Blues' woes continue with FA Cup exit (From This Is Local London)

Blues' woes continue with FA Cup exit

9:42pm Wednesday 18th November 2009

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Brighton 2, Wanderers 0.

WANDERERS' miserable season continued as they bowed out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle.

Boss Gary Waddock carried out his threat to ring the changes following Saturday's 6-0 debacle at Huddersfield with skipper Michael Duberry among four players dropped.

But although it was an improved performance, the outcome was just the same as Andrew Croft's first half goal and Elliott Bennett's long range second half second sent Wycombe spinning out as Albion claimed a home tie against non-league Rushden and Diamonds in round two.

It gave Seagulls boss Gus Poyet his second successive victory since taking over from the sacked Russell Slade – while new Wanderers boss Gary Waddock is still searching for a winning formula after six games in charge.

His side are out of all the cups and adrift at the foot of League One.

High profile Duberry was one of four players dropped from Saturday's Huddersfield horror show as Waddock finally lost patience with his under achievers who have won just one of their 20 matches this season.

The former Chelsea, Leeds and Reading man was relegated to the bench and lost his armband to the returning Craig Woodman.

Matt Bloomfield, keeper Jamie Young and right back Lewis Hunt were the other scapegoats while striker John Akinde was not given permission to play by his parent club Bristol City.

Brighton, on the other hand, enjoyed the luxury of resting their front two of Nick Forster and Glenn Murray, for Gus Poyet's first home match in charge of the Seagulls.

The sides had enjoyed a 4-4 cracker in the first game at Adams Park and the Wycombe's goal came under immediate early pressure as Crofts headed Bennett's third minute corner a fraction wide.

And moments later John Mousinho, playing at right back was a whisker away from an own goal as he fiercely toed an Albion through ball just past returning keeper Scott Shearer's left hand post.

Shearer's goal survived again when Tommy Elphick headed Bennett's teasing free kick wide as the hosts made all the early running.

It took Blues 15 minutes to show something of their own, but it was worth waiting for. Matt Phillips, another player who was recalled, received the ball on the edge of his own box before carrying it to the opposite penalty area where he slid the ball in for Scott Davies who was denied by a last ditch tackle by Andrew Whing.

It heralded the start of a better period for the Chairboys who began to take the game to their hosts.

But having struggled for possession, Albion finally got some again and used it to good effect.

Bennett beat Phillips far too easily before cutting the ball back to Liam Dickinson whose shot was deflected wide by Westwood.

More danger came from the resultabt flag kick and Mousinho had to hack the ball of his own line.

Luke Oliver, who starred at the back for his team was next up to save Blues bacon. Woodman was caught out by the pace of Bennett who should have shot himself but he chose to try and pick out Craig Davies with a poor ball that gave Oliver the chance to save his skipper's blushes.

Bennett was the dangerman though and moments after Blues twice went close through Davies and Matt Harrold, he was the architect behind Albion's 35th minute opener.

He outfoxed Woodman to clip over a cross. It should have been a penalty for a push on Davies but Albion weren't complaining when their skipper Crofts rammed in the loose ball.

Albion changed their keeper at half time with Graeme Smith replacing Michel Kuipers but although Wanderers had the early possesion in the second half they couldn't carve out any chances and it was Albion who should have extended their lead on 56 minutes.

Liam Dickinson capitalised on Chris Westwood's short back header, clipped the ball over Shearer's head but not past Woodman who scampered back to clear the ball of his own line.

Waddock made an attacking change on the hour with Jon Paul Pittman replacing midfielder Stuart Green and dangerman Bennett immeditely benefitted from the extra room in midfield, smacking in a 25-yard second.

Wanderers had chances to quickly halve the deficit. Kevin Betsy was denied by keeper Smith's legs at close range and from the resultant flag kick Pittman's downward header ran wide.

But at the other end Albion sub Nick Forster drew a fine save out of Shearer.

Wanderers continued to fight and they were almost handed a lifeline when home defender Adam El-Abd almost booted Chris Zebroski's cross into his own net.

Doherty fizzed a 20 yarder just over the top but even though they poured men forward they couldn't find a way past their fellow League One strugglers and it now eight goals conceded and none scored in the space of five days.

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