Burnley go hope say win against Brighton & Hove Albion for Amex Stadium this Saturday go help dem revive their Premier League survival fight. Brighton just come from frustrating 2-2 draw against West Ham on Tuesday, and dem dey 14th for table with 25 points. Burnley own situation tight well-well as dem dey 19th with just 12 points after dem lose 3-1 to Newcastle United on December 30.
Match Preview
Brighton go dey regret say dem no fit fully use West Ham weakness, especially as Danny Welbeck miss penalty again before half-time. That result make am six games straight wey Brighton never win, as dem dey alternate between draw and loss.
Under Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton don concede 11 goals for their last six matches, compared to just 10 goals conceded for the 10 games before that. E clear say defensive issues don start to show more clearly.
One interesting thing be say 20 out of Brighton 28 league goals this season don come after half-time. Still, dem blank for two of their last five games, scoring only four goals across those matches. Consistency for front still dey shake.
For Amex Stadium, Brighton draw their last two home matches and lose the one before them, but overall dem strong for house. Dem don lose just once for their last nine Premier League home games, so Burnley no go expect easy work at all.
Burnley own side go dey disappointed with how dem lose to Newcastle, especially as most of the serious chances Newcastle get come inside first 30 minutes. After that, Burnley control large parts of the game but no fit convert am to points.
The Clarets dey six points behind 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, and even though that gap no be impossible to close, form no dey encourage dem. Burnley don collect just two points from their last 10 league matches, na serious wahala.
Scott Parker don manage get two draws from their last three games, but defensive weakness still dey worry dem. Burnley don concede at least two goals for seven of their last 10 matches, and that kind thing no dey help survival battle.
If Burnley fit avoid defeat this weekend, dem unbeaten run against Brighton go stretch to four games. Another draw go make am three draws back-to-back between both teams. Still, Burnley away form bad well-well, as dem don lose seven of their nine away league games, winning just once.
Team News
For Brighton side, James Milner start midfield against West Ham, but as man go clock 40 years in January, e no too likely say e go start again within four days. Jack Hinshelwood fit come into the starting XI, especially since Carlos Baleba dey away for Africa Cup of Nations.
Winger Yankuba Minteh no too likely to feature after thigh injury force am come off against West Ham, so Brajan Gruda go likely slot in for right wing. Brighton injury situation fit limit their attacking sharpness again.
Burnley dey battle plenty absentees. Latest setback be centre-back Maxime Esteve, wey dem sub off against Newcastle. Bashir Humphreys fit replace am on the left side of back three.
With Axel Tuanzebe also unavailable due to AFCON, Burnley fit reshuffle defence again, possibly pushing Josh Laurent and Hjalmar Ekdal into defensive roles. Midfielder Hannibal Mejbri dey unavailable too because of international duty.
For midfield, Florentino Luis and Lesley Ugochukwu likely go form double pivot. Up front, Armando Broja go lead the line, supported by wingers Marcus Edwards and Loum Tchaouna.
Possible Starting Lineups
Brighton & Hove Albion:
Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu; Ayari, Hinshelwood; Gruda, Gomez, De Cuyper; Welbeck
Burnley:
Dubravka; Laurent, Ekdal, Humphreys; Walker, Ugochukwu, Luis, Pires; Edwards, Broja, Tchaouna
Prediction
We say: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Burnley
Burnley need win badly, but their poor away form and shaky defence dey work against dem. Brighton suppose use home advantage collect three points, but injuries to key players fit dull their attacking threat. Because of that, another tight game and draw no go surprise anybody.
This page dey LIVE, and we go dey update am regularly with latest team news, confirmed lineups, and match-day developments as dem dey drop.
