Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the FA Cup match.
This is arguably one of the most high-profile fixtures in the FA Cup Round of 16—a clash between a Chelsea squad with seemingly endless depth and a Brighton side desperate to recover from a humiliating defeat.
Brighton
Last weekend was nothing short of a disaster for Brighton. They were thrashed by Nottingham Forest (0:7) at the City Ground in what was one of their worst performances in years. The tone was set early on, as captain Lewis Dunk scored an own goal in the 12th minute, and by half-time, they were already 3:0 down. This followed another poor result, a 0:1 defeat to Everton, meaning two consecutive games without scoring. The worrying part is that just weeks ago, after their 3:1 win at Old Trafford against Manchester United, Brighton looked like a team in top form.
Chelsea
Chelsea’s form has been far more stable. Over their last four matches, they have picked up two wins, one draw, and one defeat, with every single game going over 2.5 goals. However, their away form is a concern, as they have now gone four matches without a victory on the road (two draws, two losses).
Brighton vs Chelsea Prediction
Chelsea have dominated recent meetings, winning five consecutive matches against Brighton. However, four of those victories were narrow and closely contested. Additionally, in four of their last five meetings, over 2.5 goals have been scored, including a 4:2 Chelsea win in the Premier League earlier this season. Given Brighton’s defensive frailties and Chelsea’s more stable performances, backing Chelsea to at least avoid defeat while expecting another high-scoring affair seems the safest bet.
