Brighton & Hove Albion vs Watford
Date: 2/2/2018
K/O: 15:00
Venue: The Amex
TV: Sky Sports Premier League
Referee: Simon Hooper
After a humiliating loss to Fulham during the week, Brighton host Watford who will be looking to recover their form after a narrow defeat to Tottenham.
Brighton’s perplexing and meandering form in recent weeks has seen the twelve point cushion that distanced them from relegation dwindle to only seven. Indeed, Hughton’s team have been enigmatic, and the Brighton that plays at the Amex seems twice the team that plays away from home. The Seagulls should be terrified by their performance at Craven Cottage as it saw them concede four second-half goals.
Brighton have a mere five points from their last nine matches; a fairly frightening statistic. Even more frightening, however, is the manner in which the Seagulls have given up these points. Toothless performances against the likes of West Ham, Liverpool, and Manchester United displayed everything that is currently wrong with the squad; unfortunately, their most recent loss suggests little has improved.
Javi Gracia will be looking to inflict further pain on Hughton as his Hornets look to take another three points from the same Brighton they beat in August. With Watford’s form, such a feat seems totally achievable if not inevitable. Undoubtedly, the Spaniard has his team at their very best, and their six-game unbeaten streak could only be ended by those two late goals at Wembley.
This will be Gracia’s 39th match as Watford’s manager, a miracle by the club’s standards. The other miracle, of course, is how far he’s carried Watford in such a short amount of time. In fact, it’s hard to tell that Richarlison, “their best player”, left as the Hornets have faired extremely well without the Brazilian frontman. Gracia is leaving his mark on this team, and the club’s decision to let him continue his work has paid dividends.
Brighton must get their house in order before the visitors arrive, or else they will be humiliated twice in the space of a week. At such a crucial time in the season Brighton’s progress may become nothing more than “one step forward, two steps back” if the Seagulls are unable to hold back the Hornets. Gracia will of course be wary of Brighton’s strange ability to draw strength from the Amex, but make no mistake, his team will be looking to test a back line that is currently lacking confidence. Watford will be looking to climb the table while Brighton will be hoping they do not fall any further than they already have.
Team News
Brighton
Izquierdo remains out of the squad through injury, but Bernardo may have recovered well enough to make an appearance at the Amex. As for Alireza Jahanbakhsh, he will be returning from the Asia Cup Games and could make a cameo, although it is unlikely he will start considering the form of Pascal Groß.
Brighton have conceded in their last 14 games. Shane Duffy, Mat Ryan, and Lewis Dunk must do more for Brighton’s back line. Their performances as of late have been entirely unconvincing and one must wonder if Button should have been left in goal despite Ryan’s return. Likewise, although Leon Balogun was not perfect either Dunk or Duffy might benefit from sitting out a match or two.
The trio that Hughton has trusted for so long should not be immune to rotation, and their places in the squad should determined by their performances. Those performances were disappointing versus Fulham, and the English manager should consider making some changes to his lineup if only to remind players that if they want to play they must play well.
Watford
Sebastian Prodl, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Kiko Femenia all remain injured, and will not be travelling with the squad. Of that trio, Doucoure will be the most missed as the Frenchman’s performances have been sublime for the majority of the season.
Gerard Deulofeu will present a problem for Brighton and the former Barcelona man’s dynamism in attack will likely influence how this match plays out. Although the Spaniard does not always contribute with a goal or assist his movements at the front of the team dictate much of what Watford does or doesn’t do in attack. He is Watford’s Eden Hazard, if you will. Gracia will have surely noticed Brighton looking unconvincing in recent matches, and I suspect he will have instructed his Spanish winger accordingly.
Predicted Starting XIs
Brighton: (4-3-3): Button; Montoya, Duffy, Dunk, Bong; Groß, Stephens, Propper; Solly March, Murray, Locadia
Watford: (4-2-2-2): Foster; Holebas, Kabasele, Cathcart, Janmaat; Capoue, Quina; Pereyra, Hughes; Deulofeu, Deeney
Prediction: Watford 2 Brighton 2
Watford will be difficult to contain, and Brighton are likely to be stretched by Watford’s effectiveness from set pieces. Still, the Seagull’s resolve and strength at home is likely to show once more, and I feel Brighton’s attack will also test Watford throughout the match.
Although Watford is the more likely victor of the two, I do feel Brighton will do enough to right the wrongs from their last outing and salvage a point in what looks to be a very close match.
