Brighton and Hove Albion
Brighton is currently 6th in the Premier League, 8 points behind the top four spots but with a game advantage over Manchester United. While it’s a stretch to imagine them finishing in the Champions League positions, the manager’s focus is solely on maximizing the team’s performance. They have a 4-2-3 home record, with 16 goals scored and 10 conceded.
Brighton secured a victory over Liverpool with a late goal in the FA Cup for the second time in January, but this result is no longer surprising due to the team’s improvement under Roberto De Zerbi, who took over from the successful Graham Potter. Fans are now hopeful for FA Cup glory as well as a debut in European competition through a strong Premier League finish.
Brighton lost 2-4 to Arsenal in a thrilling Premier League match, but have quickly regained their form with a 5-game unbeaten streak, including 4 wins. They’ve won 3 of their last 5 matches at the Amex Stadium across all competitions, including consecutive victories against Liverpool.
Evan Ferguson sustained a serious injury against Liverpool and is likely to be out for a while. Adam Lallana, Levi Colwell, and Jakub Moder are expected to return later in the month.
Brighton and Hove Albion Last 5 Results
✅ 29/01/23. 14:30 Brighton and Hove Albion – Liverpool 2 : 1 (1 : 1) (1 : 0) FA Cup
➖ 21/01/23. 16:00 Leicester City – Brighton and Hove Albion 2 : 2 (1 : 1) (1 : 1) Premier League
✅ 14/01/23. 16:00 Brighton and Hove Albion – Liverpool 3 : 0 (0 : 0) (3 : 0) Premier League
✅ 07/01/23. 16:00 Middlesbrough – Brighton and Hove Albion 1 : 5 (1 : 2) (0 : 3) FA Cup
✅ 03/01/23. 20:45 Everton – Brighton and Hove Albion 1 : 4 (0 : 1) (1 : 3) Premier League
Bournemouth
Bournemouth has been active during the transfer window, providing manager Gary O’Neil with the necessary resources to retain the club’s Premier League status. O’Neil needs to produce results quickly as the new owners won’t tolerate the possibility of relegation. Bill Foley, who leads the ownership group, is likely to grow increasingly impatient if the team’s performance doesn’t improve.
Bournemouth had been winless in their 6 games across all competitions after the World Cup break until ending the streak with a 1-1 tie against Nottingham Forest two weeks prior. Their away form has been particularly troubling, losing 6 consecutive away matches across all competitions and failing to score in 5 of those games.
Gary O’Neil was named permanent manager just as the World Cup break ended, but the team’s poor performance has resulted in Bournemouth sitting 18th in the Premier League. While they are still close to the teams above them, their 1-2-7 away record only increases the pressure to earn significant home results.
Bournemouth Last 5 Results
➖ 21/01/23. 16:00 AFC Bournemouth – Nottingham Forest 1 : 1 (1 : 0) (0 : 1) Premier League
❌ 14/01/23. 18:30 Brentford – AFC Bournemouth 2 : 0 (1 : 0) (1 : 0) Premier League
❌ 07/01/23. 16:00 AFC Bournemouth – Burnley 2 : 4 (1 : 3) (1 : 1) FA Cup
❌ 03/01/23. 21:00 Manchester United – AFC Bournemouth 3 : 0 (1 : 0) (2 : 0) Premier League
❌ 31/12/22. 16:00 AFC Bournemouth – Crystal Palace 0 : 2 (0 : 2) (0 : 0) Premier League
Head to Head
These coastal rivals last faced each other during the 2019/20 season, with both Brighton and Bournemouth securing home wins in the Premier League. Prior to Brighton’s home win in December 2019, they had not won any of their 5 previous home matches against Bournemouth.
21/01/20, 20:30 AFC Bournemouth – Brighton and Hove Albion 3 : 1 (2 : 0) (1 : 1)
28/12/19, 13:30 Brighton and Hove Albion – AFC Bournemouth 2 : 0 (1 : 0) (1 : 0)
13/04/19, 16:00 Brighton and Hove Albion – AFC Bournemouth 0 : 5 (0 : 1) (0 : 4)
22/12/18, 16:00 AFC Bournemouth – Brighton and Hove Albion 2 : 0 (1 : 0) (1 : 0)
01/01/18, 13:30 Brighton and Hove Albion – AFC Bournemouth 2 : 2 (1 : 1) (1 : 1)
TWV Sport Team Thoughts
The odds for Brighton’s home win on Saturday are similar to what you would expect if one of the Big Six teams were hosting Bournemouth, highlighting the significant improvements made at the Amex Stadium. Roberto De Zerbi has incorporated young players into the starting line-up, creating a confident and dangerous Brighton team. The team’s progression to the FA Cup Fifth Round has sustained the players’ confidence and momentum, making them deserving favourites to win this match.
Brighton’s home form could still improve and may need to in order to secure a place in European football for the first time. However, the team’s scoring ability, which was lacking under former manager Graham Potter, has improved under their current manager, causing problems for Bournemouth, who have lost 6 consecutive away games in all competitions and conceded at least 2 goals in 5 of those matches. Bournemouth has had the chance to get key players back from injury during the two-week break and have added new players in the January transfer window, offering hope for a team that has struggled to score away from home. Gary O’Neil is now under pressure to deliver results and pull the club out of the relegation zone.
Brighton’s defence has been prone to conceding goals, but that could be offset by their attacking prowess, which has improved significantly under their current manager. On Saturday, they will face a Bournemouth team that has struggled on the road, losing 4 of their last 5 away Premier League games by a margin of two or more goals. Despite their inconsistent home record, Brighton has won 3 of their 4 home Premier League games this season by a two-goal margin or more. Based on this, it’s likely that Brighton will come out on top with a two-goal or greater victory.
Match Result Prediction
✅ Brighton to win.
Score Prediction
Brighton and Hove Albion 2 – 1 Bournemouth
