According to the Argus:
Fleetwood to the rescue in Cup thriller
ALBION owe Alan Pardew for their FA Cup survival.
Charlton’s under-pressure manager did the Seagulls a huge favour by allowing the on-loan Stuart Fleetwood to play.
Fellow loan signings Bradley Johnson, Kevin Thornton and Joe Anyinsah were Cup-tied by Leeds, Coventry and Preston respectively.
Albion expected Fleetwood to be in the same boat but Pardew, with so many strikers to choose from, gave the all-clear to his speedy and prolific summer signing from Forest Green Rovers.
Just as well, with top scorer Glenn Murray ruled out by another thigh injury. Adam Virgo had to start up front again and, without Fleetwood, Micky Adams would probably have been forced to gamble on Nicky Forster.
Instead, the skipper was able to start his comeback from knee surgery on the bench, although Adams had to throw him on once his side contrived to turn a 2-0 lead into a 3-2 deficit in a catastrophic 16-minute spell in the second half.
Fleetwood not only played a role in first half goals for Kevin McLeod, and Dean Cox, he also spared Albion’s blushes by forcing a replay.
Pardew’s assistant, Phil Parkinson, was an interested observer when Fleetwood made his full debut in last week’s Carling Cup defeat by Derby.
Fleetwood revealed: “He phoned me up to chat about my performance and mentioned they were thinking of giving me clearance for the FA Cup.
“I expressed that I would love to play in it if I could. I was happy to get the two assists and a goal but it would have been a lot sweeter if we had won the game.”
Albion should have, of course, even though their interval lead was very flattering. The way they suddenly capitulated is a worry, considering their exhausting schedule.
A run of five successive home matches in 16 days concludes in 48 hours with Swindon’s visit in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.
They now also face a gruelling and close-together sequence of away games after that at Carlisle, Hartlepool, Stockport and Oldham.
The strength of the squad will be severely tested and they look vulnerable unless Adams can get his best 11 players out on the pitch or something close to it.
Johnson, Thornton and Anyinsah were sorely missed and the exciting prospect of seeing Murray, Forster and Fleetwood in the same team has been further delayed by Murray’s latest setback.
A quick return to the North East after last month’s narrow league defeat at Hartlepool seemed a thankfully distant prospect at half-time.
Profligate finishing by the visitors, especially early on, coupled with Albion’s clinical grasping of their opportunities, suggested it would be one of those days when the better team is beaten.
The opening goal offered another glimpse of the quality Kevin McLeod could be capable of providing on a more regular basis once he is fully fit.
Fleetwood looked suspiciously offside when Dean Cox found him with a sweeping crossfield pass. He set up McLeod who, spotting Arran Lee-Barrett off his line, scored his first home goal with an exquisite chip.
Albion doubled their advantage with a move of similar quality. Fleetwood, fed by Andrew Whing, exchanged passes with Adam Virgo and then released Cox to convert his second goal in three games.
From a position of apparent comfort, it all began to go horribly wrong eight minutes into the restart. Colin Hawkins inexplicably diverted a cross by James Brown to the near post into his own net with a diving header from close range.
That was the signal for the wheels to come off. Albion, all at sea, froze two minutes later to give Brown time to turn and level from eight yards.
Hartlepool looked like emulating the Seagulls' own remarkable recovery against Leicester when a corner was only cleared to the edge of the area and Andy Monkhouse played a one-two with Ben Clark to fire them in front.
It was too much for some spectators in the south stand – they do not deserve to be called fans. Hawkins was booed off as he was substituted. Cold and fed-up they may have been but there really is no excuse for that.
Fleetwood came to the rescue, amid mayhem in the Hartlepool goalmouth. His angled drive had already crossed the line when it was cleared, although substitute Tommy Fraser made sure by crashing the loose ball into the roof of the net.
Fleetwood said: “I went off and celebrated because I knew it was my goal and as a striker I’m definitely claiming it. It was a nice day for me.
”I’m happy with my contribution. I’ve got two full games under my belt now and I’ve got on the scoresheet, which is my main aim. It will be a long trip but we have got to go up there now and make sure we finish the job.”
Adams, who also came under fire as the tie was turned on its head, conceded: “Our performance was disappointing, particularly in the first half. They had time and space in midfield to dictate the play. After about 25 minutes we stepped onto them, got closer and got our rewards.
“An own goal turned the game around and I was relieved in the end. We should have won, especially when we get into a 2-0 lead but fair play to Hartlepool, they came storming back.
”I’ve got to give a little bit of credit to my boys. They kept going at the end when their heads could easily have dropped. We scrambled an equaliser and at least we are in the hat.”
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Comments
a knee injury to to Murray eh and Fleets allowed to play in the fa cup
i smell a rat if other threads are to be believed
LOL. What do they know that we don't?
Wasn't impressed with what I saw pre-season but saw the three goals on ITV and he did well for all of them. OK, it's only one game but sometimes you have to give players a bit fo time.
So he can't play for us in the League cup this season either now. Most shortsightedness by the club : - )
If he goes on playing well then worth more than 115k and it was a good deal either cos he plays for us or we sell him on. Wrothwhile punt IMHO.