Luke Turner looks ahead to tonight’s game…
Chris Hughton returns to St Andrews tonight as he looks to get his Brighton side three points that could put them back into the automatic promotion places.
Blues are on the back of a hugely disappointing defeat at the hands of Charlton which now makes the play offs seem a thousand miles away.
Gary Rowett will be looking for a reaction off his players and that could come in the form of making a few changes to the side.
I expect him to bring Clayton Donaldson and Jacques Maghoma back into the line up at the expense of James Vaughan and either Toral or Fabbrini depending on their fitness.
Brighton are up the top end of the table for a reason, they are a good side and have some excellent players in their team.
The will look to get the ball out wide to their wingers Jamie Murphy and Anthony Knockaert who are both extremely dangerous players with the ball at their feet and can make runs off the ball as well.
Caddis and Grounds will need to be switched on and we can’t allow those two players in particular time and space on the ball.
Dale Stephens in the midfield also has the ability to dictate the play and threat defence splitting passes to create opportunities for the attackers.
Beram Kayal, alongside Stephens, is a strong competitor and is also good with the ball at his feet. It is unlikely that any of these two will give time and space to whoever plays the number ten role for Blues.
We also have to be wary of the threat Tomer Hemed possesses, in particular his aerial ability. Murphy and Knockaert will look for him in the middle and, with 13 goals and six assists this season, he is a massive influence in front of goal.
The game could go either way, it could be a tight encounter with chances limited or it could become very open with end to end action as both team will be searching for a goal.
For me, I think Blues just need to go for it in this game. Attack the Brighton defence, force them into mistakes and get players forward.
Getting our best players on the ball will be important and those who can produce the goods need to be on their game.
It’s time a few of our players step up again and take the game to the opposition. Take risks, be brave and we should get the rewards.
We are good enough to win these games, as we showed when Hull visited St Andrews. It may just take that one goal again but then we need to be sensible and see the game out.
It will be another tough game but if Blues go into it with belief that they can win, then I wouldn’t back against us getting a much needed three points.