03 March 2009

Brian Clough, Brighton and an 8-2 win for Bristol Rovers

Bristol Rovers fans will be hoping for the sort of performance tonight against Brighton that left a young Brian Clough spitting with rage.


The legendary manager suffered his first defeat in charge of the Seagulls at the hands of Bristol Rovers, Pirates' boss Don Megson masterminding an 8-2 victory on the south coast.


Clough had led Derby County from the second division to the first division title in 1971-72 and took them to the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1972-73 but left the following season after a row with club chairman Sam Longson.


Leeds United then Nottingham Forest soon came calling for his services and his 44 days with the former and two European Cup triumphs with the latter are well documented.


Less so the 32 games he had with Brighton & Hove Albion where he recommenced his career after the fall-out with Derby, and especially that 8-2 defeat to Bristol Rovers.





Current Pirates' boss Paul Trollope has called on his side to make a similar flying start to tonight's encounter at the Memorial Stadium.


And if Rovers tap into even an ounce of the attacking verve displayed on the south coast back in 1973, when they scored in the fourth minute and flooded Brighton's penalty area with players, they will be taking all three points without question.


ITV presenter Brian Moore welcomed Clough onto his highlights show the following day by describing his post-match press conference as "the most astonishing attack I've ever heard a manager deliver about his players."


Clough branded his side as "not having a thimble full of heart between them".


"Things went wrong right from the start of the match and this got on top of them, and they just caved in," he explained to Moore.


For tonight's match the south coast outfit have a dozen senior players ruled out through injury and suspension and are still reeling from the loss of leading scorer Nicky Forster to injury on Saturday before a nightmare 4-0 home defeat to Crewe.


"Being on the receiving end of eight goals is never very easy," said Clough. "But you get up the next morning, the sun was shining and here I am wanting to talk football."

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