PREVIEW: Southampton vs Brighton & Hove Albion – 31/01/18

Southampton vs Brighton & Hove Albion

Date: 31/01/18

K.O: 19.45pm

Venue: St Mary’s

Southampton host Brighton on Tuesday night at St Mary’s, with club-record signing Guido Carrillo due to make his full Premier League debut for the Saints.

Ryan Bertrand is out with a hamstring injury and faces a late fitness test, as Southampton look to seize their slump which has seen them win two of their last 13 Premier League games, whilst slipping to 19th place in the league.

Brighton look set to include Argentine striker Leanardo Ulloa, who has rejoined the club on loan, in their match-day squad, though record signing Jurgen Locadia remains sidelined with a hamstring injury and is unlikely to feature. Jiri Skalak is also doubtful after suffering an ankle problem in the FA Cup.

This south-coast clash sees two sides meet who are inarguably in danger of relegation, and Chris Hughton and Mauricio Pellegrino will both see this as a vital clash to pick up points against a team who they are fighting against at the bottom of the pack.

Southampton have scored the second most goals (24) out of bottom seven teams in the Premier League, whilst Brighton have conceded the second least (33) from that same seven team cohort. A draw looks the likely result, though three invaluable points are on offer at St Mary’s on Tuesday night for both sides.

Predicted starting XI’s:

Southampton: McCarthy; Cedric, Hoedt, Yoshida, Bertrand, Romeu, Hojbjerg, Ward-Prowse, Davis, Tadic, Long.

Brighton & Hove Albion: Ryan; Bruno, Dunk, Duffy, Bong; Knockaert, Stephens, Propper, March, Gross, Murray.

Prediction: Southampton 0 Brighton 1

Written by Tom Newman.