Brighton - Brentford, English Division 2
2004-03-02 20.45 CET
Pick: Brighton
Stake: 3%
Final reason for bet
· Brighton is a very good home side.
Brighton is boosted by the return of their top striker.
· Brentford is on of the worst away teams in the league.
· Brentford is in bad form.
· Brentford will miss their leading goal scorer.
General comment about the game
Tonight promotion hopefuls Brighton take on struggling Brentford at home on Withdean Stadium. Brighton has been in the promotion race all season but it looked much better in the beginning. It became quite turbulent after former manager Steve Coppell left in October and even if the team has recovered since then they have not performed as consistent as before. They are currently on 7th place just one point from a playoff spot but has one match more played. Last game away to struggling Stockport was not something for the spectator. The very bad pitch did not help the team’s performances either and the game ended in a 1-1 draw. In all, the few opportunities that were created came mostly from chance. Stockport came closest to a winning goal and Mark McGhee, manager in Brighton, was not pleased with their performance and was quite happy with one point as the match turned out. The point was one of a few for Brighton playing on the road lately. They have not won away since mid November and after that only managed two points from seven attempts. This bad away form is their main problem at the moment and the reason why they have dropped out from a playoff spot. At home they play with much more confidence and the results shows that; they have seven unbeaten matches in a row and from them five victories. They have been steady at home during the whole season having won eleven times from sixteen attempts. Now they are in a run of three straight wins and the opponents have been good teams such as promotion candidates Bournemouth, Plymouth and Barnsley. In all of these games, Brighton has started the game very good and scored early. This was very much true in last game against Bournemouth when they were 3-0 up before 25 minutes had gone. If they can continue to win at home and pick up a few points away they still have good chances to reach their aim of promotion. The Brighton squad will get boosted by the return of top striker Leon Knight (30(1) apps, 20 goals). He missed last game through a one match ban. However, on loan striker Trevor Benjamin (8 apps, 4 goals) is doubtful because of the knock he got in last game. Midfielder John Piercy (6(9) apps, 3 goals) is fit once again and will be available for picking.
Brentford has had a bad season so far. For the moment they reside on the 20th spot in both the overall table and in the away table. Their form is also bad and over the last ten games they end up on the last place with only 7 points. Last Saturday Brentford lost at home to another struggling team, Notts County wit 3-2. After a header goal from a corner in the first half for County, Brentford played quite well and managed to turn the game around into 2-1 at half time. But as many times earlier this season Brentford could not keep up the play when being in front and with eight minutes to go Notts County had done both 2-2 and 3-2. If Brentford plans to stay in the division next year they can not let matches like this go, but apparently tings does not work. In front of this game midfielder Stephen Hunt (27(2) apps, 9 goals) is the only player out injured. However since Hunt is their best goal scorer this year it is a major blow for the team. On the good side is that defender Matt Somner (26(2) apps, 0 goal) is available again after he has served a one match ban.
We believe in Brighton in this game since they are a very strong home side. Furthermore, Brighton will get back their leading goal scorer and Brentford will miss their. The Brighton players will also be out for revenge since they got beaten by 4-0 during the autumn by Brentford. However, this defeat came just after the turbulent period that occurred after manager Coppel resigned. Medium stake, 3% is suggested.
2004-03-02 20.45 CET
Pick: Brighton
Stake: 3%
Final reason for bet
· Brighton is a very good home side.
Brighton is boosted by the return of their top striker.
· Brentford is on of the worst away teams in the league.
· Brentford is in bad form.
· Brentford will miss their leading goal scorer.
General comment about the game
Tonight promotion hopefuls Brighton take on struggling Brentford at home on Withdean Stadium. Brighton has been in the promotion race all season but it looked much better in the beginning. It became quite turbulent after former manager Steve Coppell left in October and even if the team has recovered since then they have not performed as consistent as before. They are currently on 7th place just one point from a playoff spot but has one match more played. Last game away to struggling Stockport was not something for the spectator. The very bad pitch did not help the team’s performances either and the game ended in a 1-1 draw. In all, the few opportunities that were created came mostly from chance. Stockport came closest to a winning goal and Mark McGhee, manager in Brighton, was not pleased with their performance and was quite happy with one point as the match turned out. The point was one of a few for Brighton playing on the road lately. They have not won away since mid November and after that only managed two points from seven attempts. This bad away form is their main problem at the moment and the reason why they have dropped out from a playoff spot. At home they play with much more confidence and the results shows that; they have seven unbeaten matches in a row and from them five victories. They have been steady at home during the whole season having won eleven times from sixteen attempts. Now they are in a run of three straight wins and the opponents have been good teams such as promotion candidates Bournemouth, Plymouth and Barnsley. In all of these games, Brighton has started the game very good and scored early. This was very much true in last game against Bournemouth when they were 3-0 up before 25 minutes had gone. If they can continue to win at home and pick up a few points away they still have good chances to reach their aim of promotion. The Brighton squad will get boosted by the return of top striker Leon Knight (30(1) apps, 20 goals). He missed last game through a one match ban. However, on loan striker Trevor Benjamin (8 apps, 4 goals) is doubtful because of the knock he got in last game. Midfielder John Piercy (6(9) apps, 3 goals) is fit once again and will be available for picking.
Brentford has had a bad season so far. For the moment they reside on the 20th spot in both the overall table and in the away table. Their form is also bad and over the last ten games they end up on the last place with only 7 points. Last Saturday Brentford lost at home to another struggling team, Notts County wit 3-2. After a header goal from a corner in the first half for County, Brentford played quite well and managed to turn the game around into 2-1 at half time. But as many times earlier this season Brentford could not keep up the play when being in front and with eight minutes to go Notts County had done both 2-2 and 3-2. If Brentford plans to stay in the division next year they can not let matches like this go, but apparently tings does not work. In front of this game midfielder Stephen Hunt (27(2) apps, 9 goals) is the only player out injured. However since Hunt is their best goal scorer this year it is a major blow for the team. On the good side is that defender Matt Somner (26(2) apps, 0 goal) is available again after he has served a one match ban.
We believe in Brighton in this game since they are a very strong home side. Furthermore, Brighton will get back their leading goal scorer and Brentford will miss their. The Brighton players will also be out for revenge since they got beaten by 4-0 during the autumn by Brentford. However, this defeat came just after the turbulent period that occurred after manager Coppel resigned. Medium stake, 3% is suggested.
