Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the EFL Cup match.
Neither side has much to boast about at the start of the new season. Oxford United’s only highlight was a first-round win in the EFL Cup. Extending that success will be far more difficult as they face Premier League opposition in Brighton.
Oxford United
Oxford United are competing in the Championship, having survived their debut season at this level. But their second campaign has started poorly: three defeats in a row, leaving them second from bottom in the table. Their sole victory came in the cup against Colchester United from League Two (1:0). In the league, Oxford have fallen to direct relegation rivals, each time undone by just a single goal.
Brighton
Brighton have only one point from their first two Premier League games, sitting 18th in the table. That tally could have been higher, as they dropped points against sides who finished below them last season. Their most expensive and exciting signing, 18-year-old Charalampos Kostoulas (€35m), has yet to feature in the first team — just 28 minutes in Premier League 2 so far. The EFL Cup clash may be his first real test in the senior XI.
Oxford United vs Brighton Prediction
Brighton’s attacking potential far exceeds that of Oxford, and not solely due to the Greek prospect. Even if rotated, Brighton should have enough quality to edge through.
