On Sky
Albion take the short trip down the west coast tomorrow to take on AFC Bournemouth in front of the dreaded Sky cameras.
On a run of three successive victories the Seagulls will be hoping to put to the sword a side that hasn’t won in nine.
There is bound to be a massive following for Brighton as there always is at Bournemouth and lets hope that the presence of Sky doesn’t see them watch Albion slip to an unexpected defeat.
Vital Quotes:
Nathan Jones told seagulls.co.uk, “We like to keep clean sheets because it gives you opportunities to win games.
“At the beginning of the season we were having to try and score two or three to get something out of the game, but it hasn`t been like that lately and long may it continue.
“We work hard as a team – all credit to Tomasz Kuszczak and the back four – but we work hard as a team and that starts from the wide areas up top.
“It`s what makes it a team performance.”
Jones, however, is not expecting an easy ride against the Cherries, a team he watched on a number of occasions as they won promotion to the Championship last season.
“I watched them last year when they were in League One and I kind of knew they were going to come up. They may have had the best players but they were structured and it`ll be a difficult game.
“They`re a good side with some dangerous players and they`re a settled squad, so we won`t underestimate them and I doubt they will underestimate us.”
Albion will certainly go into the game full of confidence following recent results and Jones admits that the players coming back from injury have helped in that respect.
In the Daily Echo,Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe said ‘Whenever you play a Brighton team, you know you are going to be in for a really good football match and that you are going to have to try to combat their strengths and try to impose yourselves on them. It is going to be two teams who try to play a similar way and I think that makes it a fascinating game.”
Bournemouth Team News:
Bournemouth are without central defender Elliott Ward his defensive partner, ex-Albion player Steve Cook is very doubtful, so this means another ex-Albion player Tommy Elphick will start against his previous employers.
Harry Arter is also a major doubt.
New Arsenal loanee Nico Yennaris could be in line for his debut after joining the club on Thursday.
Player to watch: Tommy Elphick
It will be interesting to see if Elphick can cope against Albion’s slick passing game after not really fitting in trying to play it
Brighton & HA Team News:
Will Buckley, Kazenga LuaLua, Leo Ulloa, CMS and Will Hoskins are still notable absentees but on the other hand, Liam Bridcutt, Andrea Orlandi and Keith Andrews are all pushing for a starting place after recovering from their respective injuries.
Player to watch: Ashley Barnes
Can Barnes score the goals that may take Albion into the play-off spots in the absence of Ulloa and CMS.
Match Facts & Stats
Albion have played Bournemouth 100 times, both sides have won 37 games with 26 being draws.
Albion’s biggest win was a 6-0 thumping in 1934 but Bournemouth retuned the favour 6-1 in 1949.
The last time the teams met in the league, Bournemouth pinched a 1-0 victory.
Match Prediction:
I think we will be to strong for the Cherries and as long as we aren’t firing blanks, will come out 2-0 victors.
Next Fixtures:
3/12/13 Albion v Barnsley
7/12/13 Albion v Leicester City
