MX23RW : Friday, May 10 15:49:49| >> :60:49:49:
[monks data]
Brighton logo
Championship
Apr 10, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Bournemouth logo

0-2

FT(HT: 0-0)
Kermorgant (70'), Wilson (81')

Preview: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Bournemouth

Sports Mole gazes ahead to Friday night's Championship match as leaders Bournemouth travel to stuttering Brighton & Hove Albion.

Just five games separate Bournemouth from a possible first ever season in the top flight as they head into the final stretch of the Championship season top of the pile.

Eddie Howe's side have impressed throughout the campaign with an attacking mindset and it's all in their own hands as they next prepare to face fellow South Coast side Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday night.



Brighton

Manager Chris Hughton of Brighton looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Norwich City at Amex Stadium on April 3, 2015© Getty Images

It's been a wholly underwhelming campaign for the Seagulls, who have made the playoffs in the last two seasons. Sami Hyypia's arrival in the summer turned out to be a backwards appointment and although Chris Hughton has stabilised matters, Brighton are not yet completely safe.

Following back-to-back 1-0 defeats over the Easter weekend, the Seagulls are down to 19th in the table and still within single figures of the bottom three, with 22nd-placed Millwall having a game in hand.

On Good Friday they were edged out at Bournemouth's promotion rivals Norwich City, a former club of Hughton's, while two days ago they fell to one of the sides below them in the table, Rotherham United.

Much of the focus before the latter match at the New York Stadium was on the fact that Rotherham could relegate Blackpool with a win, and they duly delivered to confirm the Tangerines' doom.

Overall, it's just one win in six for Hughton's men and the winning goal at Blackburn Rovers last month is their only goal in the last four matches.

Their top scorer is still centre-back Lewis Dunk (7) and bringing in a striker must surely be number-one priority for Hughton this summer.

Recent form: LDDWLL



Bournemouth

Charlie Daniels celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between AFC Bournemouth and Birmingham City at Goldsands Stadium on April 6, 2015© Getty Images

The Cherries are through their toughest patch of the run-in and now have what will be considered five winnable games ahead of them. Howe's men are favourites for promotion and it's easy to see why following their impressive comeback on Easter Monday.

Midway through the first half they were 2-0 down to Birmingham City, but didn't let the deficit faze them as they drew level ahead of the interval before running out 4-2 winners at the Goldsands Stadium.

Make that 11 goals scored in their last three home games and with other mid-table sides Sheffield Wednesday and Bolton Wanderers still to visit, Bournemouth will fancy breaking the 100-goal barrier - they have netted 87 in 41 games so far.

Their last defeat was nine games ago at Nottingham Forest and they have taken 17 points out of a possible 21 in their last seven games.

However, their best form has been at home. They won eight out of nine in a blistering run of away form between October and mid-January, but have won just two of their eight games on the road since.

Recent form: WWDWDW



Team News

Gordon Greer of Brighton and Hove Albion during the npower Championship match between Nottingham Forest and Brighton and Hove Albion at City Ground on March 30, 2013© Getty Images

The hosts will have to make do without captain Gordon Greer, who serves the last game of his two-match ban after picking up his 10th booking of the season against Norwich on Good Friday.

Greg Halford should continue in the Scot's absence, but Aaron Hughes could come in and make his first league appearance for the club since January.

With goals being a problem, Hughton could freshen up the frontline and Liverpool loanee Joao Teixeira is keen to prove his worth to his parent club so could earn a recall.

As for Bournemouth, Howe has been fairly fortunate to have not been hit with many serious injuries this season. By and large, he has stuck with a favourite XI and isn't expected to make many changes for the trip East along the coast.

The position he most often tinkers with is Callum Wilson's strike partner. Yann Kermorgant started next to the England Under-21 international against Birmingham, but both Brett Pitman and Kenwyne Jones could replace the Frenchman.

The only Cherries player not fit at the moment is winger Marc Pugh, who missed both games over Easter but could return here from an ankle injury.

Brighton possible starting lineup:
Stockdale; Bruno, Halford, Dunk, Bennett; Ince, Kayal, Stephens; Teixeira, O'Grady, LuaLua

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Boruc; Francis, Cook, Elphick, Daniels; Ritchie, Surman, Arter, Fraser; Pitman, Wilson

Referee: Craig Pawson



Head To Head

Kermorgant's penalty saw Bournemouth win by the odd goal in five in November's reverse, making it five games without a win for Brighton against the Cherries in league competition.

A goalless draw seems an unlikely outcome, with only one of the last 20 games between the two ending as a stalemate in the last 22 years.

Bournemouth undoubtedly start the match as favourites and are hoping to end a 27-year wait for a win away at Brighton having gone 11 matches without victory (D5, L6).



Video Preview

Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:



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We say: Brighton 0-3 Bournemouth

Bournemouth are brimming with confidence at the moment and should have too much for a Brighton side with little to play for. The Seagulls are not yet safe, but their next two games against Huddersfield Town and Wigan Athletic are much more winnable as they look to secure their second-tier status for another season. Goals have been a real problem for Brighton, but the same can't be said of Bournemouth.



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Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe during the Pre Season Friendly match between AFC Bournemouth and Southampton at The Goldsands Stadium on July 25, 2014
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