Hughton concerned at Albion's goals shortage [The Argus]

[Newshound]

Tomer Hemed fires home for Albion. Picture: Simon Dack

/ Andy Naylor, Chief sports reporter

ALBION boss Chris Hughton is concerned about the goals drying up after his side were dumped out of the League Cup by ten-man Reading.
The Seagulls were beaten 2-1 at the Amex last night, despite playing against ten men for more than half the tie as Reading defender Tyler Blackett saw red.
Substitute Tomer Hemed struck late-on but Albion have now scored three goals in the last five games since the closing stages of the transfer window, when they missed out on adding a striker to their attacking options.

• Hughton concerned at Albion's goals shortage
• Albion manager admits his side fell short against ten men
• Albion 1 Reading 2: How we reported the action from the Amex
• All change - Pocognoli gets debut and Goldson returns as Albion make 11 alterations
• Bong still a main man for Albion boss

One of those was a goalkeeping gift, another Hemed’s late penalty winner at Burton on Saturday.
Hughton told The Argus: “It is a concern. We are generally quite a solid team. We were similar last season, our second half of the season saw us scoring a lot more goals than in the first half. But it’s always a concern. We’ve got to make sure we get the balances right. We’ve got to concede less goals than we have and make sure we score more.
“Once the window’s closed you know that’s your opportunity. We wouldn’t be the only ones. Most teams will have come away from the window perhaps not getting a player or position they wanted.
“It’s part and parcel of the game. We have a lot of experience and quality in our strikers and it goes in phases. Glenn (Murray) scored three goals in the first three games, that’s how it goes.”
Blackett was sent off in the 41st minute for a tackle on Albion debutant Seb Pocognoli, who tired in the second half and was substituted.
“I thought it was a red card,” Hughton said. “If you are jumping in with two feet then there is every chance. Seb’s got some quality in his game but he’s not played regularly for quite some time.
“We need to make sure he is up to the levels we want. We’ll see how long that takes.”


[h=4]Promoted stories[/h]

Original article

 

[fat old seagull]

I don't think it's a great surprise to many BHA fans that we don't score many goals. And I would be shocked if CH was genuinely surprised either. We surely all know the problem. Its the ongoing problem the club face signing a striker.
I put my hand up and say as much as I loved him, I thought the £10 Mill for Leo was too good to turn down. How wrong was that? IMO If we'd kept him we would already be a Prem team.
If we are going to make the move upward, I think in January Tony is going to have to stump up some of the daft money our rivals have...though it's difficult not to admire the principle that transfer fees have now become insane.