No flying start for Hartley as Seagulls soar against Dons

Published on Friday 30 July 2010 19:11

MARK McGhee received a warm welcome from Brighton and Hove Albion fans as he returned to his old stomping ground yesterday, but his Aberdeen side gave him - or the 500 or so away fans in the 2,800-strong crow - precious little to smile about as they lost 1-0 to the club he managed from 2003 to 2006.

It was a disappointing debut for new signing and skipper Paul Hartley, who could do nothing to turn the tide against a Seagulls side which dominated the match from start to finish and will have been disappointed not to have notched up a few more goals after Elliot Bennett's spectacular strike from the edge of the box on 37 minutes.

The English League One team started the match brightly, with Gordon Greer heading over from a corner on 14 minutes and having strong claims for a penalty five minutes later when Jerel Ifil appeared to clip the heels of Ashley Barnes.

Hartley, wearing the captain's armband for the Dons, did have a chance to take the game to Gus Poyet's side after Chris Maguire was felled on the edge of the Brighton area, but his curling free kick sailed well wide of Brighton goalkeeper Michael Poke's post.

Brighton finally made the breakthrough their pressure deserved as Matt Sparrow controlled the ball in the area before laying it back to Bennett to smash the ball home. Sparrow nearly grabbed a goal for himself after the break, but his rasping top-corner-bound shot was superbly palmed away by Aberdeen keeper Mark Howard, who was by far the busiest of the two keepers.

Howard was called into action again ten minutes later, this time swatting away Jamie Smith's powerful shot. On 75 minutes, Smith did manage to beat Howard, but not the post, with his first-time effort.

Then, in the final seconds of the match, the home side were almost make to pay for their profligacy as Aberdeen got a rare shot on goal, but Michael Paton's volleyed effort from just outside the area crashed off the post.

q Newcastle recovered from two goals down to draw 2-2 with PSV Eindhoven at St James' Park in a match which marked the one-year anniversary of the death of Sir Bobby Robson. The Dutch side had surged ahead, but Ryan Taylor and Leon Best ensured that honours were even at full-time.

Wolves suffered a 3-1 defeat against Leeds at Elland Road. Max Gradel had given the hosts the lead only for Matt Jarvis to equalise. But the Lloyd Sam and Bradley Johnson secured the win for Leeds.