The Season So Far
Brighton have got their promotion credentials back on track with back-to-back wins ahead of tonight's match. After going on a seven-match winless run that punctured their unbeaten start to the season, The Seagulls now lie in fifth place after wins over Blackburn Rovers and Huddersfield Town.
Their dealings in the January transfer window consisted of five permanent signings: Richie Towell (Dundalk), Anthony Knockaert (Standard Liege), Henrik Bjordal (Aalesund), Jonah Ayunga (Dorchester Town) and Jirri Skalak (Mlada Boleslav), plus tow inward loans, former Bee Steve Sidwell (Stoke City) and Liam Ridgewell (Portland Timbers). Sidwell returns for his second spell in Sussex after a previous loan spell in 2002 under Steve Coppell.
Almost nine years after he left the club, Bobby Zamora returned to Brighton and Hove Albion from Queens Park Rangers on a 12-month deal last summer. Fullback Gaetan Bong [Wigan Athletic] and goalkeeper Niki Maenpaa [VVV-Venlo] were also added to the squad.
Brighton let both Craig Mackail-Smith and Paddy McCourt leave for Luton Town, while Aaron Hughes joined Melbourne City in the A-League. Academy product Bradley Barry was sold to Swindon Town and defender Germaine Agustien left upon completing a year of his contract.
Chris O’Grady [Nottingham Forest] and Glen Rea [Southend United] left on short-term loan deals. Goalkeeper Christian Walton was also lent to Plymouth Argyle to gain match experience from the club he started his career with. Winger Solly March will also be missing today; he was recently ruled out for the season with a knee injury.
Just before the loan window shut last November, striker James Wilson also joined until the end of the season from Manchester United.
The Gaffer
Chris Hughton was put in charge of Brighton just over a year ago, knocking The Bees out of last season’s FA Cup campaign in his first game in the new job. His managerial career so far has seen him get Newcastle United promoted back to the Premier League, reach the Play-Offs with Birmingham City, and save Norwich City from relegation.
The former left-back spent over a decade playing for Tottenham Hotspur before moving to West Ham United and finally Brentford in 1992. He earned 53 caps with the Republic of Ireland, for whom he acted as Assistant Manager between 2003 and 2005.
The Match Officials
Referee: Keith Stroud
Assistant Referees: Dean Treleaven and Marc Wilson
Fourth Official: James Linington
Ticket news
You can pay on the day for tonight's game. Visit the Brighton and Hove Albion ticket information page for more details.
Bees Player
You can hear live match commentary on Bees Player from 7.15pm tonight, with commentator Mark Burridge.