Brighton's first clash with Portsmouth since Vincente double relegated Pompey in 2012

Two goals from Vicente gave the Seagulls a 2-0 win at the end of a season that saw Pompey relegated to League One. Thursday’s game will be the third time the sides have met in the League Cup. In September 1962, Third Division Albion lost 5-1 at The Goldstone, to a Portsmouth team that was a division above. Seven years later, we were drawn together once more, this time in the first round. Pompey were again a division above Albion and the Seagulls’ manager Freddie Goodwin was expecting a tough match. “We naturally want to progress to the next round but know that if this is to be so, it will only be after a very hard tussle”. It was just the second game of the season and Mr Goodwin picked an unchanged team from the 1-1 draw against Walsall just four days previously. No squad rotation in those days! Geoff Sidebottom continued in goal, behind a back line of Stewart Henderson, new signing Willie Bell, John Napier and Bobby Smith. In midfield, another new signing Alan Gilliver was paired with Dave Turner and Eddie Spearritt. Albion boasted a potent attacking force in Alex Dawson, Nobby Lawton and Kit Napier. For Pompey, two of their players were to join Albion later in their careers. Full-back George Ley moved to The Goldstone in 1973, after 184 games for Portsmouth. He made 51 appearances for Albion before moving to Gillingham after losing his place to Harry Wilson. Brian Bromley was another who made the short journey along the coast. The midfielder had been dogged by injuries at Fratton park and moved to Albion, initially on loan, in November 1971. He proved to be an inspiration and although he went back to Portsmouth briefly at the start of 1972, he returned to help Pat Saward’s side to promotion in 1972. Back to the League Cup match and Albion took the game to Portsmouth right from the start, in front of a large crowd of just under 20,000. After a goalless first half, the momentum was maintained in the second period. Albion got their reward for all their hard work, when Alex Dawson scored. The game ended 1-0 and the Seagulls were through to the second round for the fifth successive season. The reward was another home tie, this time against Birmingham City. They were beaten 2-0, with goals from Alan Gilliver and Kit Napier in front of another large crowd of over 24,000. This set up a real glamour tie against First Division Wolverhampton Wanderers. Yet another huge attendance, this time over 32,500, saw Albion eventually bow out of the competition, but not before giving their first division opponents a huge fright. Alan Gilliver and Eddie Spearritt scored first half goals to give Albion a 2-1 lead, but the class of the opposition eventually told and two late goals from Hugh Curran knocked us out. In the years before the competition became an excuse to blood young and fringe players, Albion enjoyed some success, reaching the fifth round in 1978/79. With a Premier League fixture this coming Sunday at Newcastle, it is unlikely we will see too many first-team players taking the field against Pompey on Thursday. It is a great opportunity for some to stake their claim however, and it promises to be an exciting encounter. A repeat of the result in 1969 would be very welcome.