We make our first journey of the season away from Sixfields tomorrow night as Brighton and Hove Albion host the Cobblers at The Withdean Stadium. Albion fans are on a high after the club finally gained clearance for their new ground in Falmer but on the pitch, the Seagulls have lost their opening two games and will be looking to bounce back against the Town.
Stuart Gray is waiting on the fitness of Andy Kirk as he prepares the team for the visit to the south coast. Kirk, who has scored two in two games at the start of this season, has a groin problem but the only other injury problem is the long term absence of midfielder Giles Coke, who isn’t expected back until October.
Brighton are sweating on the fitness of Joel Lynch who picked up a knee injury in the midweek cup defeat at Cardiff. Jake Robinson and Doug Loft could both feature after coming through a reserve game unscathed this week.
Last time the sides met, Bas Savage’s double strike gave the Seagulls a 2-0 success at Sixfields back in March to virtually confirm their League One survival.
THE STORY SO FAR…BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION IN 2007/08
Last weekend, Albion were beaten in their opening game of the season at Crewe. Dean Cox gave them the lead after just 14 minutes but Crewe turned the game around with two goals including one penalty from Gary Roberts.
On Tuesday night, they were in Carling Cup action as they held Cardiff City at Ninian Park to a goalless draw in 90 minutes. The deadlock was broken though ten minutes into extra time as Roger Johnson pounced to send Albion out of the competition.
Following two tight away defeats, The Seagulls will be looking to bounce back in their opening home game of the campaign tomorrow afternoon.
RECENT MEETINGS
31/03/07: COBBLERS 0-2 BRIGHTON
A double from Bas Savage gives Albion a vital three points in the battle against the drop.
21/10/06: BRIGHTON 1-1 COBBLERS
Jake Robinson scores from close range to give Brighton a lead but a bizarre late goal from James Quinn salvages a draw. Quinn was put through by a quick thinking throw in on 84 minutes and finished well for his only Town goal to date.
12/03/02: BRIGHTON 2-0 COBBLERS
Bobby Zamora scores in the first half for Albion before Simon Morgan makes it a comfortable victory for the home side.
31/08/01: COBBLERS 2-0 BRIGHTON
Up until this game, we hadn’t won a game all season but late goals from Marco Gabbiadini and Derek Asamoah finally gave us something to cheer about.
19/02/00: COBBLERS 1-0 BRIGHTON
An early Ian Sampson goal wins the game for the Town.
27/11/99: BRIGHTON 1-3 COBBLERS
Carlo Corrazzin gives us the lead on 8 minutes but Warren Aspinall nets a leveller on the half hour. Darryl Clare and Sean Parrish score in quick succession in the second half though to gain a massive win on the way to promotion in the 99/00 season.
HEAD TO HEAD…THE COBBLERS vs. BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
TOTAL MEETINGS: 118
COBBLERS WINS: 51
DRAWS: 31
BRIGHTON WINS: 36
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