Brighton and Hove Albion vs West Bromwich Albion. Premier League.
Amex StadiumAttendance30,381.
Saturday 9 September 2017 14:06, UK
Brighton have received an attacking boost as they seek their first win - and goal - of the Premier League campaign when West Brom visit on Saturday.
Strikers Glenn Murray and Tomer Hemed are back in training, after respective ankle and thigh injuries, to bolster options up front and manager Chris Hughton is desperate to build up the goalless draw against Watford that yield a first top-flight point.
"The next challenge is to take that draw into a winning performance," he said.
"I think we have a very realistic set of people around us and a realistic crowd, they know every game is difficult. West Brom have seven points out of nine, and it's no coincidence, they are an established team with an established manager.
"But we are at home and you will pick up more points at home, so that makes games at the Amex even bigger."
Though Murray and Hemed are back in the frame, Izzy Brown (hamstring) and Sam Baldock (knee) are still out.
Steve Sidwell (back) and Beram Kayal (broken leg) are also sidelined but right-back Ezequiel Schelotto can be added to the squad following his deadline day switch from Sporting Lisbon.
West Brom captain Jonny Evans has been nursing a hamstring injury but played in both of Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifying matches and is set to feature in the Premier League for the first time this term.
Head coach Tony Pulis will decide whether to include new signings Grzegorz Krychowiak and Kieran Gibbs in his squad, with both players fit but short of match-sharpness.
Gareth McAuley is back in training after a thigh injury but Saturday's game will come too soon for him, while Hal Robson-Kanu is still suspended.
The sides' last top-flight meeting was in February 1983 - a goalless draw at Brighton's old Goldstone Ground. The Seagulls have never beaten West Bromwich Albion in the top-flight (D5 L3).
Only one team has lost their first four matches as a Premier League club - Swindon Town, while the only team to fail to score in their first four matches as a Premier League club are Swansea City.
Brighton have failed to score in their opening three Premier League games of the season and have attempted just six shots on target so far.
The Premier League record for longest time taken by a team to score a goal in a season is 438 minutes, held by Newcastle United in 2005-06.
In Tony Pulis' reign at the club, West Bromwich Albion have won just three of their 15 Premier League matches against newly-promoted opposition (W3 D7 L5).
Since Tony Pulis took over at WBA on January 1st 2015, the Baggies have scored both a league-high number (44) and proportion (44%) of their goals from either corners or in-direct free kick situations.
West Brom have played a league-high 26.4% of their passes long in the Premier League so far this season.
Brighton probably looked at this game at the start of the season and thought this would be the one to win. They haven't had the easiest of starts with Manchester City and two away games at Leicester and Watford. This is probably the game they highlighted that they must win. It's a must-win football match for Brighton and, no disrespect to West Brom, who have been excellent so far, they have to beat teams like West Brom at home to have any chance of surviving in the Premier League.
However, you know what West Brom are like, Tony Pulis will make life very difficult for Brighton, who don't score many goals.
PAUL PREDICTS: 0-1 (11/2 with Sky Bet)