Two of Brighton’s February fixtures picked for live coverage
Two of Brighton and Hove Albion’s Premier League fixtures in February have been picked for live television coverage with the prospect of a third game also having to be moved.
There must have been some serious acid taken at the BT Sport Christmas Party for the broadcaster to decide that Brighton v Burnley is what the nation wants to see live on a Saturday evening with the Clarets visit to the Amex now taking place at 5.30pm on February 9th.
It’s a strange choice to say the least. You’d struggle to find a Brighton fan excited about watching their side take on Burnley, let alone a neutral and it isn’t exactly a fixture known for it’s entertainment value with five of the last six meetings between the Seagulls and the Clarets ending in draws and only three of the last 16 featuring more than two goals.
Two weeks after the people of Britain get that treat beamed into their living rooms and Brighton’s trip to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea will be shown on Sky Sports depending on the Blue’s involvement in the Carabao Cup Final.
Should Chelsea book a Wembley spot for Sunday 24th February, then the Albion will be without a fixture. If Maurizio Sarri’s side were to be knocked out by either Plucky Little Bournemouth in the quarter finals or somebody else in the semis, then we’re off to West London for a midday kick off.
That is spectacularly shit news for anybody wanting to travel by train. Not only does a lunchtime start make it an absolute pain to get to as it is, but the game also falls at the end of the week-long closure of the Brighton Main Line between Three Bridges and Brighton, meaning rail replacement buses will be in operation.
Last season’s 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day was a travel nightmare with no public transport and the ridiculous levels of traffic trying to escape the area afterwards meaning that some Albion fans didn’t get back to Sussex until 10pm, a whole five hours after the game had finished.
Should the Albion’s trip to Chelsea take place on the Sunday, then our away game at Leicester City, currently set for Tuesday 26th February, would be pushed back by 24 hours to Wednesday 27th to give the Albion 72 hours rest.
The trip to the King Power Stadium will also be moved to the Wednesday should Leicester reach the Carbao Cup Final, ensuring they have three days between fixtures. They host Manchester City in the last eight.
If Chelsea reach the final but Leicester don’t, then the game with the Foxes will remain in it’s Tuesday slot which is great news for those of us looking to do the Leicester Races-Football double header.
The Albion’s other Premier League game in February against Watford on the 2nd of the month remains unchanged. There is currently no fixture scheduled for the 16th due to it being FA Cup Fifth Round day.
Chris Hughton’s side have been drawn against Plucky Little Bournemouth in the third round of the competition with that tie to take place at the start of January.
