Cherries go into Brighton derby as favourites

AFCB keep surprising teams and they now come into the local match against Brighton as favourites on recent form. Fourth from the top of the Championship, the Cherries are in good shape as the Sky TV cameras come to town and while they might not be able to emulate the scoreline of last weekend they certainly won't be holding back.

Brighton players really need the points so I am expecting a very tricky match.

Meanwhile, it has not been the easiest of times for Sami Hyypia at Brighton who sit four places off the bottom as they come into this match. It is simply not where you would expect Brighton, one of last season's play-off teams to be. They have lost a few players though like Leonardo Ulloa, Andrea Orlandi, Thomaz Kuszczak and Will Buckley, but the new signings haven't had the impact that Hyypia would have wished for.

Brighton have become the draw specialists picking up six points from their last seven games. they aren't getting beaten that often, but the wins just aren't coming for them. What is worse is that they have been in winning positions against Rotherham and Cardiff and did not hold on. Their goal average is also down at 0.93 per game and they are struggle to hit the back of the net. Lewis Dunk is their highest goalscorer on four in the league and one in the League Cup. 

So what can we expect against the Cherries. Well Sami Hyypia has asked his team to show more character. They have been struggling to play two good halves in matches, but they have some good players. I do like the marauding play of Rohan Ince in midfield and Greer and Caldoron will always battle for everything at the back. Hyppia has brought in ex-Barnsley striker Chris O'Grady, while Kazenga Lua Lua and Craig Mackail-Smith have been more out that in the team. Sam Baldock has been relied on up front but just has not been scoring enough.

Meanwhile, AFCB come into the game knowing that a win could take them back to the top of the Championship after an impressive month of wins. The Cherries are going to take some stopping and I don't believe that the Seagulls will be able to fly out of Dean Court with any points.

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Tomorrow Cherry Chimes will release its November Newsletter. A historic month for the Cherries, you can catch up on last month's big stories on the blog and read the special newsletter story - Are the Cherries destined for Cup success?

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Happy Hyypia? - I don't think so

Since Sami Hyypia has taken over at Brighton he has not been able to find the free scoring style that served them so well in the last few seasons when Gus Poyet and Oscar Garcia.were manager of the Seagulls. It is still early days though and Brighton & Hove Albion are not renowned for a club that parts with their manager on a regular basis, and I hope he turns things around after playing AFCB of course.

Sami has a brilliant football CV having won most things as a player, and at Bayer Leverkusen he showed that he could successfully coach a team that was not only a big player in the Bundesliga, but also a Champions League club. So why have things not taken off quickly at Brighton for him since joining in June? It's hard to pin-point for me as he still has some experienced players at the club. Team performances and the system employed with wing backs pressing forward have been questioned, but Hyypia sounds like he is coping with the worries of the fans. Their difficulty, like so many teams, is in giving away the first goal and a more settled side is something though that Hyypia probably needs. 

If Craig Mackail-Smith can show he is still the player he was before his long time out he has a goalscorer that can be one of the lead strikers in the Championship. He has just had a hamstring injury, but was on the bench for the Spurs game and got a few minutes. Kazenga Lua Lua has just finished his suspension, following his red card against Huddersfield and will be available for selection and also took part in the Tottenham match. Paddy McCourt also played mid-week who has been highlighted as a player that offers Brighton lots of potential going forwards.

Alan Mullery has been patient with the results and Hyypia's need for time. But Hyypia has said he may have to bring in more players in the January window which would make me worry about why more can't be got out of their current squad? Despite all his league problems though, Brighton have had a good run in the Capital One Cup and they have only had three league defeats in their last 10. Brentford, Ipswich and Middlesbrough inflicted those defeats who are all doing pretty well.  Brighton is not a club in crisis, but just a club that is getting too many draws and simply can't quite get a win. It has not quite clicked yet, but Hyypia will know that a south coast game against high-flying Bournemouth is a match to look forward too, not to hide from.

AFCB have to be at their very best to win this rival south coast match.

Tomorrow Cherry Chimes will release its November Newsletter. A historic month for the Cherries, you can catch up on last month's big stories on the blog and read the special newsletter story - Are the Cherries destined for Cup success?

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