Brighton & Hove Albion meet Fulham in a crunch clash in the race for European qualification.
Victory will lift Brighton up to sixth in the table, whilst Fulham can leapfrog the Seagulls and go sixth themselves with a win.
Team News
Tariq Lamptey is suspended for Brighton following his red card in their FA Cup comeback win at Newcastle last weekend.
Matt O’Riley is a doubt due to illness but Jason Steele (shoulder), Lewis Dunk (rib), Joel Veltman (foot), Ferdi Kadioglu (toe), Igor Julio and James Milner (both hamstring) remain sidelined.
Fulham will be without midfielder, Sasa Lukic as he serves a two-match ban following his tenth booking of the season.
Adama Traore (ankle) is a doubt but Harry Wilson (metatarsal), Kenny Tete (shin) and Reiss Nelson (hamstring) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Brighton host Fulham at AMEX Stadium on Saturday 8 March at 3pm GMT, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Brighton have failed to win any of their last nine league meetings against Fulham (D4, L5).
- Fulham have avoided defeat in their four Premier League visits to Brighton (W1, D3).
- Brighton have failed to score in two of their four previous home games against Fulham in the Premier League.
- Kaoru Mitoma has scored in two of his last three league appearances for Brighton.
- Five of Fulham’s last six league goals on the road were scored after half-time.
Prediction
Despite falling behind to Alexander Isak’s penalty for Newcastle, Brighton delivered a composed performance in a see-saw contest with two clinically decisive goals but this is a bigger test for the Seagulls, as a win will put them firmly right into the top-four mix if Forest and Man City draw in their encounter at lunchtime.
Fulham though will harbour similar ambitions in terms of thrusting themselves right into the top-four hunt and are too in good form, although they did need penalties to edge past Manchester United following a series of wasted chances so a more polished end product will be needed here.
I however do feel that this could be a super-close competitive battle until the final whistle and it wouldn’t be surprising if both teams take a point, which could well be season-defining come end of season.
Prediction: Brighton 1-1 Fulham
Result: Brighton 2-1 Fulham