Brighton & Hove Albion vs Burnley FC, Premier League 2020-2021, Today Match Prediction

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Burnley FC Match Prediction & Analysis

These are two sides in desperate need of a positive result as we head into November and towards the ever-crucial run up to Christmas. 

Both teams are in dire form, with no win for either side in their past five matches and falling to defeats against Big Six sides last time out.

Brighton were beaten by slim margins, Gareth Bale’s first goal since returning to Tottenham enough to sink The Seagulls. Burnley were beaten more comprehensively, going down 3-0 to an in-form Chelsea side.

Brighton have looked the better of the two so far this season, scoring a respectable number of goals for a side near the bottom, but have struggled to convert good play into points.

Burnley, on the other hand, have been uncharacteristically terrible, showing none of their solidarity in defence from previous seasons, while finding it extremely tough to score at the other end.

This is must-win for both teams.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Brighton & Hove Albion Preview

Form Guide (all comps): LLDDL

Reasons to be cheerful:

     Tariq Lamptey likely to be fit after assumed injury last week

     Top scorer Maupay could also return

Reasons to be fearful:

     Early season form has disappeared

     Neat and tidy play has not transferred into points

As in several of their games this season, Brighton came desperately close to gaining something out of their match with Tottenham last weekend. 

They kept things tight for the most part and would have deserved a point. However, the same can also be said for their match against Manchester United, which they also left empty handed.

Although desperately small margins, these missed points add up and can mean the difference between survival and relegation at the end of the season. 

Fortunately, Burnley are one of the few teams even more out of form that they are, and they must see this as an opportunity to claim three points. 

Lamptey should be fit and Neal Maupay, their top scorer, could return after ‘attitude issues’ last weekend.

Star Man – Tariq Lamptey

Is going from strength to strength and scored a fine goal against Tottenham last weekend.

Burnley FC Preview

Form Guide (all comps): LLDLL

Reasons to be cheerful

     Ben Mee and Phil Bardsley are fit again and could play a role

     Chris Wood has three goals in this fixture

Reasons to be fearful 

     Form is terrible compared to previous seasons

     Only scored three this season, and one in last five matches

Burnley’s awful start to the season has not been helped by the amount of injuries which they have had to put up with.

Slowly but surely key players have been returning to the fold – Tarkowski has returned to action recently and key defenders Ben Mee and Phil Bardsley are not far behind. They could play some part this weekend.

These returnees should bring improvements, but they will have to be rapid in order to help Burnley rise up the table, and ultimately save Sean Dyche from the sack.

Unfortunately, going forward is as much of a problem for them. With only three goals this season, and only one in their past five matches, Burnley are struggling to cause teams problems going forward. 

Star Man – Chris Wood

Has three goals in this fixture in the past – can he kickstart Burnley’s season here?