Fulham VS Brighton & Hove Albion

Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion renew hostilities in an exciting Premier League midweek fixture at Craven Cottage.

Fulham captain Tom Cairney scored off the bench to hand his team a valuable point in a 1-1 draw at Tottenham last weekend before picking up a late red card. His absence shouldn’t faze Marco Silva’s team too much, considering they’ve not lost any of their three Premier League matches without the talismanic midfielder this season (W2, D1). Brighton’s visit promises the extension of that run, considering the Cottagers are unbeaten in their last eight H2Hs (W4, D4), including a thumping 3-0 victory in this corresponding fixture in 2023/24. That triumph consolidated Fulham’s near-perfect top-flight record against Brighton at home (W3, D1). No matter the outcome, late drama could be on the cards, with Fulham’s last two home league outings featuring two goals beyond the 85th minute each.

In the meantime, VAR’s controversial decision spared Brighton’s blushes in a disappointing 1-1 home draw against rock-bottom Southampton last weekend, ending their two-game winning league streak. Despite entering this round in fourth, albeit level on points with fifth-placed Manchester City, consistency has been an issue for the Seagulls, especially on the road, where their last four Premier League games have fluctuated between victories (2) and defeats (2). High scoring has been a common theme, as three of those four matches produced over 2.5 goals, with both teams on the scoresheet! Defensive frailties have plagued Fabian Hurzeler’s side, whose last clean sheet in the Premier League dates back to mid-October against Newcastle United.