On Monday night, from 18:30, Brighton receives the visit of WBA, in a match from the 6th round of the Premier League. The hosts have a long list of unavailable and the band near Birmingham hope to take advantage of these problems! Slaven Bilic’s team has a weak start when returning to the first echelon and desperately needs a success to get out of the basement.
Obviously, Brighton is the favorite at AmEX Stadium, although it does not have Dunk, Jahanbaksh, Izquierdo, Propper, Walton and Welbeck. Florin Andone’s team has made significant progress in recent years, but has started the new season very modestly, as has its rival on Monday. So, it’s a duel between bands with problems, which could weigh decisively in the fight to avoid relegation. WBA comes to the match outside Field and Robson-Kanu injured. Statistics seem to recommend a match with few goals, regarding the recent history.
In 7 of the last 8 matches played at home by Brighton in front of newly promoted teams, less than 2.5 goals were scored, a plausible scenario this time as well. In the standings, Brighton is in 16th place (goal average 9-11) and has only one victory in five stages, while WBA is in 17th place and boasts only two draws – both obtained in the previous three stages. With 13 goals conceded, WBA has the weakest defense in the first league, despite the fact that Liverpool, for example, received 7 goals in a single match! Last season, the WBA drew at home to Burnley, while Brighton snatched a lucky point from away with Crystal Palace (1-1) – with a goal scored in overtime.
The two also met in a friendly match this fall, ended in a draw, 0-0. In the last three years we have witnessed five direct duels and three of them have been draws. We have a very good odds for a new equal match, where the WBA can raise its level of play a bit. None of the offense is impressive, but top scorer Neal Maupay could make a difference in favor of Graham Potter’s “gulls” if he is in good shape. Expect a balanced first half, without too many dangerous goal phases!
Brighton: M. Ryan – Webster, White, Burn – Lamptey, Bissouma, Alzate, March – Lallana, Maupay, Trossard
Coach: Graham Potter
WBA: Johnstone – Furlong, Ivanovic, Hegazi, Townsend – Pereira, Gallagher, Livermore, Krovinovic, Diangana – K. Grant
Coach: Slaven Bilic
Last season, Brighton won only 25% of the matches in which it started the favorite at home;
Brighton have lost 3 of the last 4 official matches;
Both teams scored in 3 of the last 4 matches played by Brighton (and 3+ at the end);
WBA has won only one official match in the last 11;
At least three goals have been scored in 5 of WBA’s last 7 matches;
PREDICTION: Brighton to win @ 1,79
