Five key Premier League fixtures for rest of Seagulls season
Brighton saw a winter winless run in Premier League action extend to eight games with their first match of 2021. The FA Cup hasn’t provided much respite for Graham Potter’s Seagulls either as they needed extra time and penalties to beat League Two high-fliers Newport County.
A perpetual struggle to keep their heads above water is the tale of their time in the Premier League. Staying up, as Brighton have done in each of the last three seasons, remains in their own hands.
In order to extend their stay to a fifth consecutive top flight campaign, there are some key fixtures and must-win games for the Seagulls. Their run-in at the end of the season is not kind, with matches against Manchester City and Arsenal.
Brighton have to try and secure safety before then if possible and, on the exchanges, their Premier League odds suggest they may be capable of doing that. In order to justify that market faith, these are the games that Albion need to pick up maximum points from.
“The Amex” (CC BY 2.0) by DarrenPerrin
Fulham (H)
Relegation rivals Fulham have games in hand on the Seagulls, so the best way to deepen the mire that the Craven Cottage club find themselves in is to defeat them. Brighton host the West London outfit, who won last season’s Championship play-offs, on 26 January.
On paper at least, Fulham should hold no fears for Albion. In practice, they haven’t won any of the last three meetings. Beloved Brighton striker Glenn Murray is the only player to have scored against this opposition in the Premier League, but he is on loan with Watford, so someone else will have to step up.
Burnley (A)
Another team in and around the Seagulls with games in hand is Burnley. Again, Potter will know that the club’s recent record against the Clarets is poor with just one win in seven Premier League meetings.
On the plus side, that 2-1 victory came up at Turf Moor last July. Burnley’s home ground may not be the fortress it once was, so Brighton should be looking for a result on 6 February.
West Brom (A)
After 17 Premier League matches, the Baggies sat six points behind the Seagulls in the table. The 27 February encounter at The Hawthorns should be a real scrap, not least because the hosts have changed coach mid-season.
West Brom have turned to Big Sam Allardyce to try and get them out of the relegation battle. Brighton have only lost one of their last five in all competitions against this opposition and drew the reverse fixture.
Newcastle (H)
It is a long way from Tyneside to the Amex Stadium. Believe it or not, Brighton are unbeaten against Newcastle United in the Premier League with three wins and four draws.
After going all the way up to the Northeast and winning there 3-0 in September, Potter will be targeting a league double over Steve Bruce’s Magpies. The Seagulls and Newcastle meet on the south coast on 20 March.
Sheffield United (A)
The rock bottom Blades have been Premier League whipping boys this season. Albion fans won’t be pleased to hear that their last win over Sheffield United came in 2005, though.
By the time Brighton travel to Bramall Lane on 24 April, Chris Wilder’s team will probably have been relegated barring some miracle. This is one game at the tail end of the season marked down as must-win for the Seagulls.
