please log in to view this image Brighton & Hove Albion vs Leeds United please log in to view this image Tuesday February 11th, 2014 - K.O 19:45 - Falmer Stadium please log in to view this image What's that? Football talk? Surely there's no place for that around here! It's another Tuesday night game, and one which see's a long long trip down to the South Coast for Leeds to visit Brighton. Both sides enjoyed wins at the weekend, with Leeds seeing off bottom of the league Yeovil Town in awful conditions, while the Seagulls beat Doncaster at home to stay there or there abouts in the chasing pack for the playoffs. Only 1 point separates the two sides in the league heading into this one and Leeds will be hoping to do the double this season, after a 2-1 win all of the way back in August. What Do The Stats Say? Leeds are in marginally better form than Brighton, and it is marginal. However, the Whites do hold the upper hand if you look at the history of the fixture with 16 wins to 10. Dig a little deeper into this seasons' stats and you will see that Brighton are undefeated in their last 5 at home, but Leeds haven't lost in 5 on the road either. It's certainly set up to be an interesting one and Leeds will be wanting to build on the fact that they've scored at least 2 in their last 4 visits to the Falmer stadium. You have to go all of the way back to 2007/08 to find a goalless draw between these two, so there should be goals on display. Form Guide (Last 5 League Games) [TABLE="width: 500, align: center"] [TR] [TD]Team[/TD] [TD]Form[/TD] [TD="align: center"]F[/TD] [TD="align: center"]A[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Pts[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Brighton[/TD] [TD]W - L - D - L - W[/TD] [TD="align: center"]2[/TD] [TD="align: center"]3[/TD] [TD="align: center"]7[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Leeds[/TD] [TD]L - L - X - W - W[/TD] [TD="align: center"]8[/TD] [TD="align: center"]10[/TD] [TD="align: center"]7[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Head to Head (Previous League Games) [TABLE="width: 500, align: center"] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Team[/TD] [TD="align: center"]P[/TD] [TD="align: center"]W[/TD] [TD="align: center"]D[/TD] [TD="align: center"]L[/TD] [TD="align: center"]F[/TD] [TD="align: center"]A[/TD] [TD="align: center"]GD[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Pts[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Leeds[/TD] [TD="align: center"]37[/TD] [TD="align: center"]16[/TD] [TD="align: center"]11[/TD] [TD="align: center"]10[/TD] [TD="align: center"]55[/TD] [TD="align: center"]44[/TD] [TD="align: center"]11[/TD] [TD="align: center"]59[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Brighton[/TD] [TD="align: center"]37[/TD] [TD="align: center"]10[/TD] [TD="align: center"]11[/TD] [TD="align: center"]16[/TD] [TD="align: center"]44[/TD] [TD="align: center"]55[/TD] [TD="align: center"]-11[/TD] [TD="align: center"]41[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Early Betting Odds (Correct on 10/02/14) [TABLE="width: 500, align: center"] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Brighton Win[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Draw[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Leeds Win[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]10/11[/TD] [TD="align: center"]13/5[/TD] [TD="align: center"]7/2[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Brighton & Hove Albion Top Scorers (League) Leonardo Ulloa...7 Andrew Crofts...5 Ashley Barnes...5 Andrew Crofts is likely to miss the rest of the season for Brighton, so Oscar Garcia is without him, but there is better news with several players set to make their returns. Lua Lua could return to the starting XI along with Forster-Caskey, while Obika and Mackail-Smith could return to the bench. The goals have been spread around the Brighton team a little, but Ulloa's contribution will likely cause some problems to the Leeds defence. Leeds United Top Scorers (League) Ross McCormack...22 Matt Smith...7 Rodolph Austin...2 Once again despite the off the field issues, Leeds came up with the goods. McDermott has Matt Smith available after he made an appearance from the bench at the weekend, and he will have to find a place for him that still accommodates Ross McCormack in a goal threatening position. Other than that McDermott has the choice of his players, with the exception of Varney and Green who both left the club on loan this week. The Damned Prediction: 1-2 Win I thought we might have gotten a clean sheet against Yeovil at the weekend, but that wasn't to be, and the sceptic in me says if we can't keep a clean sheet against the bottom of the league team then why should we against Brighton? I do think we'll win though, and I will go for a goal from Rosco as well just to keep his tally going. The weather could have another impact on this game just as it did on Saturday which always makes things a bit more unpredictable though. please log in to view this image I thought for a while about going 4-2-3-1 and having Ross in the support role behind Smith but I fear that would nullify his impact and while he is in this sort of form it's important to keep playing to his strengths. Therefore an attacking 4-4-2, at the expense of Mowatt. I think Murphy and Austin doing a holding / distribution job in the centre of the park should be enough to allow Stewart and Kebe to kick on. Brown is a possibility instead of one of them though. Back 5 remains as it has been for a while now, and we still ask: "Where is Zaliukas?!" Over to the not606 faithful, let's have some score and team predictions
It will be interesting having Matt Smith back. Will McDermott change a winning side to accomodate Smithy
Yeah that's the thing to watch from our perspective this time out. I think we can accommodate him, but have to be careful to not upset the balance
You don't know if we just had a terrible first half with the starting formation or if it was all down to the weather. I can't see us winning this one but you feel it is a game that the manager can't afford to lose with his forthcoming meeting with Cellino. If Ross doesn't score we don't win, that's how I see it and against Brighton away we are going to need at least two goals. I fear a defeat, hoping for a draw, I know we have won two on the bounce but that was after no wins in 8 so I am under no illusion that we haven't a promotion winning team just yet.
ottimo partita giorno filo Durham I'm feeling confident and I think we'll win tomorrow. Will be interesting if he brings Smith back in to the line up but as we've be winning with out him, I say leave him on the bench for the game.
Nice touch WW The main reason I decided to put Smith back in was exactly because of what Ristac said. At the minute if Ross doesn't score, we don't score. Otherwise I agree that we shouldn't really mess too much with a formation that is (at least kind of) working
Going to this and looking forward to it. Looks like we'll be in that mustardy brown kit and we always seem to lose in that. In fact the only game I remember us winning wearing that monstrosity was Bolton away, so there's still hope. Seems to be a siege mentality at Leeds similar to the minus 15 season building up, gathering momentum and getting a run going, so could get a scrappy win by the odd goal in three.
A hard game. I think Smith will start, as much to offer something different. Whilst I'm hoping for a 2-1 win, I suspect it'll be a 2-2 draw. Decent thread by the way.
Not for the first time, a season defining game. Probably our last chance to push for playoffs. Think we might sneak a win
I noticed Hunt on the bench for the last game, I wouldn't mind giving him one final chance if I am honest, even if it is to confirm he won't ever get a game next season with us.
Unless something radical has changed he is totally immobile. Saw him play in the friendly at harrogate last month and for twenty minutes against Blackpool at TA only last week and was nowhere near ready to play, especially in what could be a season ending game. Smith or Dom for me.
Shame I would have liked one more look at him before Brian or whichever manager we might have decides on what we need for next season. What was his injury does anyone know?
We'll see what happens, but he scored in a BCD game the other day. Suggests his fitness levels are rising. So who knows?
Pugh in for Stewart, something to do with keeping him available due to loan agreement. Interesting if its a like for like swap. Tonge makes the bench
