The latest weekend in the Premier League concludes with the Monday Night Football which this week comes from the Amex Stadium as Brighton and Hove Albion take on bitter rivals Crystal Palace in a game which could be important at the bottom end of the table.
Both teams have watched on this weekend as Fulham have closed the gap on them so there is a need for each of them to pick up the three points to pull away from the threat of immediate danger which is looming larger than they would like.
Where to watch
The match will be shown live in the Monday Night Football programme which is on the Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League channels. The programme begins at 7pm with the match kicking off at 8pm.
Brighton & Hove Albion
The Seagulls have been in decent form of late which has moved them away from the danger zone in the main although the form of Fulham has still kept them attached to it. Brighton are unbeaten in six matches and if they were to win this game then they will go seven points clear of the drop and up to 14th in the table and ease immediate relegation concerns. That gives them an added incentive to win this match beyond the fact that they have the chance to beat their bitter rivals.
One of the reasons for the improved form of Brighton has been their amazing improvement defensively. They have now conceded just two goals in seven matches, which includes battles with Manchester City, Liverpool, Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur. If they can ever find a way to convert a better percentage of the chances that they create, there is a side who could well move forward in the seasons to come.
Crystal Palace
If Brighton are in good form the same cannot be said of Crystal Palace. They have hit a big slump and while there is plenty of time to turn things around and ensure their Premier League status is secured, they will want that to happen pretty fast because as well as this game against Brighton their next one is against Fulham and two defeats in those could have significant implications on their future. Palace have lost four of their last six matches and in truth haven’t been competitive in any of them.
The two latest defeats were all too predictable because as much as they don’t want to be labelled a one man team, their form without Wilfried Zaha is vastly different to that when they have him available. He has missed their last two matches and two incredibly tame defeats have followed so that is something that will need to be addressed at some point. The other issue, with or without Zaha is this is a side who simply do not score enough goals.
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Team News
Brighton and Hove Albion will be without right-back Tariq Lamptey for this match but they could have Adam Webster back as long as he comes through a fitness test ahead of the game. Alireza Jahanbakhsh is expected to be fit.
Crystal Palace remain without their talisman Wilfried Zaha for this match. They may be able to welcome James McCarthy back from a groin injury, although he will be assessed ahead of the game before that is confirmed.
Betting
Brighton and Hove Albion are the favourites for this match and are shortening all the time with the realisation that there is no Zaha for Crystal Palace here. That is completely acceptable and understandable but we should remember that this Brighton side do not win many home matches and backing them at odds on does not feel like a profitable play long-term. I do think they will win this match though but I’m looking at getting some extra value involved for my own comfort and peace of mind.
That comes in the Brighton to win but there to be less than 3.5 goals in the match. Crystal Palace haven’t really looked like scoring without Zaha in the side and Brighton have shipped just two goals in seven matches. It is perfectly possible that Brighton are the only side who will score in this game and you have to go back three years for the last time they scored four goals in a match. Only twice this season have they scored three goals so if Brighton do win this as expected, there is a good chance there will not be four goals in the game.
Tips
Back Brighton to win and under 3.5 goals for a 3/10 stake at 2.25 with Betway
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