Seagulls Scene: Supersub Savage

Last week I ended with the comment that we need to put away our chances or acquire a creative mid-field player, or both. My prayers were answered - on both counts. We put away our chances and we had two, yes two, new midfielders in the team.

But Andrew Whing's prayers were not answered last week. The ref didn't reconsider Andrew's red card at Tranmere and he missed the Southend game. I was reprimanded after suggesting he was left sided. Whing is Brighton's right-back - sorry.

Our new signings were George O'Callaghan from Ipswich and David Martot from Le Havre. They are only loan signings at present. Only time and money will tell if they can become full Brighton players! It was quite an introduction to Withdean, Division 1, and playing for the Albion. O'Callaghan from Northern Ireland was arguably Man-of-the-Match. At last we may have a mid-fielder who is comfortable on the ball and who can spray accurate passes forward.

Frenchman Martot did well and went close to scoring. He may need time to settle in and find his place in the team. He was substituted off with 17 minutes to go to be replaced by crowd favourite Bas Savage.

The first-half was poor with little evidence of the excitement to come. At least it was warm and dry for all those exposed to the elements at Withdean.

We thought that Alex Revell had scored with thumping headers from set pieces. As we cheered the ball went inches wide of the left post. As we held our breath a second time the ball came back off the foot of the right post. One wondered if this was to be the Essex "Seasiders" day?

It was an unhappy lot that set off for burger and chips at half-time. Southend had scored a horrible goal on 40 minutes when a long shot from McCormack found its way through a large mass of players to trickle past an unsighted and distraught Michel Kuipers.

Manager Dean Wilkins has taken to wearing a suit and sitting with the directors in the north stand. His orders came to assistant Dean White over the mobile. It was probably best that he wasn't around in the "dug-out" to hear the moans from the South Stand! Unlike his predecessor Mark McGhee he didn't wait until the end before changing things.

The double substation came on 66 minutes, Jake Robinson and Sam Rents coming in for Dean Cox and Guy Butters. Jakey provided some much needed pace upfront but his early effort was blocked. The biggest cheer so far came when the third substitution brought on Bas Savage. 17 minutes wasn't long enough to turn the game around, was it?

With almost his first touch Bas Savage headed a Rents cross goalwards. There was Nicky Forster to touch it over the line. Forster was signed from Hull at the start of the season but hadn't found the goal scoring touch. That tap in was a great relief to him, and us. We revelled in the 75 minute equaliser. "You're not singing anymore" we told the Southenders in the west stand. For all of 3 minutes!

Despair on 78 minutes as Bailey volleyed in Southend's second goal to retake the lead. We weren't singing anymore. Pessimist Seagulls could well have left the ground at this point. In fact Brighton were gutsy in response and battled to score again.

Savage went on one of his mazy runs. For a 6 foot 3 inches guy our Bas is a twinkle toes (once you've seen his moon walk you'll understand!) and incredible difficult to disposes. He somehow conjured up a cross for Forster to head into the roof of the net. So it was 2'“2 with just five minutes left. We were out of jail and singing again.

It's a long time since we scored three. To be honest that's something approaching miracle status. The crowd, a little under 6,000, shouted encouragement and vocally pushed the team forward. Southend, from the Championship last season, were rocking. The atmosphere was at last approaching the Bobby Zamora or Adam Virgo goal scoring days. Right on the 90 minutes Sam Rents swung over a long corner to find captain Dean Hammond for a trade mark far post header. Improbable but it was 3 '“ 2 to the Seagulls.

We had a nervous couple of minutes stoppage time to see out but the Brighton team weren't going to concede now. The Shrimpers supporters knew so too as they trooped out before the final whistle. An amazing last 20 minutes, a win, three points and I can still refer to Fortress Withdean and out unbeaten home record.

It was a happy bunch of smiling Seagull supporters that trooped out of Withdean. Top half of the table, new blood in mid-field, Nicky Forster scoring goals and icon Bas Savage the talking point. Why didn't Wilkins play him from the start? Will he start on Friday?

I do mean Friday as England are playing Israel, that well known European country, so we can watch on TV AND see Brighton at Withdean on Friday evening against old foes Millwall. If we play like we did in the last 20 minutes we can tame the Lions. The long- range weather forecast is good, the match under floodlights should be great. Tickets are available on-line or from the box office. Let's keep it Fortress Withdean '“ well at least until Falmer!