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Sporting Life

McGHEE ROCKED BY OATWAY INJURY

Brighton paid a heavy price for their second successive victory with skipper Charlie Oatway suffering a suspected broken right ankle and three other players collecting bookings which will lead to suspensions in a 1-0 win over QPR.
Cautions for Dean Hammond, Colin Kazim-Richards and Paul Reid will put them out of the match at Southampton on January 2 but manager Mark McGhee was most concerned about the injury to Oatway.
The experienced midfielder was taken to hospital after being injured in only the second minute.
He was left motionless by a late tackle from Marcus Bean, who escaped without a booking.
McGhee revealed that he had opened talks with Oatway about a new contract and admitted: "Charlie has been a tremendous leader and captain and this is a huge blow."
McGhee had warned fans not to expect a feast of festive entertainment over the cluttered Christmas period but was nonetheless relieved his side were able to build on their victory over Hull with a workmanlike performance.
He said: "Rangers came to make it a physical game, they were content to stop us passing and it was a bit of a scrap.
"We worked hard for the result, having to hang on towards the end, and it's pleasing we have regained our form and maintained our attitude."
Brighton goal-scorer Butters described Oatway's injury as a 'devastating blow' but is convinced his side have the ability and spirit to maintain their Championship status.
He said: "It was a great all-round performance. There were several positives to come out of it like Richard Carpenter's return from injury and the form of goalkeeper Michel Kuipers in his first appearance for nearly a year."

QPR's defeat was their sixth in the last nine matches and furious manager Ian Holloway hit out at his players who now face a struggle to avoid being dragged into the relegation dog-fight.
He said: "It's all about spirit and character and my team lacked some of that. The players didn't give me what I wanted.
"Brighton didn't do enough to win but we looked mentally weak and were a bag of nerves after conceding the goal."
Rangers entertain Cardiff on Wednesday and Holloway promised changes.
He added: "We have to do better. I need to freshen things up and I want a new team.
"I'm not very happy as I didn't like one or two things that I saw. It wasn't until late in the game that we started to come into it.
"But we got what we deserved. We ended up losing yet we had the chances to get ourselves back in the game. I will be demanding a much improved display against Cardiff."
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/cc_championship/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/05/12/26/SOCCER_Brighton_2nd_Nightlead.html&TEAMHD=nationwide1


INDEPENDENT
Round-up: Butters earns Brighton vital breathing space
By John Nisbet Published: 27 December 2005

Brighton defeated Queen's Park Rangers 1-0 yesterday to give their fans the perfect late Christmas present with their first back-to-back wins of the season.
Guy Butters' seventh-minute goal at the Withdean Stadium was a real triumph in adversity, with the Seagulls shrugging off the early loss of their influential captain, Charlie Oatway, to take an instant lead. The hosts then went on to survive a late rally from QPR to record only their fourth Championship win of the season and ease their relegation worries.
Brighton suffered an early blow when Oatway was taken off on a stretcher inside five minutes after a tackle from behind by Marcus Bean. However, it proved a blessing in disguise as the free-kick from the substitute Richard Carpenter found Butters, who stroked home his second goal of the season.
To compound Rangers' misery their coach, Tim Breaker, was sent off by the referee, Rob Styles, after speaking out of turn. http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/coca_cola/article335205.ece


Telegraph
Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Queens Park Rangers 0
Brighton shrugged off the loss of influential captain Charlie Oatway to snatch an important victory.
Oatway was carried off with a suspected broken ankle inside five minutes following a tackle from Marcus Bean, but Brighton scored immediately.
Substitute Richard Carpenter took the resulting free kick and found Guy Butters, who headed home his second goal of the season.
"Charlie has been a tremendous leader and captain and this is a huge blow," said Mark McGhee, the Brighton manager, who was otherwise delighted with his team's performance.
"It was a great all-round performance. There were several positives to come out of it like Richard Carpenter's return from injury and the form of goalkeeper Michel Kuipers in his first appearance for nearly a year."
Kuipers tipped Richard Langley's fierce free kick over the bar.
Brighton: Kuipers, Reid, Butters, El-Abd, McShane, Hart, Oatway (Carpenter 4), Hammond, Frutos (Mayo 62), Knight (McCammon 61), Kazim-Richards. Subs: Robinson, Sullivan. Booked: Hammond, Kazim-Richards, Reid.
QPR: Cole, Bignot, Evatt, Shittu, Bean (Cook 61), Ainsworth (Bircham 75), Rowlands, Dyer, Langley, Moore (Nygaard 60), Furlong.
Subs: Milanese, Rose.
Booked: Rowlands, Bean.
Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2005/12/27/sfncham27.xml&sSheet=/sport/2005/12/27/ixfooty.html


The Times

Brighton lose victory glossBy a CorrespondentBrighton and Hove Albion 1 Queens Park Rangers 0
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION PAID a heavy price for their second successive victory yesterday with Charlie Oatway, the captain, suffering a suspected broken right ankle and three other players collecting bookings that will lead to suspensions.
Cautions for Dean Hammond, Colin Kazim-Richards and Paul Reid will put them out of the match away to Southampton on January 2, but Mark McGhee, the manager, was most concerned about the injury to Oatway. The experienced midfield player was taken to hospital after being injured in the early stages at Withdean Stadium. He was left motionless by a late tackle from Marcus Bean, who escaped without a booking.
Brighton secured three points in their fight to ensure Coca-Cola Championship survival from the resulting free kick, with Richard Carpenter, a substitute, delivering the perfect ball for Guy Butters to head home.
McGhee said that he had opened talks with Oatway about a new contract and added: “Charlie has been a tremendous leader and captain and this is a huge blow. We worked hard for the result, having to hang on towards the end, and it’s pleasing we have regained our form and maintained our attitude.”
QPR’s defeat was their sixth in the past nine matches and Ian Holloway, their manager, hit out at his players. “It’s all about spirit and character and my team lacked some of that. The players didn’t give me what I wanted,” he said. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,435-1959668,00.html


Brighton Argus
Oatway's injury mars super win
by Andy Naylor

Albion will have to scrap for Championship survival until March without their inspirational skipper.
The broken right ankle suffered by Charlie Oatway took the shine off a bruising victory for the Seagulls against the club he has supported since childhood, when he lived next door to Loftus Road.
Oatway's influence in the camp was emphasised by the reaction of matchwinner Guy Butters.
"We are delighted with the result," Butters said. "Unfortunately it has been overshadowed by the injury to Charlie. It's devastating news for the club.
"He has been brilliant both on and off the pitch all season. He has led by example."
Manager Mark McGhee may now have to reconsider his priorities during the January transfer window. Suddenly he is facing a crisis in the centre of the park.
Oatway's injury, sustained in only the second minute in a challenge by Marcus Bean, meant Richard Carpenter was pressed back into action much sooner and for much longer than ideal.
Carpenter had played for just 45 minutes in a friendly at Luton last week since rupturing a foot tendon at Crystal Palace in October.
Alexis Nicolas is out for up to three weeks with medial knee ligament damage and Dean Hammond, together with Paul Reid and Colin Kazim-Richards, is suspended for next Monday's South Coast derby at Southampton.
All three were cautioned in the first half by Premiership referee Rob Styles. Albion fans fearing a conspiracy need to know that Styles, although from Hampshire, is in fact a Pompey fan!
That did not stop Rangers' heart-on-his-sleeve boss Ian Holloway criticising his performance.
"I felt Mr Styles got the first decision wrong. Marcus Bean should have at least been booked," Holloway admitted. "It got quite nasty after that."
Had Bean seen yellow for his tackle on Oatway then Rangers would have played the second half with ten men, because Bean was eventually cautioned in first half stoppage time for a challenge on Carpenter.
It speaks volumes for Albion's character that they were able to put a double injury blow behind them in recording back-to-back wins for the first time since February.
Oatway's prompt departure came after Seb Carole, their creative force on the right wing, failed a fitness test before kick-off on a calf injury.
McGhee decided not to risk his French trickster, with three more matches looming in the space of six days, which led to a late reprieve for Leon Knight.
He was back in the starting line-up, instead of on the bench, following his exclusion from the squad for the pre-Christmas home win over Hull.
McGhee had no complaints about the attitude of Knight on this occasion. Albion's enigmatic leading marksman was replaced by Mark McCammon for the last half-hour not because of his contribution but the need for more height in response to Rangers introducing their Danish giant Marc Nygaard.
The Seagulls were absorbing pressure by that time after Butters rose above man-mountain Danny Shittu to head them into a seventh minute lead from Carpenter's free-kick, his second goal in four games.
They always do things the hard way, going close in both halves to making their advantage more comfortable.
Reid, the best player on view in the opening 45 minutes, worked a one-two with Knight before setting up Alex Frutos for a shot from 12 yards which was blocked on the line by a combination of rookie keeper Jake Cole, deputising for the banned Simon Royce in the Rangers goal, and his defenders.
Kazim-Richards went close twice after the break. He volleyed wide when well placed, then had a stinging effort parried by Cole. McCammon was also thwarted by Rangers' stand-in custodian when the tireless Hammond put him clean through in the closing stages.
If that all sounds exciting it was not. Rangers were awful. Their abrasive approach deserved nothing and dragged Carole-less Albion into a messy, ugly match.
Fit-again Michel Kuipers, back between the posts for the Seagulls for the first time in 11 months, had little difficulty celebrating his comeback with a clean sheet.
The Dutchman made one outstanding stop early in the second half, diving to his right to keep out Richard Langley's 25-yard free-kick with the vigilant Butters guarding the post behind him.
Adam El-Abd deserved the shut-out too for an outstanding display out of position at leftback, while Paul McShane grew stronger as the game wore on in his first taste of action since late November.
McGhee said: "QPR clearly came to make it a physical game and to break down our play. We've been passing the ball well and they stopped that.
"The conditions were cold, the pitch a bit bobbly, so it wasn't conducive to good football. It ended up a bit of a scrap."
It may not have been much of a game for a record Withdean crowd but Albion's fourth victory of the campiagn was vital in two respects.
They are now four points clear of the relegation zone after the teams below them all drew and only the same number adrift of plummeting Rangers in 14th, a tonic of sorts for the crestfallen Oatway.
ALBION (4-4-2): Kuipers 8; Reid 7, McShane 7, Butters 8, El-Abd 9; Hart 7, Oatway 6, Hammond 7, Frutos 7; Kazim-Richards 7, Knight 6. Subs: Carpenter 7 for Oatway (injured 4), McCammon 6 for Knight (withdrawn 60), Mayo 6 for Frutos (withdrawn 60), Robinson, Sullivan.
QPR (4-4-2): Cole; Bignot, Evatt, Shittu, Dyer; Ainsworth, Rowlands, Bean, Langley; Furlong, Moore. Subs: Cook for Bean (withdrawn 60), Nygaard for Moore (withdrawn 60), Bircham for Ainsworth (withdrawn 75), Milanese, Rose
http://www.theargus.co.uk/the_argus/sport/SPORT2.html


Brighton Argus
Injured Oatway to get new deal
by Andy Naylor
CHARLIE Oatway will still be an Albion player next season, despite facing 12 weeks on the sidelines with a broken ankle.
Manager Mark McGhee is in talks with his captain over a new contract and the deal will be honoured after Oatway fractured his right fibia in yesterday's 1-0 home win against Queens Park Rangers.
Long-serving Oatway, a lifelong QPR supporter, was hurt in a tackle by Rangers' midfielder Marcus Bean just two minutes into the match.
McGhee said: "It's very unfortunate for us and devastating for the boy. Charlie has been tremendous, a tremendous captain and leader.
"I've already started talking to him about a new contract. His injury won't affect that."
Bean escaped with a lecture from Premiership referee Rob Styles but Rangers boss Ian Holloway admitted he should have been booked.
Dean Hammond, Colin Kazim-Richards and Paul Reid were all cautioned by Styles in the first half and are now all banned for next Monday's trip to Southampton.
Paul McShane is currently unavailable for the visit to St Mary's as well, as his spell on loan from Manchester United expires with Saturday's home game against Millwall.
McGhee hopes to keep hold of the young centre half, who made his comeback yesterday after five weeks out with ankle damage.
"We want to keep Paul on whatever terms Man United will allow us, ranging from keeping him on loan for the rest of the season or permanently," McGhee said. "We are in talks with them now."
McShane confirmed: "I'd like to stay for the whole season and hopefully avoid relegation. I think Man United should let me stay here, because that is best for my career, and I think they will agree to it."
Albion remain fourth-bottom in the Championship ahead of tomorrow night's visit to Luton, when Seb Carole could return. The French winger was ruled out yesterday by a calf injury.
Leon Knight, dropped for the home win against Hull before Christmas because of his attitude to training and his team-mates, played for an hour following the late withdrawal of Carole.
McGhee, denying reports that Knight has handed in a transfer request, said: "Leon would have been on the bench, so I was looking for an excuse to put him back in. He is a good player and I was pleased with his reaction and attitude.
"I took him off because we needed the extra height of Mark McCammon with the substitutions Rangers were making."
http://www.theargus.co.uk/the_argus/sport/SPORT0.html

Brighton Argus
Chaigneau storms off after being left out
by Andy Naylor
Florent Chaigneau's Albion career could be over after just one appearance in five months.
The French goalkeeper, signed on a year-long loan from Rennes at the start of the season, left Withdean in a huff yesterday when Michel Kuipers was preferred for the clash against QPR.
Boss Mark McGhee revealed: "Flo spat out his dummy when he realised he wasn't playing. He was last seen running down North Street, heading for the Channel Tunnel. I had to make a decision on what I've seen and I wasn't confident enough about Flo to put him in the team."
Chaigneau has not featured in the Championship for Albion. He played his only game in the Carling Cup exit at Shrewsbury in August.
McGhee added: "The lad probably should consider going back now, because he isn't getting first team football here and that is why he came. It's unfortunate it hasn't worked out."
England under-18 John Sullivan was named on the bench yesterday as cover for Kuipers, who made a triumphant return from a loan spell at Boston.
The Dutchman kept a clean sheet on his first Albion appearance since suffering serious shoulder damage against Nottingham Forest in January.
"He did everything asked of him," McGhee said. "He kicked and handled well, his concentration was very good and he looked very strong."
http://www.theargus.co.uk/the_argus/sport/SPORT1.html