Brighton & Hove Albion will be looking to put their recent Premier League troubles aside when they face Newport County in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday night.
The Seagulls are currently 17th in the Premier League table, having struggled for consistency this term, while Newport are second in League Two, just a point behind leaders Carlisle United.
Match preview
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Newport have actually won four of their last five games in the FA Cup, including an impressive 3-0 success at home to Salford City in the second round of this season's competition on November 28.
The win over Salford followed a 2-1 victory at Leyton Orient in the opening round, and Michael Flynn's side will now be looking to claim a Premier League scalp in the shape of Brighton.
The Exiles have actually already faced Premier League opposition this season, only losing on penalties to Newcastle United in the EFL Cup back in September. Newport had already beaten Swansea City and Watford to advance to the round of 16 but could not overcome Steve Bruce's side on spot kicks.
Flynn's team, who saw their last game against Southend United on January 2 called off due to a frozen pitch at Rodney Parade, will enter the match as the underdogs, but they are flying high in League Two, currently sitting just a point behind leaders Carlisle despite a run of four games without a win.
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Brighton, meanwhile, will enter the match off the back of a 3-3 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers on January 2, with Graham Potter's side fighting back to earn a point in the second period.
The Seagulls have drawn four of their last five in England's top flight but have not won since November 21 and currently sit down in 17th position in the table, just three points above the relegation zone.
Potter's team will view their next league match away to Manchester City on January 13 as more important than this fixture, although they are arguably facing Pep Guardiola's side at the worst possible time.
Brighton have lost their last two FA Cup matches to Man City and Sheffield Wednesday, but they do have previous in the competition in terms of reaching the latter stages, having made the 1983 final, drawing 2-2 with Manchester United before losing the replay 4-0 five days later.
Newport County FA Cup form: DWWLWW
Newport County form (all competitions): WWLDLD
Brighton & Hove Albion FA Cup form: DWWWLL
Brighton & Hove Albion form (all competitions): LDDDLD
Team News
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Newport have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the clash with Brighton, meaning that Flynn has a strong and indeed rested squad to choose from, with their last game against Southend called off.
Owen Windsor has joined the League Two side on loan from West Bromwich Albion and could potentially be involved, while Jamie Proctor could join Tristan Abrahams in the final third of the field.
As for Brighton, Percy Tau is in line to make his debut for the club, having returned from a loan spell at Anderlecht on Thursday.
The Seagulls still have a number of injury problems, though, with Tariq Lamptey, Jose Izquierdo, Florin Andone and Danny Welbeck missing, while Adam Lallana was unwell on Thursday and could be absent.
Steven Alzate could also miss out through illness, while Aaron Connolly is unlikely to return until February.
Potter is expected to make wholesale changes from the side that started against Wolves, with Jason Steele, Bernardo, Pascal Gross, Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Andi Zeqiri likely to come in.
Newport County possible starting lineup:
King; Cooper, Bennett, Demetriou; Shephard, Sheehan, Twine, Haynes; Devitt; Proctor, Abrahams
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Steele; White, Dunk, Bernardo; Veltman, Mac Allister, Propper, March; Pau, Jahanbakhsh, Zeqiri
We say: Newport County 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion
Newport have been impressive in the cup competitions this season and are certainly capable of overcoming Brighton on Sunday. Potter is likely to select a number of players with points to prove, though, and we fancy the top-flight club to edge their way into the fourth round of the competition.
Top betting tip
Matt Law
