Brighton & Hove Albion - a look ahead

Form (last six): L-L-W-D-L-L

2002/03 Finish: League; First Division: 23^rd

FA Cup: Third Round

League Cup: Second Round

2002/03 Top Scorer: Bobby Zamora - 14

2002/03 Discipline: 74 yellow, 5 red

2003/04 Top Scorer: Leon Knight - 13

The last few weeks have been ones of two extremes for both of tomorrow’s teams with both sides showing their supporters exactly what they are capable of. Except in this rare instance, the team who sits seventh in the table envies the form of the team who are currently in the League’s drop zone.

Bobby Zamora

Brighton & Hove Albion by all means, title contenders this season after being relegated during the 2002-03 season. But the Seagulls have failed to record a single league win in their last six games. The Magpies go into the game with a different state of mind entirely having managed three consecutive victories in their last three games at Meadow Lane.

The Seagulls having gone through a rough patch comes on the back of a summer in which they lost a key man in their promotion push in the 2001-02 season in the form of Bobby Zamora. As the club was relegated from the First Division, the vultures began to circle as clubs prize asset was as-good-as placed into the shop window. And the inevitable occurred as Zamora was sold off for a measly £1.5 million to Tottenham. But then only a matter of months into the new season had begun and manager, Steve Coppell, was trading the Withdean Stadium for a place at the vacant position at the Madjekski Stadium.

***Star Man*** - Leon Knight

Leon Knight

This pint-sized striker was brought in to fill the gap left in the Brighton front line by Bobby Zamora. Knight went on loan to the Seagulls although after firing home 4 goals in his first 2 games for the club, Brighton decided to sign the youngster on a permanent basis from Chelsea in a cut-price £100,000 deal.

The Hackney-born striker has since struck 9 goals in his additional 16 games – making him the club’s top goal scorer.

If there is one figure who is sure to cause problems in tomorrows game then it is this man.

***Worth a Flutter?*** - with William Hill bookmakers

Notts County – 7/5

Draw – 21/10

Brighton & Hove Albion – 8/5