion on their way to victory with a hugely important goal away at Ipswich and had another impressive month, nailing down a spot in the centre of the park to remind us what we’ve been missing since he left the club under a cloud five years ago.
Tomasz Kuszczak
His first true howler in Brighton colours cost the side victory at Birmingham but he bounced back with a points-earning display at Blackburn and continues to be one of the Albion’s key players. What might have been had he played against Arsenal, rather than Poyet deciding to rotate his goalkeepers and give Casper Ankergren a game?
David Lopez
Another excellent month for Spanish Dave who excelled at right back against Newcastle, scored a thumping volley at Birmingham and even trended on Twitter after his last minute penalty away at Blackburn. He has oozed class and looks well on the way to becoming a fan favourite.
Andrea Orlandi
The most creative player in this Brighton side, he has added goals to his game now with impressive strikes in the FA Cup win over Newcastle and a week later in the victory against Derby. As an aside to his obvious footballing talents, he must also be one of the most handsome players ever to have represented the club.
