Brighton and Hove Albion vs Leeds United. Sky Bet Championship.
Amex StadiumAttendance25,150.
Monday 29 February 2016 22:02, UK
Brighton boss Chris Hughton is braced for a fearless approach from visitors Leeds United when the two teams meet on Monday night live on Sky Sports 1 HD, despite their contrasting fortunes in the Sky Bet Championship.
While Leeds are down in 17th and last won a league game on January 23, fourth-placed Brighton are just four points behind second-placed Hull and go into the match on the back of a 4-0 triumph over Bristol City.
Hughton's side will be keen for all three points in Monday night's televised clash, especially with fellow promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough, Hull, and table-toppers Burnley all in decent form.
Nevertheless, Hughton will not be underestimating a Leeds side that held Middlesbrough to a goalless draw and told the official Seagulls' club website: "They can come here without so much fear, but they will do that anyway.
"They've got some good young talent in the side and sometimes we talk about young players feeling nervous, but they generally play without fear and enjoy it."
Hughton, who will hope to have defenders Bruno and Gaetan Bong back in contention, added: "Generally their games are quite tight and close, but we're at home and the points for where we are in the league are very valuable."
Meanwhile, Leeds manager Steve Evans is adamant his side do not have a trench mentality going into Monday night, with Liam Bridcutt set to return against his former club having missed the 1-1 draw with Fulham due to personal reasons.
Evans, who is still without injured striker Chris Wood, told the official Leeds United club website: "We've got to believe we can go there and win - we're going there to try and win.
"We're not going to go there and put 11 men behind the ball. The Amex is a wonderful stadium and they've got some fantastic supporters - there'll be a big crowd there on Monday night.
"But the Leeds United fans will be heard and they get even louder when we're winning, like we've seen at Bolton and other places this season. We need them right behind us."
Watch Brighton and Hove Albion v Leeds United in the Sky Bet Championship on Monday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7.30pm. Or watch for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV.
