Premier League: The Duo Leading by Example

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Fulham

Two teams who enjoyed stunning FA Cup victories last Sunday are back in Premier League action this weekend. After the excitement of their respective wins at Old Trafford and St James Park, Fulham and Brighton could be forgiven for thinking this encounter is a bit like “after the Lord Mayor’s show” and all that.

Yet that is far from the attitude Marco Silva and Fabian Hurzeler impress on their players, and they will both want to put the cup aside temporarily to focus on climbing up the table.

 

Talking Points  

In truth, both the Cottagers and the Seagulls are in decent positions in the standings, particularly when you consider the key men both have sold to bigger vultures in recent years – I’m thinking Aleksandar Mitrović, Joao Palhinha, Moises Caicedo and Leandro Trossard to name just four. Yet both continue to punch above their weight.

Fulham continue to dream of emulating their only FA Cup final appearance in 1975, and Silva has put together a talented and deep squad capable of giving anyone a game on their day. Meanwhile, Hürzeler, the youngest manager in the top-flight by a distance, has guided his side to two wins from reaching their first FA Cup final since 1983, when they famously lost to Manchester United in a replay.

The German jokingly hinted that Danny Welbeck might be worth considering by Thomas Tuchel for the England manager’s first squad later this month too after the 34-year-old striker – two years his senior – stepped off the bench to secure Brighton’s fifth straight win at Newcastle.

Yes, they had earlier been struggling to hold on and could have been more than a goal behind – no surprise given the personnel they have lost over the last few years – but turn it around they did and they have now seen off United (twice in the league), Arsenal, Manchester City, Spurs and Newcastle this season, not to mention Chelsea in the previous round of the FA Cup.

If he is a manager making waves, it is impossible for this SBOTOP writer not to be impressed by Fulham too. For they have also enjoyed some notable successes this term, including a draw at league leaders Liverpool and victory at Stamford Bridge.

Compared to many of his counterparts, Silva also operates on a very different stratosphere when it comes to resources, but he has kept the west Londoners competitive and very capable of delivering Premier League 2025 highlights at any time.

 

History 

Fulham have the edge in this fixture with 27 victories compared to 22 Brighton successes. There have also been eight draws. My word, the Seagulls are due a win over the Cottagers as you must go back to 2017 to the last time they beat them – 10 games ago.

To give you an indication that was in the Championship when two goals in a minute from Tomer Hemed (penalty) and Lewis Dunk won the day after Lucas Piazon had put Fulham ahead at Craven Cottage. Since then, they have met nine times in the Premier League, and Fulham have won five with a further four draws.

Earlier this season, Fulham ran out 3-1 winners with an Alex Iwobi double and an own goal securing a 3-1 success and Carlos Baleba finding the net for the visitors.

They also won well at home last season, a 3-0 victory, courtesy of goals from Harry Wilson, Rodrigo Muniz, and Adama Traoré. The corresponding match on the south coast last term ended 1-1, as Evan Ferguson’s opener was cancelled out by Palhinha.

It was in November 1928 in the former Division Three South that the two locked horns for the first time – a 2-0 Brighton success.

 

Betting Tip

Fulham enjoyed a fine win at Old Trafford to knock the holders out of the FA Cup but, in truth, they didn’t have to be anything special to do so. Marco Silva’s men will be full of confidence, and our Premier League 2025 betting odds price them 1X2 @ 3.29 and Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 2.13.

The same afternoon, Brighton were also winning away impressively in the competition, but their display at Newcastle caught the eye even more as far as I’m concerned. The hosts can be backed 1X2 @ 2.02 and Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 2.02.

A draw will pay out @ 3.32, while a repeat of their 1-1 draw last term will earn you a pay day @ 6.50. If you fancy a fair few goals, and I do, then look at Total  Goals 2-3 @ 2.01, 4-6 @ 3.03 and Over 2.75 @ 2.00.

   

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