West Brom vs Brighton: Predicted line-up, score and preview

Featured Image Credit: Sport Grill

The third round of the fa cup sees the battle of the Albions face off for the second time in three years of the competition and with the bragging rights of who is the ‘real’ Albion at stake it could be set to be a riveting fixture.

Previous meetings

Brighton 3-1 west Brom

West Brom 2-0 Brighton

Brighton 0-0 west Brom

West Brom 1-3 Brighton

Brighton 1-1 west Brom

West Brom 1-0 Brighton

Form

West Brom come into this game with zero wins in their last three games with only one goal scored. Brighton however are riding the crest of the wave being unbeaten in their last three which includes a credible draw with premier league title contenders Chelsea. With form and the likelihood of the baggies likely to play a weakened team as valerian Ismael is in favour of leaving the cup to the kids Brighton come into this as considerable favourites. A small glimmer of hope for west Brom fans is their unbeaten record at home in the league this year however the memories of the 6-0 loss to arsenal in similar circumstances will still be fresh in west Brom fans memories.

Predicted lineups

Brighton: 4-4-2

Manager: Graham Potter

Image Credit: The Argus

GK: Scherpen

LB: Burn

RB: Lamptey

CB: Turns

CB: Duffy

LM: Mac Allister

RM: Alzate

CM: Moder

CM: Leonard

ST: Welbeck

ST: Trossard

Unavailable: Sarmiento, Dunk, Bissouma

West Brom: 3-4-3

Manager: Valerian Ismael

Image Credit: Sky Sports

GK: Button

CB: Shotton

CB: Taylor

CB: Kipre

LWB: Reach

RWB: Ingram

CM: Gardner Hickman

CM: Livermore

RW: Fellows

LW: Tulloch

ST: Cleary

Unavailble: Oshea, Bryan, Zohore, Phillips, Snodgrass, Mowatt, Johnstone Ajayi

Tactical battle:

This match sees two teams with seemingly polar opposite styles come up against each other.But will Ismael's press or potters possession come out on top? Albion fans would've seen a possible prelude to this fixture when they came up against Swansea earlier on in the season, where despite the baggies intent of pressing high up the pitch and winning the ball the Swansea's total commitment to playing from the back ultimately prevailed as despite west Brom scoring within the first minute, Swansea proceeded to control the game with 67% possession and an XG of 1.47 compared to west Broms 0.88.

With Brighton unarguably possessing more quality, this could lead to a torrid time for the baggies youngsters on Saturday.

Score prediction

Brighton 4-1 West Brom.