BRIGHTON PREVIEW: MAN CITY (A)

Brighton and Hove Albion travel to Manchester City looking to get back on track after their 1-2 loss at home to Tottenham last Saturday.

City have just come off the back of two consecutive wins in a week against Cardiff City and Oxford United so they are on good form coming into this game this Saturday at 3:00pm.

So Brighton are going to have to upset the odds and put in their best performance of the season to gain points from this game at the Etihad stadium.

Brighton last 5 games; LLDDL - Brighton are now winless in 5 Premier League games and sit 13th in the table with 5 points after 6 games. They are only 3 points off the relegation places.

TEAM NEWS:

Chris Hughton has confirmed that Dale Stephens is not available for the game this weekend after his hamstring injury which was picked up in the Tottenham game last weekend.

Hughton said: "Dale felt his hamstring in the Spurs game and this game will come too soon for him."

Hughton has also confirmed that Pascal Gross remains injured and he will take no part in the game this weekend.

The Brighton boss also informed journalists that Florin Andone is available for selection but Hughton says that a decision will be made nearer to the time whether Florin plays or not.

HUGHTON'S PRE-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE:

Dan Ashworth have been appointed as new technical director for Brighton and Hughton has backed the appointment.

"He will oversee the football development at the club. The club has made big strides over the last couple of years. Dan is somebody I've known for a long time and he has great experience."

Brighton have recently endured going 2-0 down in Premier League games, but the manager insisted that it is not a worry.

"It's not a worry because it's part and parcel of the game. It's about making sure we're always in the game," Hughton explained.

"The Spurs game was different, the Southampton game was our poorest start, but we started really well in the Fulham game."

Hughton was unsurprisingly full of praise for this weekend's opponents and believes that going in as the underdog will work to Brighton's advantage.

"In the form that they're in, the two toughest games are Liverpool and Manchester City away," Hughton added.

"But you always have to look at the pluses in those type of games. Nobody expects us to get anything, which helps take the pressure off."

BETTING ODDS/PREDICTION:

Manchester City are clear favourites for this game to win at 1/14 (Bet 365). A draw between the two clubs is priced at 10/1. An unexpected Brighton win away from home at the Etihad Stadium is being priced at 22/1.

My prediction for this game is a 2-0 win to City. I think Brighton will go to the Etihad looking to frustrate Manchester City by being very compact and hard to break through.

I think Brighton will hold 0-0 at half time, but I think in the second half when City up the tempo and the pressure on Brighton, I feel like Brighton will collapse and just be beaten by the pure quality City possess, it will be a 2-0 comfortable win for City.