Albion take on Brentford on Friday as they look to move back into the top four in the Premier League.
Albion are seventh with 14 points and know a victory would put them above Chelsea and into fourth spot, while the Bees could move to within a point of us should they secure all three points.
Roberto De Zerbi is yet to taste victory as our new head coach, having taken a point at Anfield before suffering a home defeat to Spurs last time out.
MA+ members & STH only - Log-in required
Log-in required
Albion have generally enjoyed their away days so far this season, winning twice and drawing once in our four matches on the road, but they face a tough test against a Brentford side who have taken seven of their ten Premier League points at home.
Thomas Frank’s side tend to be involved in high scoring affairs, with their four home games seeing 16 goals with Brentford netting ten, and conceding six.
For supporters driving to the game, car parking spaces are available here.
Team news
Roberto De Zerbi said in his press conference on Thursday afternoon, "There are no injuries, all players are good and are ready to play. We have two games in four days, but for the moment I am only thinking about Brentford. From Saturday we will think about Nottingham Forest."
Previous meetings
MA+ members & STH only - Log-in required
Log-in required
Albion enjoyed back-to-back wins over Brentford last season, winning thanks to a last-minute winner from Leo Trossard at the Brentford Community Stadium, before goals from Neal Maupay and Trossard secured a 2-0 victory on Boxing Day.
Brentford player to watch
Brentford’s Ivan Toney has scored all seven of his Premier League penalties taken, netting twice from the spot so far this season. Only Dimitar Berbatov (9/9) and Yaya Touré (11/11) have better 100% records from the spot in the competition than Toney. If selected, the former Newcastle striker makes his 100th appearance for the Bees.
Stats
Brentford have won just one of their last six home league games against Brighton (D3 L2), beating them 3-2 in September 2014.
Brighton won both Premier League meetings with Brentford last season – only against West Ham have they ever won three in a row in the competition (between October 2017 and October 2018).
Brentford are unbeaten in their last nine league games played on a Friday, winning seven and drawing twice. The Bees have won each of their last five such games, including both in the Premier League last season (vs Arsenal and Watford).
After an unbeaten run of seven Premier League games in London (W4 D3), Brighton lost 2-1 against Fulham in their last visit to the capital. They last lost consecutive such games in April 2019.
Brentford suffered their biggest ever Premier League defeat last time out against Newcastle (1-5) – they’ve not lost consecutive league matches since February, though one of those was also against the Magpies.
Brighton have lost just two of their last 13 Premier League games (W7 D4), and haven’t lost consecutively in the competition since a run of six in February/March last season. Both of the Seagulls’ defeats this season have come against London clubs (1-2 vs Fulham, 0-1 vs Spurs).
Brentford have conceded a league-high six headed goals in the Premier League this season; however, Brighton are one of six sides yet to score a header in the competition this term.
Brentford’s nine Premier League games this season have seen a total of 33 goals (F16 A17), the joint-third highest in the division, and an average of 3.7 per game. Last season, the Bees’ games produced the fifth-lowest goals total (104), an average of 2.7 per game (F48 A56).
No player has had more shots (18) or more shots on target (8) without scoring in the Premier League so far this season than Brighton’s Solly March. Indeed, he’s not scored with any of his last 53 attempts in the competition, since netting against Aston Villa in November 2020.
Match officials
Referee: Michael Salisbury.
Assistants: Neil Davies, Timothy Wood.
Fourth official: Graham Scott.
VAR: Mike Dean.
Assistant VAR: Nick Hopton.