Fulham and Brighton Set for Thrilling Clash at Craven Cottage

London: Fulham will face Brighton at Craven Cottage on Thursday, with both teams eager to improve after drawing their last matches. The Cottagers were frustrated after a 1-1 draw against Tottenham, where they missed several great chances to win. Marco Silva’s team had Tom Cairney sent off late in the game, just after he scored a stunning equalizer. Even with ten players, Fulham looked more likely to score again in stoppage time. This season, they have an exciting group of attackers, including Iwobi, Smith Rowe, Nelson, and Jimenez. Fulham currently has 19 points, trailing Brighton by four points.

Brighton is in the hunt for a top-four finish but was disappointed with a 1-1 draw against Southampton, who are at the bottom of the table. The match was a tale of two halves, as Brighton could have led 3-0 at halftime but struggled in the second half, losing two valuable points. Despite this, the Seagulls have had a strong start to the season and are aiming for another European spot.

Fulham has some injury concerns, particularly in defense, where Diop is expected to continue at center back. Andreas Pereira missed the match against Tottenham, and Silva did not clarify his future at the club. Pereira stated that his recent comments about wanting to leave for Marseille were misunderstood. Raul Jimenez had multiple chances against Tottenham but couldn’t convert, while Smith Rowe, Iwobi, and Nelson played exceptionally well. The full-backs, Robinson and Tete, also contributed significantly to the attack.

In terms of injuries, Fulham will be without Harrison Reed (knee), Joachim Andersen (calf), Tom Cairney (suspension), and Jorge Cuenca (knock). Ryan Sessegnon is questionable for the match.

Brighton started with a forward line of Mitoma, Welbeck, Pedro, and Rutter against Southampton, but their performance was inconsistent. Minteh may start in this match, and Lewis Dunk is expected to return after injury. With key players back, coach Fabian Hurzeler has more options to mix up his attack.

Brighton will miss Solly March (knee), James Milner (thigh), Adam Webster (hamstring), and Joel Veltman (muscle), while Jack Hinshelwood (knee), Ferdi Kadioglu (toe), and Brajan Gruda (illness) are questionable.

This match promises to be an exciting encounter with plenty of goals. Both teams are known for their attacking style, and a draw seems likely. The prediction is Fulham 2, Brighton 2.