Chelsea head into Saturday's Premier League fixture with Brighton & Hove Albion having finally ended their wait for a win at Stamford Bridge this season, courtesy of a 7-1 thrashing of Grimsby Town in the EFL Cup.
Brighton make the trip to West London having been eliminated from the competition by Aston Villa, while they are also still awaiting their first league success since the opening day of the campaign.
Chelsea
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While there has been a lot for Chelsea fans to enjoy since the appointment of Frank Lampard, the Blues boss is aware that he will only remain at the helm for the long term if his side turn performances into results.
That has not always been the case, with Chelsea having nothing to show from encouraging performances against Manchester United and two tussles with Liverpool, while they also missed a late penalty in the narrow defeat to Valencia in the Champions League.
However, those disappointments have done little to rid Stamford Bridge of its current feel-good factor - something which is in sharp contrast to how supporters reacted to victories under previous head coach Maurizio Sarri.
Lampard is aware that he must capitalise on the positive atmosphere at Stamford Bridge, and he will hope that the netting seven times against Grimsby in a game which featured several more academy graduates will go a significant way to building for the future.
Nevertheless, the short-term scenario facing Lampard are fixtures against Brighton on Saturday afternoon and an important Champions League trip to Lille at the start of next week.
The club legend will have every confidence that his team can achieve their desired results, although their task will be made much more comfortable if they can finally end their nine-game streak without keeping a clean sheet.
Injuries to several defenders does not help matters, but Lampard can at least now call upon Reece James at right-back with the youngster having recovered from an ankle injury.
N'Golo Kante also highlighted his importance to this team with a trademark energetic outing against Liverpool last weekend, and the presence of the pair could potentially prove more pivotal than having extra options in the final third.
Recent form: LDWDWL
Recent form (all competitions): WDWLLW
Brighton & Hove Albion
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Graham Potter has wasted no time in stamping his own authority since arriving at the Amex Stadium, changing the team's style of play and introducing more youngsters into the group.
However, despite all of the promise from the dominant win against Watford on the first day of the season, Potter has every reason to be frustrated with his team having failed to build on that result.
Fixtures against West Ham United, Southampton, Burnley and Newcastle United were an opportunity to keep away from the relegation zone heading into the winter months, but a return of three points from a possible 12 has placed pressure on the Seagulls.
Given the youthful look to the team which faced Aston Villa in the EFL Cup earlier this week, the subsequent defeat was not a total surprise, while positives will be taken from some of the performances from his younger crop.
Nevertheless, Brighton's only win in seven has come from a scrappy game at Bristol Rovers, and the onus is now on the Englishman to get his team back on track, starting this weekend.
With lessons having been learned from their heavy defeat at Manchester City last month, facing an inconsistent Chelsea side is an ideal opportunity for Potter to see where his squad are in terms of adapting to his mindset.
As many as 21 different players, two of whom have left for pastures new, have been used across the opening six matches, suggesting that the former Swansea City boss is still yet to decide on a settled XI.
The chances are there to break into the starting lineup, however, and that competitive nature within the group should serve Brighton well as the season progresses.
Recent form: WDLLDD
Recent form (all competitions): LWLDDL
Team News
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Despite Lampard suggesting that Andreas Christensen's knee injury is not a long-term problem, the Dane may be left out this week with the trip to Lille in mind.
Kurt Zouma should deputise for the centre-back, while Marcos Alonso will start ahead of the injured Emerson Palmieri at left-back.
The rest of the team is likely to be the same as the one which began the fixture with Liverpool last Sunday, with Lampard unlikely to use the likes of James and Callum Hudson-Odoi twice in the space of three days after long-term injuries.
Brighton have widespread injury problems ahead of the visit to West London, with Shane Duffy joining the list after picking up a knock against Villa.
The fitness issues could see Potter revert to three central midfielders, with Pascal Gross providing support for Neal Maupay.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Tomori, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Willian, Mount, Abraham
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Ryan; Webster, Dunk, Burn; Montoya, Propper, Stephens, Mooy, Alzate; Gross; Maupay
Head To Head
Saturday's meeting will represent just the 13th competitive meeting between the two sides, with Chelsea registering 10 wins in comparison to just the one for Brighton.
That solitary success came from the first-ever clash in 1933, and Chelsea have since prevailed in 10 matches in a row.
The Blues emerged victorious by a 3-0 scoreline in last season's corresponding fixture courtesy of goals from Olivier Giroud, Eden Hazard and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
We say: Chelsea 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
While Chelsea are making a habit of scoring and conceding goals on a regular basis, we feel that it will be a slightly different story this weekend. Lampard is aware that he needs to find a way to secure a home win in the league, and his side could grind out three points against the Seagulls.
Darren Plant
