The Season So Far
The Seagulls are well and truly flying this season. Until last weekend, they remained the only unbeaten team in the top four tiers of English football. In particular, performances at the AMEX have spurred them into the play-off places although their away form has only seen them win two games and draw eight.
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 in the 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 month, Rajiv van La Parra [Wolverhampton Wanderers] was signed until January and young striker James Wilson also joined until the end of the season from Manchester United.
The Gaffer
Chris Hughton was put in charge of Brighton almost a year ago, knocking The Bees out of last season’s FA Cup campaign on his first day 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 officials
Referee: Darren Deadman
Assistant Referees: Gavin Muge and Nicholas Cooper
Fourth Official: Nicholas Kinseley
Tickets
Check our ticket website for the latest availability.
You can hear live match commentary of the entire match on Bees Player from 12.15pm, with commentator Mark Burridge.