Saints Marching
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Brighton vs Southampton: Premier League – Opposition Threats

By Harry Tizard

SWANSEA, WALES - NOVEMBER 04: Glenn Murray celebrates scoring his side's first goal with Anthony Knockaert of Brighton and Hove Albion during the Premier League match between Swansea City and Brighton and Hove Albion at Liberty Stadium on November 4, 2017 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
SWANSEA, WALES - NOVEMBER 04: Glenn Murray celebrates scoring his side's first goal with Anthony Knockaert of Brighton and Hove Albion during the Premier League match between Swansea City and Brighton and Hove Albion at Liberty Stadium on November 4, 2017 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) /
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BRIGHTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 28: Charlie Austin of Southampton celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton at American Express Community Stadium on August 28, 2018 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 28: Charlie Austin of Southampton celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton at American Express Community Stadium on August 28, 2018 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) /

The fight against relegation intensifies as Southampton visit the Amex for the second time this season.

Both Southampton and Brighton find themselves in the bottom six of the table, with two and five points separating them and 18th placed Cardiff respectively.

Despite their three point advantage on the Saints, Chris Hughton’s side will be desperate to pick up a positive result with the tough set of fixtures they have in the run in to the end of the season.

The seagulls have been flying high in their last three games, picking up six points from a possible nine, but have five of the stereotypical top six in their run in – meaning the possibility of picking up points are few and far between.

In a similar vein of form, picking up the same amount of points as the hosts in their last three games , Southampton come into the game knowing a win is desired, but not required. The Saints face six teams outside the top six in their last eight games, with a home game against Liverpool next Friday their own match up against one of the ‘big six’.

Coming into the game, Southampton and Brighton have played each other twice already this season.

The sides first locked horns at the Amex back in August – where a late Charlie Austin header saw off a much rotated blue and white side, allowing the Saints to progress to the third round of the Carabao Cup.

Th league fixture at St. Marys looked to be going the way of the red and whites once again when they look a healthy two goal lead in September, but surrendered their advantage with just minutes to go – a 90th minute penalty by Glenn Murray converted to level the score to 2-2, capitalising on an earlier goal scored by Shane Duffy to half the deficit.

Ralph Hasenhuttl will be looking to guide Southampton to 5 games unbeaten against the Seagulls in all competitions, and have one hand on Premier League survival.

However, beating Brighton on their home patch is no mean feet, with Arsenal, Everton, and Manchester United all failing to pick up three points at the Amex. Here are the three main Brighton players that Southampton fans have to be wary of come Saturday at 3pm.