Match Preview

Brighton v Manchester City

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City travel to the south coast for an infrequent visit to Brighton & Hove Albion for their re-arranged second round Carling Cup tie.

Vital Quotes:

Hughes talks about how the side moves on from Sunday’s game and what the side will do for this cup tie: “We`re tapping in to the goodwill from the weekend, it was a fantastic performance and everybody has come in to work with a smile on their face. It`s made my job a lot easier.

“We have enjoyed the moment but we have another game coming up on Wednesday which will be a difficult one. We don`t want to go to Brighton and get into a situation where we end up with egg on our face.’

“I`m looking for us to get the job done professionally, Brighton have nothing to lose, and they will be looking to turn around their defeat at the weekend. We have to make sure that the interest generated by our performance on Sunday is not diluted by the game at Brighton.’

“I will make changes to the team from Sunday, that`s only right and proper. I have a good squad and good players here, they need games but the team I pick will not be weakened substantially.”

Brighton & Hove Albion FC Team News:

Seagulls boss Micky Adams is sweating over the fitness of captain Nicky Forster, who is struggling to shake off a dead leg.

Winger Kevin McLeod and defender Colin Hawkins are both unavailable with knee and hernia injuries respectively.

Defender Joel Lynch, who handed in a transfer request for the second time this season on Monday, has also been ruled out after being deemed in the wrong frame of mind.

Adams is, however, boosted by the return of on-loan winger Joe Anyinsah from suspension while striker Jake Robinson (concussion) is likely to again take a place on the bench with midfielder Adam Virgo set to play in attack for a second successive game.

Player to watch: Nicky Forster

He is their best known player who if plays will give it his all.

Manchester City FC Team News:

City, boosted by the completion of their takeover on Tuesday, are without British record signing Robinho as he is currently involved in settling his family in England.

Michael Johnson is back in the squad following a groin injury, however midfielder Martin Petrov remains sidelined with a similar problem.

Nedum Onuoha has resumed training after a knee injury but the game on the South Coast will come too soon for him.

Sunday’s goalscorer Ched Evans and Daniel Sturridge are likely to feature this evening possibly along with Kelvin Etuhu with Jo and Shaun Wright-Phillips being rested.

Glauber Berti may get a run out in defence after impressing Hughes.

Player to watch: Daniel Sturridge

If he plays I doubt that the Brighton defence will be able to cope with his movement and pace.

Match Facts & Stats

Brighton and City played each other for seven seasons during the eighties. In those fourteen matches City won seven and there were four draws. City won twice in those seven attempts at the Goldstone ground.

So that is a reasonable record against them. Although clearly now this is a whole new ball game with Brighton being fifty two places lower down the league table than us and being a million(or should that be billions) of miles apart in real terms.

Ref Watch:

Andy D’Urso – has not been a premiership referee for a couple of years now and it was the 2nd February 2005 the last time he referee’d a City match; a one all draw with Newcastle.

Match Prediction:

Brighton to give a really good account of themselves but they will be facing a Mark Hughes side that is very hard to beat. BHAFC 1 – 3 MCFC.

Next Fixtures:

Wigan Athletic away at the JJB stadium with a 4pm kick off on Sky’s Super Sunday.

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