Albion preview: Seagulls aim to keep grip on play-off place

Albion will be looking to tighten their grasp on sixth place this Saturday when they welcome a struggling Huddersfield Town to the Amex.

The Seagulls climbed into the play-off places last weekend with a well-deserved 1-0 win at home to Burnley, whereas the Terriers find themselves lurking in 18th place in the table.

Team News

Gus Poyet’s squad is looking as healthy as he could have hoped with Andrew Crofts (hamstring), Will Hoskins (knee), and Liam Bridcutt (suspension) the only absentees for the visit of the Yorkshire outfit.

Gordon Greer and Craig Mackail-Smith both returned to action against Burnley after spells on the sidelines, and winger Will Buckley has recovered from an illness which kept him out of the same fixture.

Huddersfield are likely to go into the game with an unchanged side from that of which claimed a narrow 1-0 win away at Burnley midweek. However, if Oscar Gobern is to keep his place in the side he will have to play with two black eyes and multiple stitches following a whack in the face during the game.

Form

Albion are in fine form at present and go into the tie unbeaten in four games, winning three of them. The Sussex side have now won consecutive league games, and have now scored in 10 of the last 11 home games.

Albion last 5: L W D W W

February was a month to forget for Saturday’s guests but they managed to pick up their first win in five league games with their 1-0 victory over the Clarets on Tuesday, much to the delight of new manager Mark Robins.

Huddersfield last 5: L D L D W

Head to Head

Brighton got the better of the Terriers when the two clashed back in November thanks to a Will Buckley brace. The rapid wide man struck after just five minutes into the game and then again moments before half time, with a Simon Church goal in the 90th minute acting as a consolation for the home side.

Players to watch

Leonardo Ulloa (Albion)

The Argentine striker has shown glimpses of brilliance since joining the club in January and has looks hungry for goals. He scored on his debut against Arsenal in the fourth round of the FA Cup and again in Albion’s 2-0 victory away at Cardiff recently, so expect the forward to get on the score sheet.

James Vaughan (Huddersfield)

The former Norwich frontman netted the winner in Huddersfield’s win in the week, which bumped his score tally up to seven for the current campaign. He will have his work cut out if he is to squeeze any change from a resilient Adam El-Abd and Matthew Upson, though.