Match Preview: Brighton & Hove Albion v Tottenham Hotspur

 

Match Preview: Brighton & Hove Albion v Tottenham Hotspur

Today (29^th) I was walking my dog when a neighbour popped his head up (we usually chat about football) and shouted: "You were right about the score [against Liverpool], you just got it the wrong way around." And then had a good laugh. Anyway, moving along… to the Brighton game on Sunday.

First Kane:

Kane could be out for a "few weeks" after injuring both ankles when we played Liverpool. Kane, 27, needed treatment on his left ankle after landing cumbersomely following Jordan Henderson's challenge. He had hurt his right ankle in an earlier challenge with Thiago Alcantara. He tried to continue before being replaced by Erik Lamela at half time.

According to Mourinho, "The second injury was worse than the first one. He was coping with one but couldn't cope with both. For Harry to leave a game when the team is losing is not a nothing injury. There are some players you can't replace. When it happens it happens, but I believe we have to fight against it, we cannot do anything else."

We send him our best.

Bale

In my Match Report against Liverpool, I said, why didn't he use Bale and Vinicius? I am still none the wiser, however, Mourinho has recently stated that Gareth Bale's season has reached a "crucial moment", but he will not use him as a striker despite the loss of the "irreplaceable" Harry Kane. Bale has been used as a striker by Wales, but Mourinho says that role is not considered for his club. "I don't think Gareth is a striker, I don't think he likes to play as a striker," he said.

Mourinho also goes on to says, about Bale, who is on a season loan from Real Madrid, that he (Bale) has made it clear that he prefers to play on the right-wing. "It was something that we spoke when we joined us, he was very objective with me, by saying he doesn't feel he is a left-winger like he was before, he doesn't feel like he is a No 10 like he was before, too," he said. It is nice to see who is dictating what to who. Mourinho went on and said, "The position that he likes to play is the position where we are playing him every minute we give him, which is the right side of the attack. So when Gareth plays starting or coming from the bench, that's his position in our game." So, that has told us.

To the team news

Brighton

Brighton have no new injury problems. Danny Welbeck could return to training next week after a knee injury, while Tariq Lamptey is still a few weeks away from fitness after a thigh problem.

Spurs

As I had said, Harry Kane could be out for at least a fortnight after injuring both ankles on Thursday.

Dele Alli and Sergio Reguilon are doubtful with respective tendon and muscle problems. Giovani Lo Celso remains out with a hamstring injury.

My thoughts and Prediction

Brighton have been playing pretty well of late, but they still haven't won at home in the league this season. I can’t see Brighton getting three points.

As for us; we have not really hit top gear for a few weeks, but I don’t think we will have any problems getting our three points against the Seagulls. We will be looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League when we travel to the Amex on Sunday evening

We are also still in the Europa League and FA Cup, meaning that it could be a successful end to the season despite having some teething problems this season.

Our away form this season has been impressive. Meanwhile, we won five of our nine matches, collecting 18 points in the process, and don’t forget that Brighton had yet to record a single victory at the Amex during the 2020-21 Premier League campaign.

My possible starting lineup:

Lloris; Rodon, Dier, Alderweireld; Doherty, Hojbjerg, Ndombele, Davies; Lucas, Son, Vinicius.

To be honest, I have put in Vinicius, as I would play him, but I do question whether Mourinho has faith enough in the player to use him.

Prediction: Yes, I got it so wrong against Liverpool (or right, but for the wrong team, depending on how you look at it), however, I have faith that we will do over Brighton, and I will go for 4+ win. The teams owe the fans that for their appalling display against the Reds.

We have lost just one of our last 12 away games in the Premier League

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

We have won seven of the past nine meetings in all competitions (D1, L1).

Brighton's solitary victory in their past seven Premier League fixtures against us was 3-0 at home in October 2019 (D1, L5).

We have won 10 of our 15 top-flight matches versus Brighton - that win ratio of 67% is our second-best against a team we’ve played more than 10 times in the top flight.

Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton are the only team in the top four English divisions without a home league win this season.

They have had five away victories in the Premier League since their most recent home triumph.

Their winless Premier League home run currently stands at 14 games (D7, L7). The last side to have a longer such streak were Derby County, who went 16 without a win in 2007-08.

However, Albion are looking to keep three consecutive Premier League clean sheets for the first time since October 2018.

Graham Potter's side have drawn nine Premier League matches this season, two more than any other club going into this weekend.

There have been a division-high 13 penalties awarded in Premier League matches involving Brighton this season - six for and seven against.

Tottenham Hotspur

We have lost just one of our nine Premier League away games this season (W5, D3).

We have won our three away fixtures in all competitions in 2021 by an aggregate score of 12-2.

We have trailed other teams for just 129 minutes in the Premier League this season. It's the best record in the division.

We haven't lost any of our last 12 Premier League games against sides starting the day in the bottom four (W6, D6).

Mourinho has lost both of his Premier League away matches against Brighton.

Son has scored in each of his last three Premier League appearances without Harry Kane in the team.

The last six results for both teams:

Brighton & Hove Albion Premier League form: DLDLWD

Brighton & Hove Albion form (all competitions): DWLWWD

Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form: LDWDWL

Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions): WWDWWL.

So, there you have it and I hope my optimism has cheered you all up (at least for our game against Brighton)? We must lift ourselves up, dust ourselves down and take everything head-on. As the song says, #It can only get better# Let us hope for Spurs sake, and ours, that the song is right.

Best regards, stay safe and see you Sunday!

Glenn

COYS!