Big Match Preview: Brighton Vs Nottingham Forest

Monday, 17 October 2022 15:41

By Dominic Kureen @WriteOnDom

Brighton and Hove Albion will be looking to record their first victory in four matches this evening (Tuesday) when they take on basement dwelling Nottingham Forest.

Albion's new boss, Roberto De Zerbi, is still looking for his first win at the helm — the excitement of a breathless 3-3 thriller at Anfield followed by successive defeats to Tottenham and Brentford.

Despite this, it's been a superb start to the campaign for the Seagulls, who remain on the fringes of the top six.

Footy Stats (c)

The Tricky Trees went ballistic in the summer transfer window, splashing more than £150m on an eye-watering 23 players as they rebuilt the entire squad following promotion.

Unsurprisingly, the lack of continuity has seen Steve Cooper's squad struggle to gel, with their sole victory coming at home against West Ham in their second match of the campaign.

That said, there were positive signs against Wolves on Saturday, where Brennan Johnson's spot-kick failure denied his side a point in a tightly contested 1-0 defeat.

Footy Stats (c)

The sides have met on 37 occasions in the past, with Forest winning 16, Brighton 10 and the other 11 ending in stalemates.

They last played in the Championship season of 2016-17, each recording 3-0 wins on home soil.

Injuries and suspensions

Brighton have picked up a fresh selection setback, with Japanese winger Kaoru Mitoma suffering an ankle injury against Brentford on Friday.

He'll be joined by Levi Colwill, Jan Paul van Hecke and Jakub Moder on the sidelines, while Enock Mwepu's sudden retirement is a body blow for the side.

Nottingham Forest could be without as many as six first team players.

Jack Colback (back), Moussa Niakhate (thigh), Omar Richards (calf), Serge Aurier (muscle strain), Renan Lodi (ankle) and Lewis O'Brien (illness) are all expected to miss the Amex trip.