Town boss Paul Jewell believes that earlier in the season his side would have lost their home game with Brighton once they had gone a goal behind. However, the Blues have been a different proposition in recent weeks with two stunning Michael Chopra strikes and a header from Ibrahima Sonko securing another three points.

Jewell said: “We played well. I think it was a good football match, both teams tried to pass the ball.

“We went a goal down after probably dominating the first half and, having had plenty of chances and opportunities, we would definitely have lost that earlier in the season.

“But there’s a bit of resilience and belief about the team and the club at the moment and hopefully we can go further.”

The Blues boss felt Chopra was unfortunate not to score with his volley in the first half: “I think you have to say that it was a fantastic save. It was a great cross, great technique but it was a brilliant save from the goalkeeper.

“That’s the third time in three games that the opposition keeper has made a great save from Chops, so you start wondering whether it was going to be his day.”

Jewell says he thought his side could have been more ruthless: “At half-time I was a bit annoyed. We weren’t clinical. We had good opportunities but we didn’t make the keeper make enough saves for all the possession and shots we had. In the second half we probably had fewer chances and scored three goals.”

The Liverpudlian was delighted with Chopra’s display and said he has deserved his goals: “One I think hit the post and has gone in and the way things have been going for him things have been hitting the post and going out.

“He was terrific. He doesn’t hide. The whole club and all the players you could see were really pleased for him because it’s been a long time since he’s scored, but he’s still contributed to the team.

“He’s a clever player. He’s got a great touch, good awareness about him and hopefully he can now go on a bit of goalscoring run.”

Jewell admits to being slightly concerned when his side went behind and felt the crowd played their part: “When you go a goal down in the second half you start to fear the worst, but the crowd definitely lifted the players and the players responded.

“The fans can see that the team’s trying and is playing well and I think today we deserved the win.

“But give Brighton credit, they’re not an easy team to play against, they frustrate you, they keep the ball and I think at times in the first half the players were glad of the rest when their goalie had the ball because it was so hot out there.

“I’d rather not go a goal behind but in two out of the last three home games we’ve shown character coming from a goal behind to win games.”

Jewell was pleased with Sonko’s goal but feels he ought to have scored before: “He should have three by now! He missed one at Blackpool and he missed one at Middlesbrough.

“Set plays are very important, we work hard on them. They can win you games but they can also cost you games. It’s always nice when they go your way.”

Brighton boss Gus Poyet admitted his side were inferior to the Blues: “I think for the standards that we’re trying to achieve we were second best.

“I said before to colleagues that I didn’t think we were strong enough physically, mentally, technically, on 50-50s, not strong enough mentally when we conceded the first goal. And when you’re second best you’ve got no chance.

“Saying that, we started well in the second half, it was a bit more open and we were braver on the ball which we weren’t in the first half - we were too content with the scoreline at 0-0. But then you need to hold that and you need to be strong, but at the moment, we are not.”

Poyet confirmed that, as reported earlier, his assistant and former Blue Mauricio Taricco has hung up his boots: “He’s not playing any more, it’s bad news for football. He’s retired.

“At the moment he can’t cope with 90 minutes every game and I cannot keep changing at the back every three games because Tano plays or otherwise.

“It was his decision, I’m not pushing. If you give me the option, of course I would push him to train and play five reserve games, go crazy and make sure he’s unbelievable. But he’s 38, nearly 39, and you need to respect age as well.”

Story syndicated from TWTD.co.uk

Photo: Action Images

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