​It was Boss Alan Brown’s birthday, and his team presented him with a very good 45 minutes at the Goldstone Ground, as well as a fine brace from young forward John Lathan.Sunderland had finished the previous season in fifth position in the second tier, showing in the second half of that campaign that there just might be room for optimism. With a raft of good young players coming through and some quality ‘older’ heads, could 1972/73 be our year?We started the season with a decent performance but no points at Middlesbrough. Then came a home victory against a hard-working Orient team that contained future Sunderland player Ian Bowyer. Dennis Tueart’s 80th-minute goal was just reward for the team and the young flying winger.The game at the Goldstone Ground was not a particularly anticipated trip. Brighton had been relegated from the Second Division in 1961/62 and had only just clawed their way back in 1971/72, finishing second behind Aston Villa, with a reputation for being a hard-working team unit with some good finishers.It was a difficult journey for the fans and, as it turned out on this day, the team as well. With a bus malfunction delaying Sunderland’s arrival, Alan Brown had jogged into the ground and the referee’s room with the team sheet, just making the stipulated 30-minute deadline before kick-off.Keith Coleman made his return from injury at left-back, taking over from another youngster, Joe Bolton. Yet another young player with potential, Jimmy ‘Chico’ Hamilton, continued on the bench after some encouraging displays.If Brighton were hoping their opponents’ very late arrival would unsettle them, they were to be disappointed. Sunderland started this game at a rate of knots and never looked back until half-time.Bobby Kerr was magnificent, closely followed by Dave Watson at centre-forward. Ian Porterfield was irresistible, caressing and moving the ball all over the park, whilst his midfield partner Mick McGiven defended and attacked with impunity. He also spent 45 minutes winning the ball and passing to his team-mates with an assurance that belied his years.Sunderland had already served notice that they were not here to park the bus when David Watson collected a pass on the right wing. He directed an accurate cross to Dennis Tueart, who sublimely crossed to an onrushing Lathan, who nodded home from close range.Five minutes later, Lathan scored again from close range with his left foot, finishing off a move marvellously created by Bobby Kerr. Two goals in 13 minutes and it looked like they weren’t finished yet.Watson was then an inch or two away with a powerful header and, minutes later, followed up with a raking shot from 20 yards out that hit the crossbar. Sunderland were dominating the ball and the game in this first half.Jimmy Montgomery had hardly been troubled as the whistle went for half-time.There is a football cliché that talks about a ‘game of two halves’. Unfortunately for Sunderland fans, this was what was w