Brighton and Hove Albion vs Newcastle United. Sky Bet Championship.
Amex StadiumAttendance30,230.
Tuesday 28 February 2017 19:44, UK
Sebastien Pocognoli has been passed fit for Brighton ahead of their top-of-the-table Sky Bet Championship clash at home to Newcastle, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from Tuesday.
The Belgium left-back had to go off late on during Saturday's 3-0 win over Reading with a groin problem, but the move was precautionary.
Brighton boss Chris Hughton could therefore opt to stick with a winning side against his former club, who are second in the Sky Bet Championship.
Liam Rosenior is building up his fitness after a long spell out with an ankle injury and fellow defender Gaeten Bong is still out with a knee problem.
Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez will be without leading scorer Dwight Gayle once again after he suffered a setback on his return to action.
The 20-goal frontman lasted just 33 minutes against Aston Villa last Monday evening following more than a month on the sidelines and, although a scan on his hamstring has shown no new damage, he will not be risked.
Benitez faces the task of finding the right man to take the attack to Brighton with Aleksandar Mitrovic misfiring alongside Ayoze Perez in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Bristol City, when Daryl Murphy was an unused substitute.
The Spaniard may also think hard about his goalkeepers after Karl Darlow made another costly error at the weekend with Rob Elliot waiting in the wings, while Isaac Hayden continues his recovery from ankle surgery.
Brighton's only defeat in their last seven matches against Newcastle in all competitions (W4 D2) came earlier this campaign in a 2-0 loss at St. James' Park.
The Magpies have never scored a goal at the Amex Stadium in two previous games there, both in the FA Cup.
The Seagulls have lost one of their last 19 home league games on a Tuesday (W14 D4), losing 1-0 to Ipswich in December 2015.
Newcastle, meanwhile, haven't lost an away game on a Tuesday since going down to Spurs in December 2010, winning four and drawing three since.
Magpies striker Daryl Murphy has scored in each of his last four Championship appearances against Brighton (four goals).
Murphy is the highest scoring Championship opposition player at the Amex (since 2011/12), netting four goals in five previous appearances.
The Magpies are yet to win a Championship game in which they've conceded the first goal this season (D1 L6), while Brighton have won 18 out of 18 games in which they've scored first.
From what I saw of Brighton against a promotion rival on Saturday, they were very, very good. Reading had a lot of the ball but Brighton were so clinical. They were decisive and really put them to the sword.
Chris Hughton's side go into Tuesday's match in ridiculously good form and will be full of confidence.
Newcastle piled the pressure on Bristol City in the second half and it was an absolute onslaught. They should have won that game.
It's all set to be a really close match at the Amex but I think Brighton have the edge. Their attacking players have been in the goals recently while Newcastle will be missing Dwight Gayle.
You worry about Newcastle when he's not in the team.
Prutton predicts: 2-1 (Sky Bet 9/1)
