Mats Wieffer's Importance To Brighton Highlighted By Fabian Hurzeler Ahead Of Brentford Match

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Fabian Hurzeler is optimistic about Mats Wieffer's fitness for Brighton's upcoming match against Brentford on Friday. Despite a winless streak of five games, Brighton managed a 1-1 draw with West Ham, thanks to Wieffer's goal. Although they have slipped to 10th place, Brighton remains in contention for a European spot. Hurzeler emphasises Wieffer's crucial role in the team.

Wieffer's performance has been pivotal for Brighton. He scored his first Premier League goal in the recent draw, becoming the 13th player from the team to do so this season. This achievement highlights Brighton's diverse scoring capabilities, surpassing Arsenal and Bournemouth, who each have 12 players scoring this season.

Brentford, on the other hand, suffered a setback with a 2-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, ending their unbeaten home run. They aim to surpass Brighton in the standings with a win on Friday but have struggled away from home. Injuries have plagued Thomas Frank's squad, yet he refuses to use them as an excuse for their poor form.

Frank acknowledges the challenges posed by injuries but remains focused on finding solutions. "What I will say is I have got a very strong starting XI on the sideline with players out," Frank stated. He emphasised that dealing with injuries is part of football and expressed no complaints about their current situation.

Yoane Wissa stands out for Brentford, having scored nine goals this season without any penalties. Only Alexander Isak has more non-penalty goals than Wissa in the Premier League this season. Brentford hopes Wissa can continue his impressive form against Brighton.

Match Predictions and Statistics

The upcoming match sees Brighton favoured with a 48.6% chance of winning according to Opta statistics. The probability of a draw stands at 25.8%, while Brentford has a 25.6% chance of victory. Historically, Brighton has been strong at home against Brentford, remaining unbeaten in three Premier League encounters.

Brighton has consistently found the net in their last 13 league matches but has only managed one clean sheet during this period. Both teams have scored in each of Brighton's last nine league games since their victory over Newcastle in October.

Recent Form and Expectations

Brighton's recent form includes alternating between draws and defeats over their last five matches, including a recent 1-1 draw with West Ham where they opened the scoring. Meanwhile, Brentford has struggled away from home, securing fewer points than any other Premier League team this season.

The Bees have accumulated just one point away from home throughout 2024, with only Everton having fewer points overall among non-promoted or relegated teams. As both teams prepare for Friday's clash, they aim to improve their standings and address recent challenges effectively.