MX23RW : Wednesday, April 24 06:53:40| >> :120:63341:63341:
[monks data]
Brighton logo
Championship
Feb 8, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Doncaster Rovers

1-0

Ulloa (79')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Preview: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Doncaster Rovers

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship meeting between playoff-chasing Brighton and Doncaster at the Amex Stadium.

Doncaster Rovers will look to continue their charge up the Championship table when they travel to the Amex Stadium to face Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

Rovers have banished immediate fears of being cast adrift at the bottom with a four-match unbeaten streak that has lifted them out of the bottom three and five points clear of danger.

Key to their improvement has been a defensive solidity that they have not had for much of the season. After conceding 43 times in their first 25 games they have done so just once in their last four.

However, three of those four matches have come at home, which could make a big difference to a team with the third-worst away record in the Championship this season.

Doncaster have only picked up 11 points from 15 matches on their travels and have not won in their last 10, a run that stretches back to September.

Paul Dickov could name an unchanged lineup as he looks to maintain his side's momentum, but he will definitely be without Jamie McCombe and Rob Jones, who remain sidelined through injury.

Brighton, meanwhile, are desperately in need of consistency if they want to launch a serious challenge for the playoffs this season.

A run of three games without a win has seen the Seagulls fall seven points behind sixth-placed Reading, although they do have a game in hand over the Royals.

Just as worrying for manager Oscar Garcia will be his side's drought in front of goal recently. They have not scored in the league since January 11 and have managed just three goals in their last six games.

Defeat for Brighton could see them end the day as low as 12th if other results go against them, and that could be enough to eliminate them from a competitive race for the playoffs.

The Seagulls have been good at home recently, however, beating the likes of Leicester City and Reading during a five-match unbeaten streak in all competitions.

Andrew Crofts could be out for the remainder of the season, but Garcia will have new boy Dale Stephens available for a home debut.

Recent form

Brighton: WWLWDL

Doncaster: LLWDWD

Possible starting lineups

Brighton: Kuszczak; Bruno, Upson, Greer, Ward; Andrews, Forster-Caskey, Lua Lua, Stephens, Orlandi; Ulloa

Doncaster: Turnbull; Tamas, Khumalo, Meite, Husband; Duffy, Keegan, Wellens, Coppinger; Sharp, Brown

Sports Mole says: 2-1


ID:135703: cacheID:135703:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4523:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Doncaster manager Paul Dickov prior to kick off against Wigan on August 20, 2013
Read Next:
Preview: Doncaster vs. Middlesbrough
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Liverpool33228375324374
3Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle321551269521750
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd32155124748-150
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves33127144653-743
12Fulham34126165054-442
13Bournemouth33119134860-1242
14Crystal Palace3399154256-1436
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton33108153448-1430
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3337233188-5716


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!