Brighton & Hove Albion will be looking to notch a fourth win in five games when they host Burnley in the Premier League. The Clarets were knocked back 1-0 by Wolverhampton Wanderers, while the Seagulls overcame a 2-1 deficit to defeat Brentford in midweek.
Preview (Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Burnley)
On Wednesday night, Jack Hinshelwood, an 18-year-old local boy, scored his first goal in senior football for Brighton. He capped the team’s second-half comeback against Brentford. The players and staff at Brighton could not contain their happiness for him. Bryan Mbeumo gave Brentford the lead with a penalty kick in the first half. However, Pascal Gross’s exquisite strike leveled the score a few moments later. The German subsequently set up Hinshelwood for the game-winning goal.
Simon Adingra in particular was left to lament a couple of wasted opportunities as Brighton’s attempts to extend their advantage failed, but De Zerbi’s team earned three points after playing the ideal response to their heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Chelsea. Brighton enters the 16th round of matches lying eighth in the Premier League league. They are within striking distance of Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, and Manchester United. The latter two lost on Thursday. Brighton is still riding high on the heels of their fellow continental contenders.
De Zerbi’s team hosts Burnley on Wednesday after a 12-yard opening drive by Mbeumo. The team has remarkably scored and conceded in each of their previous 19 Premier League games. 11 of them have come at the Amex. However, none of their last six home games in the top division have resulted in a loss. In that span, they have scored just twice while giving up twelve goals on the other side of the ball.
Team News
Lewis Dunk and Mahmoud Dahoud, who have both completed their suspensions, will rejoin De Zerbi’s squad this weekend. Hinshelwood’s spot may be in jeopardy due to Dunk’s return, even though the 18-year-old scored a dream goal midweek. If Adam Webster’s knock clears up in time for Saturday, De Zerbi might get a triple boost; however, Danny Welbeck, Solly March, Ansu Fati, Julio Enciso, Tariq Lamptey, Pervis Estupinan, and Ansu Fati are still under the supervision of the medical staff.
Joel Veltman and Evan Ferguson could be added back into the starting lineup this weekend by De Zerbi, who frequently rearranges his lineup due to the demanding schedule. Jacob Moder made just his second Premier League game since bouncing back from a serious knee injury against Brentford. Jordan Beyer, who was sent off for misbehaving, is also a defender for Burnley. He should be a straight replacement for Hjalmar Ekdal in the defense, but the Clarets lost Luca Koleosho to injury in the first half of their matchup with Wolves on Tuesday.
Though the exact nature of the 19-year-old Italy youth international’s ailment is yet unknown, Johann Berg Gudmundsson should be ready to replace Koleosho in the starting lineup this coming weekend. While Josh Cullen (knock) and Jack Cork (calf) are also in the treatment room, Lyle Foster is out indefinitely and continues to receive therapy for mental health issues. However, it is possible that the latter may not return for the game against the Seagulls.
Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 Burnley
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