Hurzeler prepared for ´intense´ Fulham clash

Fabian Hurzeler is expecting an “intense” contest when Brighton and Hove Albion face Fulham in the Premier League on Thursday.

Brighton were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw with bottom side Southampton last Friday but are fourth in the table after 13 rounds of matches.

Fulham are four points behind Brighton after going two games without a win, but Hurzeler is anticipating a tough match at Craven Cottage.

“They are a very good team, good in possession,” he said. “They do everything out of compactness and they try to shift and be aggressive.

“It is a very small, tight stadium; the pitch is not the biggest, so it should be quite an intense game.”

Hurzeler will have a different vantage point for the match in south London as he is serving a touchline ban after being yellow carded last week.

“Honestly, I trust my team, I trust my staff,” he said. “I’m also very convinced that the players will do it on the pitch.”

Follow Fulham away.

@l0ujade pic.twitter.com/CIHpQy8JHe

— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) December 3, 2024

Fulham were stunned 4-1 by lowly Wolves in their most recent home game, which they followed up with a creditable 1-1 draw at Tottenham.

Tom Cairney was sent off and will therefore serve a suspension in the game with Brighton, while Sasa Lukic and Harrison Reed are also out.

Goalkeeper Bernd Leno accepts Fulham will not find things easy against the high-flying Seagulls.

“Brighton are a very good team, very well organised team. It will be a very tough game,” he said.

“We’ll try to play our game, we’ll try to win that game, but Brighton are in a good moment. Hopefully we can keep the points at the Cottage.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Fulham – Harry Wilson

Wilson has been involved in four goals in his past four Premier League appearances against Brighton (two goals and two assists), including a goal and an assist in a 3-0 win for Fulham in this corresponding fixture last season.

The forward has yet to start a league game this season, but he has three goals in nine substitute appearances for Marco Silva’s side.

Brighton – Kaoru Mitoma

Mitoma opened the scoring for Brighton in their draw with Southampton, making it goals in back-to-back Premier League games.

The Japan international has more goals (two) in his past two games than he managed in the previous 24 (one) in the competition, but he has never scored in three in a row.

“I have to learn from it but I trust my staff, they will do a great job – and I’m convinced that the players will do it on the pitch.”

Fabian discussed his touchline ban, the return of Solly and more in his #FULBHA press conference today. @MonsterEnergy

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) December 4, 2024

MATCH PREDICTION – FULHAM WIN

Brighton have won three of their six Premier League away games so far this season, which is just one less than they managed in the whole of the 2023-24 campaign.

Fulham have conceded in each of their last 10 Premier League home games, meanwhile, shipping 20 goals in total in this run.

However, the London side are unbeaten in all eight of their Premier League games against Brighton – the joint-most they have faced a side without ever losing (along with Norwich City).

Brighton have also failed to win any of their league visits to Craven Cottage, losing three of those and drawing the other.

Furthermore, Albion are winless in their past nine Premier League away matches against London clubs in their worst-such run since between 1961 and 1967 (10 games).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Fulham – 41.4%
Brighton – 33.8%
Draw – 24.8%