Brighton & Hove Albion welcome Watford to the Amex Stadium in a crucial relegation clash at the foot of the Premier League table.
A home win will see Brighton stay in 15th position but move five points clear of the relegation zone, whilst Watford can climb out of the bottom three if they take victory.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesDan Burn could make an early return from a shoulder injury for Brighton if he passes a late fitness test.
Shane Duffy (leg) is also expected to be in contention but Jose Izquierdo (knee) remains ruled out.
Watford will have Tom Cleverley back in contention after a few months out with a heel injury.
Craig Dawson (knock), Nathaniel Chalobah (back), Kiko Femenia (hamstring) and Ismaila Sarr (thigh) are also expected to be available, whilst Daryl Janmaat remains out with a knee injury.
Form
Brighton enter this match without a win in their last five league games (D3, L2), although the Seagulls have taken six points from their last five home outings (W1, D3, L1).
Watford are winless in their last two games with five goals conceded, but have taken four points from their last three away league trips (W1, D1, L1).
Stat Attack
- Brighton have avoided defeat in four of five previous Premier League (PL) clashes against Watford (W2, D2, L1).
- Watford have lost just one of their last seven trips to Brighton in all competitions (W3, D3, L1).
- None of the five previous PL meetings have seen both teams score in the same match.
- Brighton haven’t done the league double over Watford since the 1965-66 season, keeping clean sheets on both occasions.
- There is yet to be a penalty awarded to either team in this PL fixture after five previous meetings.
Prediction
I am expecting an entertaining clash because Brighton are a hard-working team who will rattle opposition defences right until the end, as demonstrated in their comeback draw at West Ham last week which is Watford’s mental vulnerability in not seeing games out.
That element could very well feed into goal difference which could become crucial come May, because there isn’t much of a goal difference between these teams plus Aston Villa, Bournemouth and West Ham which is surely a worry for both managers.
I therefore can see both teams going for it but if Watford can tighten up their defence at end of both halves, they should be able to snatch a point.
Prediction: Brighton 1-1 Watford
Result: Brighton 1-1 Watford