Preston North End face a tough test as they welcome Brighton & Hove Albion of Premier League to Deepdale in a tough Third Round tie of 2020-21 Carabao Cup.
These teams have met as recently as 2016-17 season in the Championship of which Brighton won promotion in that campaign, so will know one another fairly well as the Lilywhites remained a tier below the Seagulls since then.
Whoever wins this tie will then play host to Manchester United next week in the Fourth Round.
Team News
Jayden Stockley is available for Preston after missing Saturday’s draw at Norwich for personal reasons.
Daniel Johnson also missed the match at Carrow Road after suffering a minor groin injury which has ruled him out of this match too, although Ben Davies (hamstring) and Alan Browne (calf) are doubts.
Brighton manager, Graham Potter is planning to rotate his squad with Tariq Lampety being rested due to suffering various knocks in Sunday’s league victory at Newcastle.
Aaron Connolly and Dale Stephens are also set to miss out with tight muscles whilst Yves Bissouma is suspended, as Florian Andone, Jose Izquierdo (both knee) and Christian Walton (ankle) remain sidelined.
Stat Attack
- This is Preston’s first-ever League Cup meeting against Brighton, although the Lilywhites have lost just one previous meeting in all domestic cup competitions (W2, D2, L1).
- Preston have never lost to Brighton in 16 home meetings at Deepdale (W10, D6), whilst keeping clean sheets in seven of their last eight home clashes.
- Brighton have won five of their last six League Cup ties against lower league opposition (W5, L1).
Prediction
Preston found themselves having to dig deep against Derby last week in order to reach this stage but will have to be at their best here against a Brighton team, who seem to have found a new lease of life in their last two matches in terms of energy and attack.
I however am expecting this to be a closely fought contest because both teams possess the attacking quality needed to attack each other yet their defence can both be vulnerable when having off days, so penalties shouldn’t be ruled out but Brighton currently look difficult to beat and might well end their Deepdale hoodoo here.
Prediction: Preston North End 1-2 Brighton
Result: Preston North End 0-2 Brighton
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