On the hunt for a fourth win from five matches in all competitions, Brighton & Hove Albion welcome Burnley to their Amex home in Saturday's Premier League contest.
The Seagulls came from behind to overcome Brentford 2-1 in midweek, while the Clarets were brought crashing back down to earth in a 1-0 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Match preview
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Brighton players and staff could not contain their joy for 18-year-old local lad Jack Hinshelwood on Wednesday evening, as the Seagulls academy product completed his side's second-half comeback against Brentford with a maiden goal in senior football.
Roberto De Zerbi cut a furious figure on the touchline as Bryan Mbeumo gave Brentford the lead from the penalty spot in the first half, but a crisp Pascal Gross strike levelled matters a few moments later, and the German then turned provider for Hinshelwood to head home the clincher.
Further attempts to increase their lead proved fruitless for Brighton - Simon Adingra in particular was left to bemoan a few missed openings - but three points were merited for De Zerbi's side, who produced the perfect response to their agonising loss at the hands of Chelsea.
Remaining on the coat-tails of their fellow continental contenders, Brighton enter the 16th round of fixtures sitting eighth in the Premier League table, within touching distance of Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Manchester United thanks to the former two's defeats on Thursday.
Owing to Mbeumo's 12-yard opener in Wednesday's game, De Zerbi's team host Burnley having remarkably scored and conceded in each of their last 19 Premier League matches - including all of their last 11 at the Amex - but none of their last six home contests in the top flight has ended in defeat.
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Defeat at home was all that Burnley knew before last weekend's five-goal obliteration of Sheffield United, which saw the Blades board pull the trigger on Paul Heckingbottom while potentially buying Vincent Kompany more time to drag the Clarets to safety.
However, Burnley's attacking prowess eluded them during Tuesday's trip to Wolves' Molineux base, where the lively Hwang Hee-chan registered his eighth goal of the season to condemn the Clarets to their 12th defeat from 15 Premier League contests in 2023-24.
Much was made of Burnley's record-breaking losing streak at Turf Moor, but defeat at Wolves saw Kompany's men beaten on the road for the fifth game in a row in all tournaments, during which time they have scored just twice while conceding 12 at the other end of the field.
Nineteenth place in the Premier League table belongs to the visitors at this juncture, although they only have a two-point gap to make up to Luton Town and a three-point disadvantage to Everton thanks to the Toffees' shock success over Newcastle United.
Furthermore, both of Burnley's Premier League wins this term have come against their fellow Championship promotees in Sheffield United and Luton, but the Clarets' last trip to face Brighton at the Amex in February 2022 saw Sean Dyche's team storm to a 3-0 victory.
Team News
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A pair of Brighton players will return to De Zerbi's ranks from suspension this weekend, as Lewis Dunk and Mahmoud Dahoud have both served their bans, and the former's return could potentially put Hinshelwood's place at risk despite the 18-year-old's dream goal in midweek.
De Zerbi could potentially receive a triple boost if Adam Webster's knock settles down in time for Saturday, while Adam Lallana has also shaken off an unspecified concern, but Solly March (knee), Ansu Fati (thigh), Julio Enciso (knee), Tariq Lamptey (thigh), Pervis Estupinan (thigh) and Danny Welbeck remain in the care of the medical team.
Frequently shuffling his resources amid the unforgiving schedule, De Zerbi could elect to bring Joel Veltman and Evan Ferguson back into the XI this weekend, while Jakub Moder made just his second Premier League appearance since recovering from his severe knee injury against Brentford.
Likewise, Burnley have a defender of their own returning from the naughty step in the form of Jordan Beyer, who ought to be a straight swap for Hjalmar Ekdal in defence, but the Clarets lost Luca Koleosho to a cruel knee injury in the first half of their clash with Wolves on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old Italy youth international is at risk of missing the remainder of the season with the problem, so Johann Berg Gudmundsson should gear up for a return to the first XI in place of Koleosho this weekend.
Lyle Foster continues to receive help for mental health problems and is out indefinitely, while Jack Cork (calf) and Josh Cullen (knock) are also in the treatment room for the Clarets.
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Steele; Veltman, Dunk, Igor, Gross; Baleba, Gilmour; Adingra, Pedro, Mitoma; Ferguson
Burnley possible starting lineup:
Trafford; Vitinho, O'Shea, Beyer, Taylor; Gudmundsson, Berge, Brownhill, Bruun Larsen; Amdouni, Rodriguez
We say: Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 Burnley
While they remain culpable of giving the odd goal away, especially with so many players out of contention through injury, Brighton's firepower should make up for any defensive lapses they experience against their lowly visitors.
A rare clean sheet is not out of the question for De Zerbi's men either, as Burnley have not travelled well all season long and should leave the Amex empty-handed.
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Top tip
Ben Knapton
