Sidelines: History Lesson

One Third Division match this afternoon sums up how quickly fortunes can change in football. When Brighton entertain Swansea they may like to look back on the same fixture 15 years ago, when they met in the old First Division.

Both clubs had been looking to build on their promising form the previous season, when Swansea finished sixth and Brighton 13th. Brighton, who also reached the FA Cup final that year against Manchester United, finished bottom and Swansea ended up just one place above them.

The meeting at the Goldstone Ground ended in a 1-1 draw while Brighton won 2-1 in Wales.