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Football News: Premier League Match Preview Tuesday 17th April 2018

Premier League Match Preview Tuesday 17th April 2018
Image from: animalsw.com

Tuesday 17th April 2018

 


Brighton & Hove Albion v Tottenham Hotspur 7:45pm kick off

 

Brown (ACL injury) out
Sidwell (back injury) out
Skalak (ankle injury) doubt
Propper (suspended) out

Their form has dropped off massively at just the wrong time, it has now been 4 matches since they had a win and, worse, lost 3 of those 4 games. Still a few points short of safety, their run-in could not really be much more difficult, with Man City, Burnley, Manchester United and Liverpool left to play after this Spurs game. Sat in 13th with a few points beaten themselves and the bottom 3, they do look superficially safe but they could be that team that gets dragged in at the death. There always seems to be one of those in the relegation battle each season, though this season it does seem the bottom three are simply not good enough to pick up enough points to drag anyone else into it. That might well be Brighton's saving grace.
Most important player: Mathew Ryan. It could have been anyone of the defence, as they were, to a man, abysmal against Crystal Palace last time out. Not one of them deserves a place in the team on that showing, but Ryan also has a World Cup place to play for in the Australian squad. Though he will need to play a lot better in Russia or things could get pretty embarrassing for the Aussies!

 

Rose (calf strain) out
Walker-Peters (hamstring injury) out
Winks (ankle injury) out

Second is there to play for and they have a decent run in which offers them the opportunity to pick up maximum points for the rest of the season. Though there is the distraction of a forthcoming FA Cup semi-final against Man Utd to occupy thoughts. It is time this Spurs side took the next step and won a trophy, before the low pay structure pulls the team apart, as Mauricio Pochettino has yet to prove he can win things, rather than just compete and fold when the pressure is on. He will need to ensure his team shows a lot more discipline than they did at the weekend if they are to do so. They cannot keep losing their cool every time they are getting beaten or the indiscipline will cost them badly through suspensions and hit their long term form.
Most important player: Hugo Lloris. The French keeper has lost his way a bit in recent months and is making basic errors, which are now being compounded by a lack of confidence leaving him indecisive.

 

Defining Battle: you would expect Spurs to come flying out of the blocks to go at the Seagulls from kick off, but they have an FA Cup semi-final on the horizon and it may not even be a full strength side they put out. This could be Brighton manager Chris Hughton's big moment, not just to put one over on his former side, but also to achieve safety. You would have to believe that a win for Brighton would see them safe, with 38 points being unlikely to be achieved by any of the three currently in the relegation places. This could turn out to be a very cat-and-mouse game, with so much pressure on Brighton, they could sit back and just try and hold out, even if that is not what the manager wants from his team and Spurs could be putting out a reserve team or a team that is going to be going into every challenge with the thought they could miss the FA Cup semi at the weekend if they get injured in the back of their minds. The decisive battle will be in the hands of the managers and their motivational skills. Hughton to ensure the pressure does not stimy his players and Pochettino to ensure they are fully focused on the game in hand.

 

Editors' Predictions:
Ed002 - 1-1
Ed003 - 0-3
Ed004 - 1-2
Ed007 - 1-3
Ed018 - 1-2
Ed025 - 1-3
Ed033 - 0-2

 



Editor's Predictions Table
1. Ed002 - 214 points
2. Ed018 - 209 points
3. Ed025 - 208 points
4. Ed007 - 207 points
5. Ed033 - 204 points
6. Ed004 - 202 points
7. Ed003 - 186 points

 

*1 point is awarded for the correct result, 3 points for the correct score.
**updated 13th April 2018 (not including results for that day)

Written by Tris Burke April 17 2018 06:33:03