A Tuesday night in Brighton

Our opponents are again struggling and are currently hovering just two points and one place above the drop zone, and they have been beaten six times this season at home in league games. There last home win though was the last time out when they beat Leeds with goals from Paul Reid and Gary Hart.

They didn’t look a good side when they visited the Turf earlier in the season but, like last season, they collected a point in a 1-1 draw. It was a game we should have won but one where we were thankful for a penalty to even get us that point.

That was back in September and there’s been no change to Mark McGhee’s squad since that game. Wayne Henderson was in goal that night, he was on loan from but a couple of weeks ago that move was made permanent in a £35,000 deal.

Much of the news from Brighton since our last meeting has centred on the new stadium at Falmer. It got the go ahead from the Deputy Prime Minister in October although I believe there have been further objections.

The sooner this stadium is built the better, certainly for Brighton & Hove Albion, and also selfishly for me because I don’t see how anyone can look forward to a visit to the Withdean.

Click HERE to see all Brighton’s results this season.

Mark McGhee is still hoping to strengthen his squad ahead of tonight’s game but it is looking likely that there won’t be any new faces in time to play. New signings have to be registered by 12 noon, whilst loan deals have to be completed no less than three hours before kick off.

The suggestion is that there will be no one signing in time to play tonight, although McGhee is boosted with the return of Alexis Nicolas, Chris McPhee and Adam Hinshelwood who are all back from injuries and could be back via the bench.

Definitely out are Charlie Oatway and Jason Dodd and Brighton are expected to line up: Michel Kuipers, Adam El-Abd, Paul McShane, Guy Butters, Joel Lynch, Paul Reid, Dean Hammond, Richard Carpenter, Alexandre Frutos, Gary Hart, Sebastien Carole. Subs from: Wayne Henderson, Kerry Mayo, Tommy Elphick, Adam Hinshelwood, Alexis Nicolas, Doug Loft, Joe Gatting, Chris McPhee, Mark McCammon, Jake Robinson.

Click HERE to see the full Brighton squad.

There could be changes from the Burnley side that lost to Preston. On that day we hoped Ade Akinbiyi could be back, but he’s now a Sheffield United player. Steve Cotterill has though added two players to his squad ahead of the game.

Michael Ricketts has joined us on loan from Leeds for the rest of the season and although he hasn’t trained with the team I expect him to come straight into the squad. Marc Pugh, back from Kidderminster, has also gone down to join the squad and could make the bench.

I think we will return to a 4-5-1 system and much of the debate will be who plays in those positions. Will Graham Branch keep his place? Will John Spicer return?

If there is just the one change, with Ricketts coming in, then we could line up: Brian Jensen, Frank Sinclair, Wayne Thomas, John McGreal, Jon Harley, Wade Elliott, James O’Connor, Micah Hyde, Garreth O’Connor, Graham Branch, Michael Ricketts. Subs from: Michael Duff, Duane Courtney, John Spicer, Danny Karbassiyoon, Gifton Noel-Williams, Marc Pugh.

A 1-0 win as Burnley moved up the table in what was our best run of the season. Just as had been the case the week before, and was to be the week after, the winning goal came from Robbie Blake.

Read Winning at Wet and wonderful Withdean for more on this game.

The teams were:

Brighton: Michael Kuipers, Paul Reid, Adam Hinshelwood, Guy Butters, Daniel Harding (Kerry Mayo 77), Richard Carpenter, Alexis Nicolas (Gary Hart 74), Charlie Oatway, Leon Knight (Nathan Jones 82), Steve Claridge, Darren Currie. Subs not used: Ben Roberts, Dean Hammond.

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Michael Duff, Gary Cahill, Frank Sinclair, Mo Camara, Lee Roche, James O’Connor, Tony Grant, Graham Branch, Ian Moore, Robbie Blake. Subs not used: Richard Duffy, Paul Scott, Joel Pilkington, Amadou Sanokho, Matt O’Neill.