Baleba back from suspension: Fulham v Brighton team news
Fabian Hurzeler is looking forward to welcoming Carlos Baleba back from suspension in the main team news ahead of Brighton making the trip to Fulham.
Baleba missed the disappointing 1-1 draw with Southampton on Friday night after collecting a controversial red card at Plucky Little Bournemouth the previous weekend.
Whilst there were no complaints about the first booking handed out to Baleba by Stuart Attwell, the second was barely even a foul – let alone worthy of a yellow card.
Hurzeler said in the immediate aftermath that it should be possible to overturn such decisions. Only straight reds can currently be reviewed, meaning anyone sent off for two booking is left up a famous brown creek without a paddle.
And The Youngest Permanent Manager in Premier League History had plenty of support in his assessment that Baleba should never have been dismissed.
Former Premier League referee Jeff Winter criticised the decision after the Match of the Day panel did likewise.
The presence of Baleba could have made a huge difference against Saints, particularly in the second half.
Southampton were able to play through the Albion far too easily. It would not have been so easy for the visitors with a midfield disruptor like Baleba in there.
Hurzeler touched on the subject in his pre-Cottagers press conference, saying Baleba’s physicality could “change the dynamic” at Craven Cottage.
We can probably therefore assume that Baleba will be straight back into the Brighton XI against Fulham when the team news is announced.
Away from Baleba, Joel Veltman was to be assessed after training on Wednesday. The suave and sophisticated Dutchman unexpectedly missed the Southampton game.
Tariq Lamptey took over at right back and managed to get through the best part of 70 minutes unscathed. It was Lamptey’s first Premier League start under Hurzeler, who praised the Starman for his performance in respect of a lack of game time this season.
Most importantly, Hurzeler confirmed Lamptey was fit and available for the visit to Craven Cottage. No mean feat for a bloke who tends to follow up a good game with an injury.
Both Jack Hinshelwood and Ferdi Kadioglu will definitely be absent at Fulham. Pervis Estupinan is therefore guaranteed to start at left back with no other option available – unless Hurzeler switches formation.
He changed to a back three in the closing stages against Southampton. Lamptey was replaced by Lewis Dunk, who slotted between Jan Paul van Hecke and Igor.
But when asked whether the sort of 3-4-3 shape he used at St Pauli was now an option for Brighton, Hurzeler said there was too much attacking talent in this Brighton squad to start three centre backs.
He also seemed to indicate after the Saints game that Dunk would return to the starting XI at Fulham, presumably in place of Igor Julio.
That would be a big call. Not only has Igor barely put a foot wrong since coming into the team, but Dunk does not have a particularly good recent record at Craven Cottage.
He was part of an Albion defence which shipped three times there last season and scored a magnificent own goal the previous campaign.
Nobody who was in West London on that snowy January night in 2019 will forget the way Dunk and Shane Duffy were bullied by Aleksandar Mitrovic as Brighton blew a 2-0 lead to lose 4-2 either.
But try not to let the ghosts of Fulham past put you off looking forward to Thursday night at Craven Cottage.
