SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 8 hrs 11 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
BL
Championship
Mar 29, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
ML

0-2

 
FT(HT: 0-0)
Adomah (65'), Graham (86')

Preview: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Middlesbrough

:Headline: Preview: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Middlesbrough: ID:146666: from db_amp
Sports Mole looks ahead to Saturday's Championship clash between playoff-chasing Brighton and mid-table Middlesbrough at Amex Stadium.

Brighton & Hove Albion's playoff hopes have been left hanging by a thread following a damaging week that saw them lose to both Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday.

A third straight loss at the hands of Middlesbrough at the Amex on Saturday could all but end their top-six aspirations, with the teams above them beginning to find form.

As things stand, the Seagulls are still very much in the race, sitting three points behind sixth-placed Reading with a game in hand over the three teams directly above them in the table.

However, manager Oscar Garcia will not need reminding that they cannot afford many more slip-ups in the remaining nine games of the season, and a return to winning ways this weekend is a must.

Brighton's lack of goals has been a worry all season, and back-to-back matches without scoring have only served to deepen the problem that leaves them with the worst attacking record in the top 17 of the table.

It is a different story at the other end of the pitch, however, as no side has conceded fewer goals than the Seagulls' 31 in 37 games this season.

Garcia will once again be without Andrew Crofts and Craig Mackail-Smith for the match, but he has no new injury concerns as he looks to get his side's playoff charge back on track.

Middlesbrough have no such ambitions this season and can turn their attention to the next campaign now having gone four games without a win to leave them almost equidistant between the top six and the bottom three.

Draws have been a biggest harm to any potential playoff charge for Middlesbrough, with Aitor Karanka's side sharing the spoils a league-high 16 times, including in three of their last four matches.

Turning one point into three points will be high up on the agenda for the Spaniard, who has seen his side win just once in their last 12 outings, scoring just six goals in that time.

Away from home, they are without a win in six and have failed to score in five of those matches, with the 2-2 draw against Huddersfield Town on Tuesday the only exception.

Middlesbrough could be unchanged from that draw with Jonathan Woodgate still a doubt and Mustapha Carayol out for the rest of the season.

Recent form

Brighton: WDWWLL

Middlesbrough: LWDDLD

Possible starting lineups

Brighton: Kuszczak; Bruno, Upson, Greer, Ward; Forster-Caskey, Andrews, Ince; Buckley, Ulloa, Lingard

Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos; Varga, Omeruo, Gibson, Friend; Whitehead, Chalobah; Adomah, Butterfield, Ledesma; Graham

Sports Mole says: 2-0


amp_article__146666 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2014-03-27 15:20:37:
html db last update - 2021-01-08 23:34:08 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .