Bournemouth v Brighton
Saturday 5th January 1230hrs
Football – England – FA Cup
Pick: Bournemouth
Bookmaker: Bet Victor
Odds: 21/20 (odds taken 17.00 GMT, Friday 4th January)
This is one of just two all-Premier League ties in the third round and it’s between two teams who are very familiar with each other and with just one point separating them in the league, very evenly matched. Both clubs are very much in that group where Premier League safety is the number one priority and everything else pales in comparison, but someone has to win! Continue reading for a match preview of Bournemouth v Brighton with a selected best betting tip.
Bournemouth Preview
Bournemouth started the season in excellent form and found themselves in the top six of the table. Of course they were never going to have enough to stay in that position but what it did give them was the grounding to build on and ensure their safety for another Premier League campaign. The Cherries are now in a more familiar position of 12th, just below mid-table but still very likely to be competing at this level in 12 months time. Like many of their peers, though, Bournemouth have virtually neglected their FA Cup responsibilities to concentrate all their efforts on their league commitments as evidenced by a deplorable record in which they have played only one FA Cup tie after January in a season in the last 15 seasons. It’s an awful record but I’m sure if you polled the club’s supporters, a very small percentage would care about it due to the fact they have sacrificed it in order to establish themselves in the Premier League and sustaining all the financial rewards it brings. Eddie Howe’s men are not in great form at the moment, however, winning only two games in their last 11 matches and although they probably would see an extended cup run as a hindrance due to their small club, they’ll also not wish to continue on their losing run.
Brighton Preview
Brighton’s record in the FA Cup is not quite as bad as their weekend opponents (not many will be) but it’s still a competition that they have failed to regularly go far in. Last season was an exception, however, as the Seagulls made it to the quarter final only to be defeated by eventual runners up, Manchester United. It would have been a welcome distraction on that occasion and dovetailed nicely with improved performances and results. This season, they approach their third round game in a much better position with 27 points from 21 games. Safety is not assured as yet but they are heading in that general direction. Five points from their three games over Christmas and New Year would ordinarily have been overwhelmingly positive but Chris Houghton would have been somewhat disappointed that it wasn’t even better. Attention now switches to Bournemouth as they travel to tie Vitality Stadium for the second time in the space of three weeks.
Bournemouth v Brighton Betting Advice
Howe may well be pre-empting some major bids for his star striker Callum Wilson with the signing of Dominic Solanke confirmed on Friday. Wilson has been excellent this season and has been attracting interest from Chelsea amongst others. How the home team line up as a result will be interesting but you have to think that this year is the perfect opportunity for the Cherries to at least progress past January and make it into the latter rounds of the FA Cup with a home game against a team who they have a very good record of beating when at home. Brighton must dread travelling to face Bournemouth having lost on each of their last four visits and not winning there since 2007 when the two clubs were in League One. Regardless of what selection each manager goes for, that recent history does go for something and will be fresh in the memory for both sets of players.
Bournemouth drew with Watford in midweek but it was a game that they will still be wondering how they never managed to come away with all three points having dominated. Their record at home in generally pretty strong as well with five wins and three draws from 11 games. Brighton, on the other hand, are a much better team at home than on the road and I expect they’ll be on the end of another defeat at the Vitality.
