Newcastle United travel to take on Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League this afternoon.
General view inside the Amex Stadium
Pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he thinks Brighton and Hove Albion will beat Newcastle United 2-1 at the Amex Stadium this afternoon.
Brighton head into the game having lost 2-1 at Bournemouth last weekend, but they did beat West Bromwich Albion 3-1 in their last home game, meaning a return to the Amex Stadium should be a boost for manager Chris Hughton.
With winger Solly March and midfielder Pascal Gross both in fine form, Brighton will be hoping for a second victory of the season this afternoon, in a bid to pull away from the relegation zone.
Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez
Their opponents today are Newcastle United, who started the season with two defeats, but have now won their last three games against West Ham United, Swansea City and Stoke City.
Rafael Benitez’s men have catapulted themselves into the upper reaches of the table, and can return to fourth spot with a win this afternoon.
Benitez’s last trip to the Amex Stadium resulted in a 2-1 win for Newcastle back in February, but Mark Lawrenson is predicting a role reversal today.
Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that despite Newcastle’s upturn in form of late, he is going with a 2-1 Brighton victory this afternoon, tipping manager Hughton to get a win over his former club.
Lawrenson suggested that Brighton haven’t pulled up any trees just yet, but Hughton is a calm head, and feels that the Seagulls need to pick up a win today.
“Newcastle won at the Amex Stadium in February, when both of these clubs were in the Championship,” said Lawrenson. “The Magpies’ run of form, with three straight wins, would suggest they are going to do same when they return to the south coast on Sunday, but I am actually backing Brighton here.
“The Seagulls have not done anything spectacular so far but that is not a problem, and their manager Chris Hughton is not the type of manager to panic. What Hughton will be doing is planning his side’s route through the entire campaign, with the aim of finishing at least one point above the bottom three. I hate the phrase ‘must-win’, especially at this stage, but Hughton will know this is a game that his side really need to get something out of if they are going to stay in the top flight,” he added.
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