Brighton & Hove Albion will aim to reclaim top spot in the Championship when they face off against MK Dons at the Amex Stadium on Saturday.
The Seagulls dropped down to third place in the table following their draw against Sheffield Wednesday, while the Dons reside in 20th after their narrow win over Charlton Athletic.
Brighton
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Chris Hughton's men's impressive start to the season has been halted over the past few weeks, despite the club remaining unbeaten in the Championship this term.
The Seagulls have lost their grip on first place, held since the opening weeks of the season, as a result of drawing their last three matches as Hull City and Burnley have replaced them in the automatic promotion spots.
Brighton have been a solid outfit throughout their first 15 matches, but have struggled for goals over the past three outings, scoring just once in their 1-1 draw against Reading at the Madejski Stadium, while drawing a blank against Preston North End and Wednesday.
The trend has been worrying for Hughton's men as they have only recorded two victories in their last eight games over struggling Leeds United and Bristol City, which has allowed the chasing pack to close the gap following their fast start to the campaign.
As a result, Brighton are in need of a victory against the Dons but will need to fire in front of goal. The team are middle of the pack in terms of goals scored this season as top marksman Tomer Hemed has failed to find the net since September, while Kazenga LuaLua and Sam Baldock have also struggled in front of goal.
The Seagulls have been one of the most resilient sides in the league as they boast the fourth-best defensive record in the Championship. Brighton have conceded just seven goals in their last 10 games, which includes keeping four clean sheets.
Hughton's men have been dominant at the Amex Stadium this season, winning five of their seven matches. The 56-year-old and his team will be determined to continue their strong displays at home and reclaim their spot at the top of the table against the Dons.
Brighton can also eclipse a club record by going 16 matches unbeaten in the league with a positive result against MK Dons on Saturday.
Recent form: DWWDDD
MK Dons
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MK Dons bounced back from a run of three straight defeats in the Championship to record a 1-0 victory over Charlton on Tuesday.
Karl Robinson's men were in dire need to the victory at stadium:mk, and Dean Bowditch's strike in the 29th minute proved to be enough to secure the three points for the club.
As a result, the Dons moved four points clear of the relegation zone to give them a slight cushion heading into their clash with Brighton, but Robinson will be hopeful that his side can string a series of positive results together following their difficult start to the campaign.
The Dons have endured two poor runs in their 15 matches this term, losing five on the spin from August to September and then a spell of three defeats towards the end of October. However, the team have managed to come through those runs out of the bottom three.
Robinson's side's problems have stemmed from their inability to find the net on a consistent basis. They have scored just 13 goals this term, which ranks 20th in the Championship, with Bowditch and Ben Reeves their joint-top marksmen with two goals apiece.
The Dons have fared slightly better at the back, conceding 21 goals in their 15 matches, putting them just below the middle of the pack in the division. The club have kept four clean sheets this season, including two in their last five matches.
The team have the fourth-worst record in the Championship on their travels, claiming five points from a possible 21. Robinson and his side will know that they face a tough task to improve their record in their trip to the Amex Stadium.
Recent form: DWLLLW
Team News
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Bobby Zamora could return to action for the home side after missing their 0-0 draw against the Owls in midweek with a foot injury.
However, captain Gordon Greer looks poised to miss the contest as he has still not recovered from a knee injury, which has sidelined him for four matches. Uwe Huenemeier will likely continue alongside Lewis Dunk in the back four.
Andrew Crofts and Jamie Murphy may also push for recalls to the side after being dropped to the bench on Tuesday.
Former Seagulls defender Matthew Upson is a doubt to face his old team after he limped out of the Dons' 1-0 win over Charlton on Tuesday.
Lee Hodson and Kyle McFadzean, available once again after serving his one-match suspension, are candidates to replace the veteran in the heart of the defence at the Amex Stadium.
Brighton possible starting lineup:
Stockdale; Bruno, Huenemeier, Dunk, Calderon; Rosenior, Kayal, Stephens, Murphy; Hemed, Baldock
MK Dons possible starting lineup:
Martin; Spence, McFadzean, Kay, Lewington; Poyet, Potter; Carruthers, Bowditch, Murphy; Maynard
Head To Head
MK Dons won the last meeting between the sides in the 2009-10 season in their clash at stadium:mk as Daniel Powell scored the only goal of the game to fire his side to victory.
The Seagulls won their previous match at the Amex Stadium in a 2-0 triumph with LuaLua and Glenn Murray getting on the scoresheet.
Over the course of history, MK Dons have edged the contests between the teams, winning four of the matches compared to Brighton's two, while one of the games has ended in a draw.
We say: Brighton 2-0 MK Dons
Brighton have been solid throughout the campaign, but have struggled for a clinical edge in the past three games. However, Hughton's men should be able to rediscover their form in the final third against the Dons to secure a record-breaking victory to keep them on course in their challenge for promotion.
Simon Sinclair
