Hurzeler delighted by ´whole package´ Wieffer

Fabian Hurzeler believes Mats Wieffer has one of the most important roles at Brighton and is hopeful he will be fit to face Brentford on Friday.

Brighton are now winless in five games after their lightning-quick start to the season but earned a point in a 1-1 draw with West Ham on Saturday thanks to Wieffer’s opener.

Despite slipping to 10th in the table, Brighton are still in the fight for a European place, and Hurzeler thinks the Dutchman will play an important part going forward if he can stay.

“Nowadays you call it the holding six and I think that this is one of the most important positions in our team,” said Hurzeler.

“He is very good in possession; he has good passing and a good understanding of the game. Out of possession, he is very athletic.

“He is a fast and tall player, so he has the whole package to be a top, top player in the Premier League.”

Back in action at Brighton on Friday pic.twitter.com/XKZDF0GGNt

— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) December 23, 2024

Brentford, meanwhile, saw their unbeaten home start in the Premier League ended by a 2-0 loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

A win on Friday would see them leapfrog Brighton in the table, but they have found it tough on the road this season, failing to win any of their away games so far.

Injuries have not helped Thomas Frank’s team, but he says it is not an excuse for their run of poor results.

“What I will say is I have got a very strong starting XI on the sideline with players out,” Frank said. “But it is part of football, we need to deal with it, we have no complaints about that.

“I think we have just been unlucky again. A pattern we would need to look into is if it is too many soft tissue injuries, then we would have to look into training and methods, but that is all good. We are now working on how to turn them around quickly.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Brighton – Mats Wieffer

Wieffer scored his first Brighton goal in the draw with West Ham last time out.

He was the 13th player to score a Premier League goal for the Seagulls this season, the most of any side in the competition this term (excl. own goals – Arsenal and Bournemouth on 12 each).

Scoring your first #PL goal feels this good… pic.twitter.com/zHAT5euV9p

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) December 22, 2024

Brentford – Yoane Wissa

Only Alexander Isak (10) has scored more Premier League goals this season without any of them coming from the penalty spot than Brentford’s Yoane Wissa (nine).

MATCH PREDICTION: BRIGHTON WIN

Brighton are unbeaten in all three of their Premier League home games against Brentford (W2 D1), having lost two of their last three against them at home before their promotion.

In fact, Brentford have won just one of their last seven league games against Brighton (D3 L3), a 2-0 home win in October 2022.

Hurzeler’s side have scored in each of their last 13 Premier League games but have also only kept one clean sheet in this run. Indeed, both teams have scored in each of the Seagulls’ last nine league games, since a 1-0 win at Newcastle in October.

And, Brighton have alternated between a draw (three) and defeat (two) in their last five Premier League games, drawing 1-1 with West Ham last time out. They have opened the scoring in all three of these draws.

Brentford have won fewer points away from home than any other Premier League side this season (one), while across 2024 as a whole, only Everton (10) have fewer points than the Bees (11, excluding promoted/relegated sides).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Brighton – 48.6%

Draw – 25.8%

Brentford – 25.6%