Two of the Premier League’s in-form groups meet on the south coast on Wednesday. BBC Sport examines a number of the key themes.
Brighton’s dwelling comforts
Brighton and Hove Albion are vying to register a membership document fourth successive top-flight dwelling win in a row, and they’re unbeaten in 10 Premier League matches at Amex Stadium since a 3-0 defeat towards Aston Villa eight months in the past.
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Albion head coach Fabian Hurzeler bemoaned his aspect’s failure to implement their traditional high-pressing sport throughout that fixture, together with his gamers wanting jaded within the wake of an FA Cup quarter-final exit on penalties to 4 days earlier.
This time round, they face Villa off the again of a powerful away league victory at Forest, which secured 10 factors from 4 video games in November. Solely matched that.
Brighton’s excessive press has served them nicely this season – they’ve gained possession inside 40 metres of their opponent’s aim greater than every other aspect, and this has translated to an unrivalled variety of photographs and two targets.
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“I see a group that sticks collectively, a group that is working arduous, a group that is getting an understanding an increasing number of for one another,” stated Hurzeler after Sunday’s win at Nottingham Forest.
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Defining month for Villa?
In the meantime, Aston Villa have moved from 18th place to fourth by successful seven of their previous eight league matches. They’ve earned essentially the most factors within the division over that point, with solely scoring extra and simply conceding fewer.
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Nonetheless, their credentials will probably be severely examined in December. Along with this testing journey to Brighton, they face Arsenal twice, Chelsea and earlier than the tip of the yr.
Villa have needed to assume exterior the field since failing to win any of their opening 5 league video games this season – and solely scoring one aim throughout that interval. 9 of their 16 top-flight targets have been scored from exterior the penalty space – no different group in Premier League historical past has scored such a excessive share of targets from vary in a season.
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Whereas it has led to spectacular moments, Villa’s reliance on long-range photographs is indicative of the actual fact they’re but to totally discover their attacking fluency this season. Unai Emery, whose subsequent Premier League victory will probably be a document 62nd for a Villa supervisor, has challenged his aspect to enhance their aim output:
“We misplaced [out on] Champions League [qualification last season] by means of aim distinction,” he stated.
“We’re, in our calls for, making an attempt to establish the place we performed weak, even once we are successful. We’re not scoring a variety of targets. We wish to rating targets and get numbers.”