Match Preview: Brighton

With teams around us starting to pick up points, it’s time to stop relying on other teams misfortune and start taking ahold of our own destiny. Brighton gives us our first opportunity to do this…

Our performance against Liverpool was superb, getting a point against the best team in England shouldnt be taken likely. Now however, its time to start picking up some wins. Despite where they lie in the table this season, Brighton have been very impressive this season performance wise without picking up the points they deserve. Brighton have a lot of talented players that could easily see themselves at top 6 clubs before long, this won’t be an easy game that’s for sure.

In terms of the team I would make just one change to the side that drew with Liverpool. That is bringing back the now fit Mitro in for Cavaleiro. This is because I feel like our style of play will be different against a bottom half club rather than a top 6 side, therefore suiting Mitro more. This means that Areola keeps his placein goal, a back three of Aina, Andersen and Adarabioyo, Decordova-Reid and Robinson on either flanks as wing backs, a midfield four of Loftus-Cheek, Lemina, Anguissa and Lookman and Mitro up top.

I think we will win 1-0 with an Anguissa goal.

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HEAD TO HEAD

LEAGUE RECORD (OVERALL)

• GAMES PLAYED – 42
• FULHAM WINS – 18
• DRAWS – 4
• BRIGHTON WINS – 20
• GOALS SCORED – 62
• GOALS CONCEDED – 64

LEAGUE RECORD (HOME)

• GAMES PLAYED – 21
• FULHAM WINS – 14
• DRAWS – 0
• BRIGHTON WINS – 7
• GOALS SCORED – 43
• GOALS CONCEDED – 20

BIGGEST WINS

• FULHAM 1-6 BRIGHTON (1987/88) Sherpa Vans Trophy
• BRIGHTON 5-0 FULHAM (1929/30)
• BRIGHTON 5-0 FULHAM (2015/16)
• FULHAM 5-1 BRIGHTON (1929/30)
• FULHAM 5-1 BRIGHTON (1972/73)

LAST 5 GAMES

• FULHAM 4-2 BRIGHTON
• BRIGHTON 2-2 FULHAM
• FULHAM 1-2 BRIGHTON
• BRIGHTON 2-1 FULHAM
• BRIGHTON 5-0 FULHAM

LEAGUE FORM

• FULHAM – LLWLD
• BRIGHTON – DWDLL

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COLLINS JOHN’S VIEW

Wow! Wow! Wow!

That’s my club right there! A performance to be proud of. That first half performance was unreal. They were energetic, they were strong, they were brave. We were so up for it and the only shame was that we didn’t go in at half time with a bigger lead because that’s what we deserved. Klopp said that Liverpool were better in the second half but that was bound to happen. They had to improve because they were chasing the game and needed to have more urgency but we stood up to their huffing and puffing really well and showed that we belong in this division.

Obviously the penalty was very unlucky but we can’t worry about that now. It was a good point but it’s a bonus point. The real game is tonight and we have to go and beat Brighton to make it worth it. This is the type of game that will decide if we stay up or not and the results for us and Burnley have really pulled Brighton into this fight for survival. I love the keeper Areola, Robinson is a machine down the left, Anguissa solid, my good friend Mario Lemina was everywhere and Bobby Reid was on fire once again. It was a brilliant team performance and, if we can become more clinical in front of goal, we will be a tough opponent for anyone right now.

It was great to see the fans back and I could hear how loud they were from my TV! The applause for my dear friend Papa was special and I’m so pleased that we were allowed at least a few fans in the ground to say goodbye to him. The 2k fans did Papa and the rest of us proud.

Let’s build on the Liverpool performance lads. We can do this!

PREDICTION: FULHAM 2-0 BRIGHTON

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LAST TIME OUT

FULHAM 4-2 BRIGHTON (2018/19)

The last time we played Brighton we beat them 4-2 in January 2019 at Craven Cottage. A Glenn Murray brace saw us 2-0 down at the break with little hope of revival. But a second-half masterclass with goals from Callum Chambers, Luciano Vietto and a Mitro brace saw us turn the game on its head in unbelievable fashion.

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PLAYERS IN COMMON

Darren Bent, Wayne Bridge, Paul Brooker, Stan Brown, Dan Burn, David Button, Richard Carpenter, Danny Cullip, Perry Digweed, Ross Flitney, Darren Freeman, Aaron Hughes, Rohan Ince, Anthony Knockaert, Jim Langley, Dirk Lehmann, Teddy Maybank, Simon Morgan, Oliver Norwood, Peter O’Sullivan, Zesh Rehman, Liam Rosenior, Doug Rougvie, Steve Sidwell, David Stockdale, Glen Thomas, Martin Thomas, Mark Walton, Paul Watson, Bobby Zamora.

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BATTLE TO WATCH

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PREDICTED LINE-UP