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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


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Written by
Barney Corkhill
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Doncaster manager Paul Dickov prior to kick off against Wigan on August 20, 2013
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