Brighton & Hove Albion host Swansea City at the Amex Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday, and we’ve picked out five things to bear in mind ahead of the contest.
SEAGULLS IN GOOD FORM
Chris Hughton’s men come into the game in good form – unbeaten in their last five matches across league and cup competition.
The run began with a 1-0 win away to Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium, before the Seagulls were pegged back to draw 1-1 with Southampton at St Mary’s in the Premier League four days later.
Last time out at the Amex, Albion recorded a 3-1 victory over West Ham United, before they were pegged back in their next league encounter on the road once more when they drew 1-1 with Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium.
Last Saturday, goals from Jurgen Locadia, Leonardo Ulloa and Connor Goldson gave the side a 3-1 win over Coventry City in the last 16 of the Emirates FA Cup at the Amex Stadium.
RESURGENT SWANS
Since Carlos Carvahal took charge at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea City have seen a remarkable turnaround in results.
The side have now picked up as many points in the seven games since the former Sheffield Wednesday man stepped into the dugout than they did in their previous 20 in the top flight, giving them a real chance at Premier League survival – it’s a stark contrast to the bleak outlook the Welsh outfit had just after Christmas.
HOME COMFORTS
Brighton & Hove Albion’s form at the Amex Stadium this season has been strong – their only defeats so far on home soil have come against Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea respectively. Five wins and six draws from their other 11 home games in the Premier Leagu,e proves that Hughton’s men boast an impressive record on their own turf.
MAWSON’S RETURN
The key central defender missed last weekend’s Emirates FA Cup tie away to Sheffield Wednesday having picked up an injury in the warm-up – but on Thursday when Carvahal met the media he confirmed that he expected the Englishman to return to the centre of the Swans rear-guard this weekend.
CHANGES FOR BOTH?
Whilst a number of Premier League sides had a break from action last weekend coinciding with the Emirates FA Cup and a gap in the fixture schedule, both the Seagulls and the Swans were in the last 16 of the competition.
That meant both managers made changes for the respective cup ties – but fans should expect to see switches made once more for the return to top flight action.