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There have been other problems too with Ian Cox, Arthur Gnohere and Gordon Armstrong all struggling with injuries. Armstrong is now also the sub goalkeeper so it will be a double blow if he doesn’t make it.
A lot will depend on who is the fittest, Coxy or Arthur, that will determine who plays alongside Steve Davis at the back. Lee Briscoe is almost certain to assume the central midfield role alongside Tony Grant with Bally having left although Paul Cook is an option.
I expect Robbie Blake to come in with Alan Moore suspended and play behind the front two where he was so effective against Bolton.
Glen Little, despite rumours, will line up for the Clarets tomorrow and not one of Villa, Portsmouth or Preston. Who he might be playing for in a week’s time could be another story.
That will leave a starting eleven in 4-4-2 of;
Nik Michopoulos, Dean West, Steve Davis, Arthur Gnohere or Ian Cox, Graham Branch, Glen Little, Tony Grant, Lee Briscoe, Robbie Blake, Ian Moore, Gareth Taylor.
The subs tomorrow will be selected from: Gordon Armstrong, Ian Cox or Arthur Gnohere, Mark McGregor, Paul Cook, Andy Payton and Dimitri Papadopoulos.
Brighton, flush from two successive promotions, are flying up tonight for the game and the only player missing from the squad is full-back Nathan Jones who has a knee injury. They have added to their squad by taking goalkeeper Andy Petterson on a short term deal but he won’t start the game unless regular keeper Michel Kuipers doesn’t recover from a thigh strain.
New Brighton manager Martin Hinshelwood has said that his main objective tomorrow is to keep a clean sheet so it will come as no surprise to see them defend deeply although of course they do have the pace and finishing ability of Bobby Zamora up front.
Hinshelwood will select from;
Michel Kuipers, Andy Petterson, Paul Watson, Danny Cullip, Robbie Pethick, Kerry Mayo, Richard Carpenter, Paul Brooker, Gary Hart, Steve Melton, David Lee, Charlie Oatway, Geoff Pitcher, Adam Virgo, Bobby Zamora, Chris McPhee, Shaun Wilkinson and Daniel Marney.
For more on Brighton, to look at past results against them, a profile on a player from both clubs and a look back at the last time this fixture was played check out the Match Preview