We get to welcome Brighton to the Cottage for a 3 o’clock kick off
Losing an unbeaten run the way it happened always stings, but it didn’t really feel like a game where we did quite enough to earn the three points.
Whilst it was a frustrating result, it doesn’t feel like a turning point in a negative sense — more like a reminder of how fine the margins are at this level. If the response is right, there’s still plenty to be excited about.
The positives are definitely there though. Getting both Sessegnon and King back is huge in itself; match sharpness will come, and both add things we’ve clearly missed. Sess in particular just needs minutes — the quality is obvious when he’s fully fit.
Having the AFCON lads back makes a big difference also. The squad suddenly looks deeper and more balanced, especially in midfield and defensively, and Muniz returning to training gives us another genuine option up front rather than running poor old Raúl into the ground.
If we can:
- keep key players fit
- add even one or two ready-made reinforcements
- and cut out those lapses late in games
then top half is absolutely realistic, and Europe isn’t fantasy either — especially with how inconsistent the teams around us have been.
Our record against Brighton is interesting as well, we first played them in 1928 division three(south), with 27 wins, 23 losses and 9 draws.
The last, Premier League, 11 games 5 wins, 1 loss and 5 draws.
Slightly in our favour “overall”, and that recent PL run (only 1 loss in 11) shows we generally match up well with them, even if it’s often tight and cagey.
I don’t think that Lukic, Muniz or Tete will be available and I think Marco will have the 3 AFCON lads on the bench so team would be…
COYW’s
Games of Interest
Saturday 24/01
West Ham v Sunderland
Burnley v Spurs
Fulham v Brighton
Sunday 25/01
Brentford v Forest
Palace v Chelsea
come on over to the forum and join in the conversation…
https://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?board=36.0