Town earned a very good point after a hard-fought stalemate at the Withdean this afternoon. The point will be welcomed by caretaker boss Gerry Murphy especially after Town were reduced to ten men midway through the second half after Sinclair picked up two yellow cards, the first of which came for dissent. Three other Town players were booked for the same offence as passions rose, but the Terriers defended well to the end and indeed, looked the more threatening.
The first half chance for the home side came after three minutes when Dean Cox's first time effort from outside the area skewed wide of Glennon's left hand post and away to safety.
BOOKING: Town won a free-kick in a dangerous area on seven minutes after Dean Cox handled the ball as Taylor-Fletcher tried to cross. Joe Skarz, in the team in place of Andy Taylor who broke his nose before the game, whipped the resulting set-piece onto the head of Luke Beckett whose header at the far post was tipped over by keeper Scott Flinders. Fussy referee Mike Jones booked the young player for taking the free-kick early and ordered a retake which was headed to safety by the Seagulls defence.
Luke Beckett had an effort on target on 16 minutes, but it was easily dealt with by keeper Flinders. There were positive signs going forward from Town however after good work from both Collins and Booth.
Town won a corner midway through the half after good work by Danny Schofield down the left flank. Michael Collins curling set-piece was hit to the near post for Beckett who could not take the shot on the volley and scuffed his effort.
Jon Worthington made a vital block in the area on 26 minutes after Jake Robinson collected the ball on the edge of the Town area, turned and unleashed a volley which was well blocked in the area by the Town skipper.
Worthington made another crucial stop just a minute later when Dean Cox wriggled into space in the area, but found the ball taken off his toe by an alert Worthington as the Brighton man was about to pull the trigger.
BOOKING: Referee Jones continued to frustrate both the Town players and fans when he booked Danny Schofield for dissent as the Town player protested about a goal-kick being given against him.
Schofield was lucky to stay on the field moments later when keeper Flinders claimed a dangerous cross and as he tried to clear, Schofield raised his arm to stop him playing the ball. As a result the Town midfielder received a stiff talking to from the man in black.
With five minutes of the half remaining Beckett was unlucky not to open the scoring from a well-worked Town set-piece. Joe Skarz curled a cross in from the right flank for Frank Sinclair who cut the ball back across goal at the far post for Beckett who was thwarted by a good stop from keeper Flinders.
BOOKING: With two minutes remaining big defender Guy Butters took one for the team when he cynically cropped Taylor-Fletcher when the Town man was through on goal and quite rightly earned himself a yellow card. Danny Schofield tested Flinders from the resulting Sinclair set-piece with a header which was well claimed by the Brighton keeper.
BOOKING: Gary Taylor-Fletcher was next into the book when he fouled Robinson 30 yards out.
The Town midfielder was involved again almost immediately when he picked up the ball just inside the Brighton half, ran at the defence before unleashing a powerful drive which dipped inches over the Brighton bar.
Half Time: Brighton & HA 0 Huddersfield Town 0
Glennon had a let-off three minutes into the half when he spilled El-Abd's shot from outside the area, the ball seemingly bobbling awkwardly on its way through the bodies in the box. Brighton striker Revell picked up the pieces and laid the ball back to dangerman Robinson who managed to sky the ball over the cross bar from the penalty spot - punctuating Glennon's thoughts by staring quizzically at the uneven ground.
SUB: During the action Andy Holdsworth picked up an injury and was soon replaced by Martin McIntosh. The Scotsman took up position in the centre of defence with Sinclair moving out to the right-back berth.
Glennon was called into action ten minutes into the second half when he easily collected Dean Hammond's powerful drive. And the Town keeper was scrambling across his line soon after when Robinson shot wide.
BOOKING: Frank Sinclair was entered into referee Jones' book for dissent on 57 minutes.
Town began to pressure on the hour mark and Brighton keeper Scott Flinders came to his side's rescue when he saved brilliantly from Luke Beckett. Booth headed over the bar from the resulting corner.
BOOKING: Andy Booth became the fifth Town player in the book, the fourth for dissent.
SUB: On 62 minutes Brighton made their first change replacing Bas Savage with Nathan Elder.
RED CARD: Almost inevitably after the spate of soft yellow cards, Town were reduced to ten men on 64 minutes when El-Abd went to ground under the challenge of Sinclair who had a few choice words for the referee's assistant on his way to an early bath.
SUB: The sending off forced Town into another substitution on 66 when Danny Schofield gave way for Mark Hudson.
BOOKING: Nathan Elder was booked on 69 minutes after a dangerous lunge at McIntosh.
Town's experienced defender was involved at the other end moments later when he struck a powerful free-kick from outside the area which was well claimed by Flinders.
SUB: Brighton made a second change on 77 minutes Cox was replaced Doug Loft.
SUB: Town made their final change at the same time when Taylor-Fletcher was replaced by Adnan Ahmed, who made his first appearance since New Year's Day.
SUB: Brighton made their final change in the 83rd minute replacing Adam El-Abd with Joe Gatting
Full Time: Brighton & HA 0 Huddersfield Town 0
Attendance:
Travelling:
Town: Matt Glennon, Joe Skarz, David Mirfin, Frank Sinclair, Andy Holdsworth (Martin McIntosh 52), Jon Worthington (c), Michael Collins, Danny Schofield (Mark Hudson 66), Gary Taylor-Fletcher (Adnan Ahmed 76), Andy Booth, Luke Beckett.
Subs: John McAliskey, Simon Eastwood.
