Brighton & Hove Albion host Cardiff City on Saturday afternoon looking to record the victory that will ensure that they remain at the top of the Championship table over the international break.
Cardiff travel to the South Coast in sixth place, and they will be aware that three points at the Amex Stadium could see them move as high as third spot.
Brighton & Hove Albion
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Brighton go into their 10th league match of the season yet to taste defeat in the Championship, but their progress has slowed down considerably over the past two matches.
Against a Wolverhampton Wanderers side who played with 10 men for over 40 minutes, Brighton failed to break the deadlock, or test goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, as they were left ruing a first-half penalty miss by Tomer Hemed.
A week later at Bolton Wanderers, Brighton established a two-goal advantage, only to see the controversial dismissal of Jamie Murphy lead to his team conceding an injury-time equaliser and give Middlesbrough the chance to close the gap at the top of the table.
Brighton still hold a one-point advantage, but there is a feeling that they need to rediscover that winning feeling on Saturday afternoon, as a failure to do so will leave the club without a victory in a month when they return after the international break.
That said, everyone associated with Chris Hughton's outfit are on a high right now, with the club having suffered four defeats at this stage last season, while they are also 12 points better off than they were a year ago.
Recent form: WWWWDD
Recent form (all competitions): LWWWDD
Cardiff City
When Cardiff conceded the opening goal to out-of-form Charlton Athletic last weekend, manager Russell Slade found himself under slightly more pressure after heading into the game having suffered two defeats in a row.
However, the former Leyton Orient boss would have been delighted with the response of his team, who hit back with two goals to not only register their third home triumph of the campaign, but to move the Bluebirds into the playoff places.
The club are hopeful that a run of four wins from six outings will help improve the dwindling attendances at the Cardiff City Stadium, with crowds already down by an average of 7,000 supporters compared to last season.
That aspect of Slade's job places more responsibility on his shoulders to produce a team playing the kind of football that saw the club claim the Championship title in 2013, but in reality, only positive results and the potential to reclaim a place in the top flight with bring fans back to home games.
It is their form in South Wales that sees them sit in the top six, with only one success - away at Nottingham Forest on August 29 - being registered on the road in five games in all competitions
Recent form: WWWLLW
Recent form (all competitions): LWWLLW
Team News
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Murphy will start his three-match suspension this weekend after having an appeal against his sending-off against Bolton rejected by the Football Association.
Hemed and Bruno are expected to feature after recent injuries, but Brighton will be without Kazenga LuaLua.
Cardiff stopper David Marshall will sit out the second match of his two-match ban, meaning that deputy Simon Moore will continue between the sticks.
Slade must decide whether to partner Joe Mason with either Kenwyne Jones or Sammy Ameobi.
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Stockdale, Bruno, Greer, Hunemeier, Bong, Rosenior, Stephens, Kayal, Murphy, Baldock, Hemed
Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Moore, Fabio, Morrison, Connolly, Malone, Pilkington, Dikgacoi, Whittingham, Ralls, Mason, Jones
Head To Head
In 63 previous matches between the two clubs, Brighton have the edge by just one game, winning 22 times compared to 21 for Cardiff.
Although the historical record is close, Brighton currently possess a six-match unbeaten record against Cardiff, winning twice and drawing four times.
Cardiff last won in Brighton in October 2005, with Jason Koumas and Alan Lee netting the goals for the Welsh team.
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Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:
We say: Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 Cardiff City
Cardiff make the long trip to the South Coast boosted by last week's win over Charlton Athletic, but Brighton have been superb in front of their own fans, and although they are without success in two games, we believe that they will be too strong for Cardiff on Saturday afternoon.
Darren Plant
