Brighton (A) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line-ups & score prediction

At one stage this week, it looked like Unai Emery would be either be sat in the dugout or watching this one from the stands, yet it's now Eddie Howe who seems all set to become the new manager of Newcastle United.

No official announcement has arrived at the time of writing, with Graeme Jones keen to remind us in Friday's presser that it wasn't "set in stone" just yet, but it seems like our new owners have finally got their man.

It's a shame he didn't arrive sooner actually, as he's picked up nine wins and four draws in 16 games against Brighton - who are statistically his favourite team to face as a manager!

So, an off-field boost appears to be imminent and we'll have to hope that spurs the players on to impress the incoming manager at Brighton.

There's going to come a point where this winless run has to stop or we'll be as good as down. In fact, the Premier League history books tells us only Derby County have stayed up after failing to win any of their opening 11 games, with them surviving on 42 points in 2000/2001.

If that doesn't tell the players how important this game at Brighton may be, perhaps nothing will!

Team news

Jones has confirmed that Paul Dummett is the only injured player at present, with Elliot Anderson fit again but highly unlikely to feature after starting the U23s 5-0 defeat to Southampton on Friday.

For the hosts, Danny Welbeck and Steven Alzate are long-term absentees, while giant defender Dan Burn and Irish attacker Aaron Connolly could face late fitness tests.

Predicted line ups

(5-3-2): Dubravka – Manquillo, Fernandez, Lascelles, Clark, Ritchie – Willock, Hayden, Almiron – Saint-Maximin, Wilson.

(3-4-1-2): Sanchez - Veltman, Duffy, Webster - Lamptey, Mwepu, Bissouma, Cucurella - Lallana - Trossard, Maupay.

Darlow's not done a massive amount wrong, but he is a level below Dubravka in every department for me.

The fit-again Slovakian is a far better communicator, often barking out orders to organise his defence. He's not exactly a ball playing goalkeeper, but it's worth noting that Darlow's distribution was pretty unconvincing when put under pressure against Chelsea.

At the back, it's surely time for Fernandez to return. Perhaps an unpopular opinion, but Krafth has been more convincing than Clark in recent weeks, yet our lack of left-footed centre backs may see the Irish international keep his place.

I myself would like to see Schar return to the side - he's the only central defender we have with quality on the ball - but reckon our only defensive change will see Fernandez return in Krafth's place.

In midfield, Fraser has looked lost in this central role both Bruce and Jones continue to play him in; despite the fact he is and has always been a left winger!

With his anonymous displays against Palace and Chelsea in mind, I can see Almiron coming in to join a midfield three that operates behind a front two of Saint-Maximin and Wilson.

ASM has looked lacklustre and been largely uninvolved for a few weeks now, so we'll need to see much more from him in this one - both on and off the ball.

Whatever happens, Jones needs to change things. His team selections have been poor, for me, since he became interim manager and our set up surprisingly negative based on the injection of life and fresh ideas he gave our side when he first arrived back in January.

Match prediction

Eddie Howe has a huge job on his hands no matter what happens in this one, however we should be gunning to give him the perfect arrival gift with a big result here.

Sadly, I don't see us coming away with anything unless we are MUCH better than we've been in our last two since Jones took charge.

In truth, we were lucky to get a point at Palace and were abysmal against Chelsea, so a Brighton side who tend to smother teams at The Amex and give little away at the other end will be fancying themselves here.

I'm hoping we are a little more adventurous, not the sitting ducks we've been of late, and put in a huge effort to impress an onlooking Howe, but fear Potter's Brighton will beat us fairly comfortably.

Prediction: Brighton 2-0 Newcastle