Brighton & Hove Albion are going to host Ipswich Town for their 31st league outing in the 2015-16 campaign of the Sky Bet Championship at the American Express Community Stadium in the midweek fixture. Chris Hughton’s side have been absolutely fantastic and are in a pretty strong position to hold on to their spot in the automatic promotion places.
After 30 games, the Seagulls have garnered 64 points with a healthy goal difference of +26. Brighton shall be entering into the game with humungous confidence, having completely demolished Burton Albion by a 4-1 score-line at home this weekend and went to the top of the ladder until Newcastle United pulled off a win against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Their opponents, Ipswich Town defeated struggling Aston Villa by a goal without any reply at the Villa Park, implying that the upcoming fixture has all the ingredients to be a close one. To face the Blues, this is how Brighton & Hove Albion might shape up.
PREDICTED BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION XI VS IPSWICH TOWN (4-4-2)
Defence
There shouldn’t be any surprise to see David Stockdale being stationed between the sticks. The veteran goalkeeper has already accumulated 12 clean sheets in 25 appearances in the league so far this term, implying that the Seagulls really have had the luxury of possessing someone assured with the gloves on and would be used to keep things in control in the upcoming midweek fixture.
Hughton has been an advocate of a four-man defensive wall, and we are likely to witness the resilient central defensive pair of Shane Duffy and Lewis Dunk being used at the heart of their defence, whereas Sebastian Pocognoli is expected to start the proceedings from the left-back slot with Bruno on the other side of the flank.
Midfield
The midfield is pretty sorted out as well, with Anthony Knockaert expected to be given a berth in the starting eleven on the right wing along with Jamie Murphy on the left side. Steve Sidwell and Dale Stephens are expected to be given the nod from the manager after a good show for Brighton against Burton Albion.
Attack
Up front, the prolific pair of Sam Baldock and Tomer Hemed is likely to be stationed to rattle the Tractor Boys. The former bagged a neatly finished goal against Burton Albion whereas the latter garnered a brace including a goal through a penalty kick. Hughton has enough options in his attacking arsenal but for the sake of group cohesiveness and consistency, he might not be looking for any change in the attacking zone.
Stockdale
Pocognoli-Duffy-Dunk-Bruno
Knockaert-Sidwell-Stephens-Murphy
Baldock-Hemed
Statistics Credits: Squawka.
