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Brighton Preview

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 02/05/2003

TOWN may already be relegated, but they can have a big say over who goes down with them on Sunday, with Stoke and Brighton still battling to avoid the drop and Town hosting a Brighton side who know that they must beat the Mariners to have any chance of survival.

Home > 2002-2003 Season > Previews > Brighton (h)


The Bottom Line

Town will be hoping for a decent gate at Blundell Park for the Mariners last division one game for at least a year, especially with Brighton selling all of their 2,300 ticket allocation for the game. With the game being shown live on Sky Sports, needless to say, Town need to put up a good show, if not to persuade the likes of Santos and McDermott that next season could be worth sticking around for. The future does at least look brighter this week with Jarvis signing a reported £500,000 sponsorship deal with the club, something that should give fans heart that beneath the doom and gloom of relegation, there is a chink of optimism teetering around Blundell Park.

The Opposition - Any Good?

Brighton have a relatively small squad, like the Mariners but with a good a mixture of both youth and talent. The ever-youthful keeper Dave Beasant will play for them in goal and is joined in the squad by seasoned pros such like Dave Kitson, Simon Rodger and Dean Blackwell. Up front, Albion’s main threat comes from the dangerous Bobby Zamora (left) who has struck 13 goals this season and of course scored 28 goals to secure the second division championship last season. Also in the side is Icelandic midfielder Ivar Igimarsson who is on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, reunited with Steve Coppell who managed him at Brentford last season.

Recent Form

 

TownBrighton
LReading(a)1-2
LWalsall(h)0-1
DSheff Wed(a)0-0
WPalace(h)1-4
DWolves(h)0-1
WWatford(h)4-0
DSheff Wed(h)1-1
LLeicester(a)0-2
LPreston(h)0-2
WReading(a)2-1

Top Scorers

 

TownBrighton

Campbell 7
Oster 6
Kabba 6

Zamora 13
Brooker 6
Sidwell 5 (now Reading)

Team News

 

TownBrighton

  • The Mariners will recall experienced centre back Steve Chettle into defence in place of young centre back Greg Young who played last week against Reading. Paul Groves has said he will select his strongest side, which may also mean a recall for himself, perhaps as a substitute.

  • In attack, Jake Sagare is also expected to make way for Darren Mansaram, or alternatively, Steve Livingstonr. Loan midfielder Richard Hughes will probably miss out again through injury, an with no news on his injury as yet, it is unlikely he will play. Brighton
  • The good news for Brighton fans is that regulars Paul Brooker and Richard Carpenter have returned from injury and will play some part in the game at Blundell Park. Both missed last week’s 4-0 victory over Watford with gastric flu, but have trained all of this week.

  • They could play at the expense of Gary Hart and Nathan Jones.
  • Probable Starting XI's

     

    TownBrighton
    Danny Coyne
    John McDermott
    Steve Chettle
    George Santos
    Tony Gallimore
    Terry Cooke
    Stuart Campbell
    Chris Bolder
    Graham Hockless
    Michael Keane
    Darren Mansaram
    Dave Beasant
    Paul Watson
    Danny Cullip
    Dean Blackwell
    Kerry Mayo
    Gary Brooker
    Richard Carpenter
    Ivar Igimarsson
    Simon Rodger
    Bobby Zamora
    Paul Kitson

    Subs

     

    TownBrighton
    Steve Livingstone
    Paul Groves
    Greg Young
    Chris Thompson
    Sean Allaway (GK)
    Charlie Oatway
    Graham Barrett
    Nathan Jones
    Gary Hart
    Will Packham (GK)

    Last Time Out

    Town won their first game of the season at Brighton in a 2-1 win. Brighton were rooted to the bottom of the table at the time, exactly where the Mariners are now. Darren Barnard and Alan Pouton scored for the Mariners that day, with Bobby Zamora scoring Brihgton’s goal in between Town’s two goals.

    Town Team: Coyne, McDermott, Gallimore, Groves (Raven), Ford, Coldicott, Campbell, Barnard, Pouton, Mansaram, Robinson (Rowan)
    Subs (not used): Cooke, Santos, Allaway (GK)

    Attendance: 6,547    Report

    Brighton Head-to-Head (62nd on The Opposition Ladder).

    Prediction

    Fishy prediction: 1-1 draw Reader's POMs

    Directions

    Click on the link for directions to Blundell Park (left).

    Admission Prices

    Click on the link for ticket prices to Blundell Park.




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