Brighton and Hove Albion vs. Newcastle United – English Premier League, March 20, 2021

This could be one of the most important games of the season for both sides, as the threat of relegation continues to apply to Brighton and Newcastle.

With Fulham improving all the time, it will be vital for these two to pick up a crucial three points on Saturday to stay ahead of what could become a congested bottom five in the EPL.

If it weren’t for the injury list at Newcastle at present, I would be very interested in the away win after seeing these odds from BetOnline. I feel as though Brighton should win, but these kinds of fixtures sometimes make a mockery of form and recent results.

It should be a hard-fought battle, but the absent players might make more of a difference than those on the pitch.

Brighton’s victory over Southampton on Sunday was the first time in a while that the Seagulls received the result they deserved after some good performances had been ruined by poor finishing or strange refereeing decisions. There was an increased level of determination at St Mary’s that was rewarded with three vital points

After five games without a win, it was exactly what Graham Potter and his players needed. Brighton had been dragged back down into the relegation battle after losing against fellow strugglers in February and now needs to replicate the steeliness shown against Southampton in its remaining fixtures.

There has been the well-publicized difference of opinion between players and management at the club this season – but that was seemingly put aside in the most recent game against Aston Villa. It took a stoppage-time equalizer to win just a point, but every point is crucial now.

Newcastle will be missing its best players again on Saturday, though. Allan Saint-Maximin is definitely out – and although Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron have responded well to treatment, they will both probably miss the trip to the south coast this weekend. That will make a huge difference to Newcastle’s chances of getting anything from this game – and might play a big role in the identities of the bottom three this season.

There has been a lot of talk about how Brighton’s attacking players have let the club down this season. With some excellent defenders at the club, plenty of goal-scoring chances have not been taken, leaving the Seagulls in their current perilous position. This is now a home game that absolutely needs to be won – and if the players can perform as they did against Southampton, I think that will be the case.