The Championship’s top two teams go head to head this
Saturday lunch time as Middlesbrough take on Brighton at the Amex Stadium.
Boro boss Aitor Karanka said he is not surprised by Brighton’s
performances this season. The seagulls are the only unbeaten side in England’s
top four divisions.
Karanka expressed that his side are ready to cope with a
busy upcoming fixture list and that his rotation policy is working well.
He also confirmed that there is an ‘amazing relationship’
between the players who will be top of the table at Christmas with a win.
Team News
Karanka’s rotation policy could prove important as both
sides prepare for their third game in a week. David Nugent will serve the
second of his three game suspension, after being sent off against Birmingham
last weekend.
Brighton will be without defenders Liam Rosenior and Gaetan
Bong who have knee and thigh injuries respectively. The game will probably come
too early for Sam Baldock and Kazenga LuaLua, though the pair are expected to return
soon. Centre back Lewis Dunk is suspended after his red card against QPR on
Tuesday.
Facts and Stats
Brighton have won just two out of their last 15 meetings
with Boro, losing 10. Both of the Seagulls’ victories came at the Riverside in
2013.
Boro haven’t lost at Brighton since 1990. Since then the
sides have played seven times on the South coast, with Boro winning five and
drawing two.
Boro have gone 457 minutes without conceding a goal in the
Championship. (BBC
Sport).
Brighton have equalled West Ham's post-war second-tier
record from 1990-91 of 21 games unbeaten from the start of the season. (BBC Sport).
Key Players
One To Watch
 |
| Brighton's Dale Stephens (Picture from www.seagulls.co.uk) |
Dale Stephens
Stephens has played 20 of Brighton’s 21 league games this
season and has formed a formidable partnership with Israeli midfielder Beram
Kayal in the middle of the park. Out of the two, Stephens is the most offensive
player with 4 goals and 3 assists in the league this campaign. The pair will
probably come up against Grant Leadbitter and Adam Clayton, who have been key
to success in the past 12 months. The midfield battle will be a key one
and could determine the outcome of the game.
Boro’s Key
Daniel Ayala
 |
| Boro's Daniel Ayala (Picture from www.squawka.com)/ |
Boro haven’t conceded a goal in their last five league games
and Ayala has been a key component to their solid backline. He has formed a valuable
partnership with fellow centre half Ben Gibson in the heart of defence and Boro
have only lost two games since the start of last season when the pair have
played together. Ayala has improved immensely since joining the club in 2013
and now has the ability to make accurate interceptions and dribble out from the
back with confidence. The Spaniard will have to be on his game against a
Brighton side who have been scoring goals for fun in recent weeks.
Prediction
Brighton 1
Middlesbrough 1
Brighton have scored nine goals in their last four games and
have added firepower upfront since last season with the additions of Bobby
Zamora and James Wilson. Even so Boro have been incredibly tight at the back
under Aitor Karanka and haven’t conceded a goal in 457 minutes of football.
Games between two top teams in this division are often tight and on most occasions
the two sides end up cancelling each other out. For that reason I’m going for a
1-1 draw.
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