Two newly promoted sides meet on Sunday as Newcastle make the long trip down to the South Coast full of confidence, following 3 consecutive Premier League wins – Rafa Benitez looks to have finally managed to get his best XI settled and the Toon find themselves in 4th place in the Premier League table. Brighton have also acquitted themselves very well this term and look difficult to beat – both home and away.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Newcastle United
Sky Bet Championship – Amex Stadium – Sunday 24th September 2017, Kick-off: 16.00 GMT
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Draw Best Odd of: 7/4 at Skybet |
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Brighton & Hove Albion
Newcastle UnitedBrighton & Hove Albion
Chris Hughton takes on his former side off the back of two defeats at the hands of South Coast rivals Bournemouth – 2-1 in the Premier League and 1-0 in the EFL Cup – but both performances will have pleased Hughton.
Albion currently sit in 16th place in the Premier League and picked up their maiden Premier League victory last time out at the Amex with an impressive 3-1 win over West Bromwich Albion.
Newcastle United
The Magpies have taken 9 points from their last 3 games and look in fantastic form. Home wins over West Ham and Stoke were sandwiched by a gritty 1-0 victory at Swansea which is giving the Toon faithful serious cause for optimism.
Matt Ritchie has engineered 4 assists in his last 3 games and he looks integral to the way Newcastle play with his efficient delivery from set pieces – something which skipper Jamal Lascelles has benefitted from – scoring the winning goal in his last two appearances.
Jonjo Shelvey and Dwight Gayle are both in contention to get recalls for this one, after suspension and injury respectively, but Benitez looks set to stick with the same team that has served him well of late.
Head to Head
This is the 21st meeting between these 2 sides with Newcastle just edging the head to head 9:8 and 3 draws taking place between the two sides.
The pair met twice last season in the Championship with Newcastle winning 2-0 at St James’s Park before pinching a late 2-1 victory at the Amex in February this year – on their way to pipping Brighton to the Championship trophy in May.
Odds and Predictions
This promises to be a good game between two evenly matched sides.
Over 2.5 goals in the game looks great value at 27/20 with Bet 365.
Brighton have looked good this term but Newcastle are in excellent form – won their last 3 games.
Newcastle to win the match is enticing at 7/4 with Paddy Power
Tomer Hemed has had an encouraging start to the season for Brighton.
Tomer Hemed to score anytime looks a super bet at 5/2 with Paddy Power.
Both teams will see this as a ‘winnable’ match and will want to go for it.
Both teams to score – YES – 21/20 with William Hill.
Score Prediction
Brighton 1 – 2 Newcastle – 11/1 with Bet 365.
Top Betting Tip
Newcastle have the psychological edge over Brighton and that should be enough for them to squeeze by here.
Newcastle to win and both teams to score represents value at 11/2 with Ladbrokes.