Brighton & Hove Albion have had mixed fortunes this season so far. The Seagulls had a relatively slow start to life in the Premier League but are now gradually coming to terms with life in the top tier. Chris Hughton’s side narrowly missed the Championship title last season but at the end, it didn’t matter as they finished comfortably in the second position to gain an automatic entry to the Premier League.
Hughton bought some quality players in the summer but the squad looks weaker in comparison to the other squads. The Brighton manager needs to dig deep in January and ensure a squad overhaul to stay competitive in the Premier League.
The likes of Newcastle United already had a number of Premier League quality players from their squad of last season and so Rafa Benitez didn’t have to address much in this ongoing season. But the Seagulls only have a handful of top class players with the likes of Anthony Knockaert and Glenn Murray who had the experience of plying their trade in the top tier.
Home form has been a crucial factor in this season too as they banked on their home comfort in the Championship last season to outplay all the opponents at the Amex Stadium. The Seagulls collected 54 points last season at home on their way towards Premier League which played a pivotal part in their resurgence.
This season, their only wins have come at the Amex Stadium and it seems Brighton are going to replicate their home form. They converted their home soil into a fortress and Manchester City got the first taste of the seaside stadium as they visited on the opening day of the season.
They fought well with the Sky Blues but due to their inexperience in the Premier League, they had to digest a defeat at the hand of Man City. They also tormented Everton in their home soil and had Rooney not been able to convert the penalty it would have been a historic win for the Seagulls.
Burnley applied the same theory as they looked quite menacing at the Turf Moor and their home form was the telling factor as they stay up in the top tier. Brighton are currently considered to be favourites for relegation but if Hughton sticks to the basics his side might be able to see out this season without much discomfort.
It remains to be seen whether they would be able to turn the Amex Stadium into a fortress or not.
