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Saints Can Win At The Withdean !

Its going to be tough but Saints can become the first side to win at the Withdean this season.

Of course it wont be easy given Saints injury woes, but this is the time that heroes emerge and Saints have a few in waiting.

The first thing to look at though is Brighton's home record itself, there is no denying its good, 17 wins and only 4 draws is outstanding at any level, likewise 51 goals for and only 17 against is again superb and an exact average of a 3-1 scoreline per game, but Saints isnt that far removed, the 4 draws are identical the only difference is that we have lost 3 games and won only 14, yes we have scored only 39 goals but conceded only 12.

But perhaps the real clue as to whether this home record can be dented lies in the games brighton have played at home, their last two home fixtures are gainst the two teams directly behind them, ourselves and Huddersfield, so their biggest tests are yet to come.

That is perhaps reflected in the results against the top teams in the division, of the top 7 clubs, as we have said they have yet to play two and of the other four, Bournemouth & Rochdale both got scoring draws whilst MK Dons lost 2-0 and Peterborough 3-1, MK Dons could clain that as the game was back in September they were yet to find the form that lifted them into the play offs.

So the message is clear, whilst undoubtably Brighton are a very good home side, when they have been tested by some of the higher sides in the division they can be found wanting a little.

The race for second place will ultimately see Brighton have a big say in it and with that in mind i would say Saints are better going there before Huddersfield, in some respects its a big advantage, if we go there and win then tobe frank it will be a big boost and we almost wouldnt care what happened when the yorkshire side visit on the penultimate weekend, however if we dont win there then Brighton will play them desperately wanting to keep that unbeaten record intact.

Now they have won the title the big question is whether they will take their footof the gas ?  Under normal circumstances i would say yes, but I think that they are now focussed on keeping that unbeaten league record intact and this could work against them a little, especially if the game is heading for a draw and we push in the final minutes, this is the time when nerves do start to kick in and when team are vunerable and i would say our game plan should be to make sure we are still in the game as it goes into its last ten minutes.

But one myth to debunk is the fact that Brighton havent been beaten at the Withdean, they have Leyton Orient beat them 2-0 in the JPT back in September so whatever the results in their final two games it wont be a completely 100% unbeaten season at home. 

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