Football Results

Both teams drew number of recently played matches, although unlike the Hammers Brighton reached the round of 16 of the FA Cup, and on top of it won their match played in London last autumn by sound 3-0.

Brighton

Fact that the home team won just one out of last 14 league matches before this one scheduled for Saturday is definitely a bad sign. Brighton won the last time Watford at home near the end of previous year. After the victory Brighton lost two times to Chelsea and once to West Bromwich away, and it drew with Bournemouth at home and Newcastle and Southampton away.

Before the last drew with the Saints coach Hughton players had eliminated second-division Middlesbrough and qualified for the round of 16 of FA Cup. After those two good results atmosphere in the locker room has definitely become better. Let’s add that Brighton brought during winter transfer window forward Ulloa from Leicester and Locaria from PSV, but the latter is currently injured, just like midfielder Sidwell and winger Skalak.

Probable lineups Brighton: Ryan – Schelotto, Duffy, Dunk, Bong – March, Stephens, Propper, Izquierdo – Gross – Murray

West Ham

Unlike their opponents the guests from London have improved a bit lately and have six-game unbeaten streak in the league of four draws and two wins, while in the FA Cup they firstly eliminated Shrewsbury but then were eliminated by Wigan. However, for their fans it is far more important that West Ham has finally escaped from the drop zone, although they still have just four points more than 18th-placed Southampton, which means they cannot lower their guard till the end of season.

True, coach Moyes is facing with ever increasing number of absences and this match with Brighton will skip suspended defender Masuaku and injured stopper Reid, midfielders Obian, Lanzini and Fernandes, and forwards Arnautovic and Carroll, while not fully ready are stopper Fonte, midfielder Kouyate and forward Antonio. Let’s add that in the transfer window the team left forwards Sakho and Ayew, while midfielder Joao Mario have arrived from Inter and forward Hugill from Preston.

Probable lineups West Hama: Adrian – Rice, Collins, Ogbonna – Byram, Joao Mario, Zabaleta, Noble, Cresswell – Hugill, Chicharito

Verdict:

We have said in the introduction that the two teams often drew recently, which is why is quite likely that will split the points this time but given numerous absences in West Ham’s team we have decided to give a slight advantage to Brighton, which plays at home.

Pick:  Asian handicap -0.25 Brighton 1.97 - 97/100