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Attendance: 31,490
Wolves logo
Premier League | Gameweek 29
Mar 7, 2020 at 3pm UK
 
Brighton logo

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Preview: Wolves vs. Brighton & Hove Albion - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole provides team news, predicted lineups and a full preview of Saturday's Premier League game between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Wolverhampton Wanderers play host to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon looking to extend their unbeaten domestic streak to five matches.

As for Brighton, they make the trip to Molineux sitting just one point above the relegation zone after a disappointing period in the top flight.


Match preview

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Nuno Espirito Santo applauds fans after the match on January 1, 2020© Reuters

Although Wolves are having to contend with an increasingly demanding schedule, Nuno Espirito Santo's side continue to remain a factor in the race for Champions League places.

There was a time after the turn of the year when the West Midlands outfit looked outsiders at best to gatecrash the top four, but eight points from four matches have put the club on the brink of moving level on points with Chelsea.

Given the increased expectations at Molineux, it remains to be seen how Nuno and his players will react to the added pressure of trying to break new ground for the club at a pivotal time in their development.

Nevertheless, it is hard for anyone not to be impressed with a team who can often be compared to a relentless juggernaut, like they showed during last weekend's 3-2 success at Tottenham Hotspur.

Not for the first time this season, Wolves overturned a deficit to claim all three points against one of the division's top clubs, but now they must show a different side to their game in order to overcome a struggling Brighton team.

While seven draws have come from their last 14 outings in all competitions, the Seagulls have won just once during the same period, which came on New Year's Day against lowly Bournemouth.

The drop in form has led to Graham Potter's men being left in a group of six teams who are directly involved in a relegation battle, while also just one win from potentially moving away from the drop zone.

With Arsenal and Manchester United to follow the meeting with Wolves, the schedule is unrelenting for the South-coast outfit, who at one point were a fixture in the top half of the table.

Despite failing to find the back of the net against Crystal Palace last weekend, Brighton's biggest problem is recording a clean sheet, something which has only occurred once since November 10.

Wolverhampton Wanderers Premier League form: WLDDWW
Wolverhampton Wanderers form (all competitions): DDWWLW

Brighton & Hove Albion Premier League form: DLDDDL


Team News

Adama Traore in action for Wolves on December 27, 2019© Reuters

With Adama Traore struggling with a shoulder injury, Nuno could opt drop the winger to the substitutes' bench for this game.

Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence would be named as Traore's replacement, unless Nuno opts to include Leander Dendoncker in a three-man midfield.

Ruben Vinagre will deputise for Jonny if the left wing-back has failed to shake off a knock.

Brighton boss Potter will contemplate switching to a back three for this contest in order to match up man-for-man with Wolves.

However, keeping with a 4-2-3-1 strategy appears more likely, with Dale Stephens and Pascal Gross both pushing for a recall.

Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Patricio; Boly, Coady, Saiss; Doherty, Neves, Moutinho, Vinagre; Neto, Jimenez, Jota

Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Ryan; Montoya, Webster, Dunk, Burn; Propper, Stephens; Mooy, Gross, Trossard; Maupay


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion

While Wolves are the clear favourites to win this game, the stakes are rising as they bid to earn European football next season. We feel that could play into Brighton's favour, who had success in the final third in the reverse fixture late last year.



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Written by
Darren Plant

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a win with a probability of 61.68%. A draw had a probability of 22.6% and a win for had a probability of 15.68%.

The most likely scoreline for a win was 1-0 with a probability of 13.76%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-0 (12.34%) and 2-1 (9.55%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (10.64%), while for a win it was 0-1 (5.93%).


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Adama Traore in action for Wolves on February 27, 2020
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


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