The Cottagers travel to the south coast to take on the Seagulls on Saturday afternoon (3pm). Can they pick up a third successive victory? Or will the hosts make it four wins from their last four at home? It’s Brighton vs Fulham at Amex Stadium. So read on for our BHAFC vs FFC Premier League game preview with betting tips.
The Seagulls continued ticking along on Saturday afternoon, as they drew 1-1 at Crystal Palace. Sure, they had the better of the contest and may have left Selhurst Park ruing some missed chances, but another game without defeat is promising. Roberto de Zerbi’s men continue to progress and they are now unbeaten in seven in all competitions, five of which they have won.
In the Premier League, they continue to make life tough for allcomers, winning two and drawing two of their last five, conceding more than a single goal on just one occasion during that time. Now back on their own patch, where they have won each of their last three, the hosts will surely fancy themselves to regain the winning thread.
The visitors have also been in good form of late. After losing narrowly to Spurs back at the end of January, they steadied themselves to hold Chelsea to a draw at Stamford Bridge. Then they beat Sunderland in the FA Cup, a win that preceded a dominant display against Nottingham Forest, who they beat by two goals to nil last time out.
Like Saturday’s hosts, the Cottagers have made themselves tough to beat, losing only two of their last 11 in all competitions, while they have not lost by more than a single goal since October. The Amex is fast becoming one of the toughest places to go, but the visitors will hope to get something here.
Happy at home again
After losing back-to-back home games, first to Aston Villa then to league leaders Arsenal, de Zerbi’s Brighton team have got back to making the most of their home advantage. First, they hammered Liverpool in the league, before beating them in the cup, while they were always in control when winning 1-0 against Bournemouth last time on the south coast.
As home records go, Brighton’s is decent. Only five Premier League teams have picked up more home points than the Seagulls this term, and only four teams have conceded fewer home goals.
What is not so pleasing is the fact that several top-seven teams, which is what Fulham are right now, have gone to Amex Stadium and picked up points. In fact, Saturday’s hosts have lost two and drawn one of their three games against teams currently in the top seven.
Cottagers capable on the road
Prior to their win away at Sunderland in the FA Cup, Marco Silva’s Fulham squad were seen leaving Stamford Bridge with both a point and a clean sheet in the bag. That effort probably did not surprise too many people, as Fulham have become a team more than capable of getting a result away from home.
As things stand, only six Premier League teams have a better away record than the Cottagers, who have lost just one of their last six on the road. They have also lost only two of their last eight away games, and both of those defeats were by a single goal against teams currently in the EPL top four.
What’s particularly impressive about Silva’s men when they travel away from home is that they give little away. Prior to their clean sheet at Stamford Bridge, they conceded just one goal away to Newcastle, which was the first goal that they had shipped on the road since losing narrowly to Manchester City back in November. They have now conceded only three goals in their last five away games.
Visitors on top
The Seagulls have struggled to get their noses in front in recent renewals of this fixture. In fact, Saturday’s hosts have won none of their last six against Fulham, who have won three of those six. When the teams met at Craven Cottage earlier in the campaign, Fulham won by two goals to one.
Then again, the Cottagers have not won a competitive game at Amex Stadium since 2014. Interestingly, four of the five previous renewals of this fixture at this venue have seen three or more goals go in.
BHAFC vs FFC: Where’s the bet?
We know how useful both teams can be, and in truth, it’s a very difficult game to call, so much so that from a mere prediction point of view, it’s hard to go one way or the other. However, if this preview is looking for some value, then the visitors make plenty of appeal in the betting with our recommended bookmakers.
The hosts are strong, and they are hard to face, but their record against the better teams at home cannot be ignored. In three games against top-seven teams, they have picked up just one point, failing to score twice, conceding a total of five goals.
Sure, the visitors are by no means prolific away winners, but their road form is enough to suggest that they can dig in and at least take a share of the spoils on the south coast, such is their defensive strength on the road.
Issa Diop and Tim Ream have been outstanding at the back for the Cottagers this term, while Harrison Reed and Joao Palhinha, who is undoubtedly one of the signings of the season, offer excellent protection in midfield. Such players give Silva’s men solid foundations from which to build, and as we saw last weekend, with creative and exciting forwards such as Willian and the powerful Aleksandar Mitrovic, build they often do.
All in all, the visitors look strong enough to hold out against a Brighton team that for all its strengths has only scored two goals in two games prior to this fixture. So for the betting tips for this BHAFC vs FFC preview, we rely on this one:
Bradley Gibbs is an experienced football writer. He is an expert analyst on Premier League, and all global football leagues & tournaments, for Just Bookies. Bradley has been published by many respected outlets, including USA Betting and the Racing & Football Outlook. He has also written betting strategy guides.