Dunk double delivers deserved draw

A Lewis Dunk double cancelled out a brace from Igor Vetokele to give Brighton and Hove Albion a well-earned point at home to Charlton Athletic.

The Albion enjoyed 64% of possession but managed just four shots on target as Charlton came close to successfully executing the perfect away performance.

With the Addicks sensibly employing a deep defensive line, Tal Ben Haim and Andre Bikey were impressive at the heart of the visitor's defence, with Yoni Buyens offering the sort of defensive shield which prevented the Albion's attacking talent from getting the opportunity to run at the experienced centre defensive pair.

Craig Mackail-Smith did his best to pull Ben Haim and Bikey out of their central comfort zones but too often the final ball, while not exactly wasteful, failed to slice open the Charlton back line and exploit a potential lack of pace and mobility. There was then, for large chunks of the game, the nagging suspicion that a cuter final pass could have presented Mackail-Smith with a chance to take advantage of his superior movement and initial burst of pace.

But while it was left to central defender Dunk to save the day from a pair of set pieces, that isn't to say the Albion were laboured in attacking in the more conventional sense. Joao Teixeira was at his impish best in possession, while Danny Holla and Jake Forster-Caskey showed further signs of building an impressive, quick-thinking partnership in the midfield. Forster-Caskey in particular enjoyed an impressive first half. By the time he was withdrawn from the match 12 minutes from time the ever-improving playmaker had clocked up an 89% pass completion rate which included a number of intelligent switches to Bruno.

If anything, it was Andrew Crofts who was struggling with Sami Hyypiä's approach '“ an approach which places so much emphasis on quick transitions. The Wales international did not have a bad game as such. He is an important member of the Seagulls squad and should be given time to adapt to Hyypiä's style. But at times on Saturday he was slightly too slow in supporting Bruno down the right at a time when Teixeira and Forster-Caskey were almost immediate in their help for Joe Bennett on the opposite flank.

Hyypiä introduced new loan signing Gary Gardner for Crofts at half time and, while Gardner didn't exactly stamp his authority on proceedings, he did, perhaps, offer a more mobile presence.

The fact Hyypiä was so proactive in making changes will have encouraged Albion fans, particularly those who had grown accustomed to Oscar Garcia's occasionally predictable use of the Albion bench. And perhaps more importantly than that, Seagulls supporters will be relieved to see Oscar's at times ponderous approach swept to one side in favour of a more attacking intention.

True, the Seagulls managed just a few shots on target, but the entertainment factor is returning to the Amex. Brighton may not win every game this season, but they will certainly set out to. The same could not always be said of last season when it appeared the first priority was often not to lose.

In Bob Peeters Charlton also look to have a talented manager. Tactically the South London outfit opted for a footballing version of cat and mouse for their trip to Sussex. They set up relatively defensively but equally looked threatening in attack. Vetokele has already scored five league goals this season and he looks an astute addition to Charlton squad. The manner in which he turned Gordon Greer for Charlton's second said more about the 22-year-old's footballing maturity and physical strength than any negative mark against the Albion's captain. Sometimes it is enough to appreciate a good piece of attacking play without apportioning blame.

It did, though, look like it would be the game-clinching strike until Dunk, having already cancelled out one Vetokele strike with a towering header, skilfully redirected a late cross into the Charlton net for an injury time equaliser.

The Albion now have the international break in which to take stock of an encouraging run of form in the league and work further on implementing Hyypiä's ambitious approach. It probably comes at a good time for the Seagulls.

They are far from the finished article in terms of implementing everything Hyypiä wants. But as a work in progress, they are increasingly-entertaining to watch. And for most Albion fans, that is enough at this stage.

Match rating: Stockdale 6, Bruno 6, Greer 6, Dunk 9, Bennett 6, Holla 8, Forster-Caskey 7, Teixeira 8, Crofts 6, Colunga 6, Mackail-Smith 6. Subs: Gardner 6, Lua Lua 6, Baldock 6.