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Listen to the podcast: mixcloud.com/sports_saturdayBuild up to the game begins at 4.30pm, featuring interviews with Gus Poyet, Scotland striker Craig Mackail-Smith and full back Inigo Calderon.
Despite earning just a point from their previous four league matches, Brighton are still sat in the play-off positions, five points behind leaders Southampton. The last month has seen Albion's defensive frailties highlighted somewhat, with nine goals conceded in the last three games, and the international break will have been welcomed by many connected with the club.
Two weeks off to reflect and regroup; to analyse why their brilliant start has been halted.
That brilliant start featured impressive league wins at Cardiff, Pompey and Bristol City, as well as home victories against Doncaster and Peterborough. The summer signings were gelling; Buckley, Mackail-Smith and Hoskins all playing well and scoring important goals (when fit), and even Premiership sides were being truly tested in Carling Cup visits to the Amex.
Firstly, a memorable night in August, when Steve Bruce's Sunderland were deservedly put to the sword thanks to an extra-time winner from Mackail-Smith, and then a month later, a thrilling third round tie with Liverpool. A superb second half performance earned Albion plenty of admirers, if not the victory, and Craig Noone's energetic and skilful display earned himself a red shirt with his hero's name on the back.
Since that night, Brighton have played three – Leeds, Palace and Ipswich, and have only managed a point. Gus Poyet certainly wouldn't make excuses; his attitude has always been to fearlessly blame his own rather than external factors. He described the Ipswich match as “Premiership players against League One players” - the kind of honesty that a lot of managers would avoid.
It's far from a disaster. It's a blip. Only the most irrational Albion supporters would have expected a repeat of last season's performance. This is the Championship, and the fact that only Middlesbrough are unbeaten after ten games, suggests that even the very best sides in the division will at some stage struggle.
What is important now for Albion is to get their confidence back. The home defeat to Palace hurt a lot, and the 3-1 loss to Ipswich didn't help to ease the pain. They can consider themselves lucky to remain in such a positive position in the table, but a couple more defeats will see them closer to the wrong end.
Poyet's attitude is if it ain't broke, don't fix it. For six or seven matches, he hasn't felt the need to make many changes. Now perhaps is the time for Gus to move people around and take a look at other players, “When you have a bad run of results, you have a chance [to get in the team]”. Former Spanish international Vicente may now get a run in the side to show his class on a regular basis. He's a certainty to make his first home start against Hull City on Saturday evening, and Poyet will hope that his new star player will set the standard for the rest.
In contrast to Albion, Hull are in excellent form, with fourteen points from a possible eighteen launching them up the table into sixth, a place below the Seagulls. Craig Mackail-Smith will offer advice to his defensive team-mates about Hull striker Aaron McClean, who he knows well from their days together at London Road, whilst Robert Koren and Nicky Barmby offer Premiership and international experience.
Another tough game; they're all tough, but if Albion want to get back on track, now is the time to do it. A win could see them rise as high as 3rd, a defeat – possibly mid table.
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