Brighton Predicted Lineup vs. Nottingham Forest For March 10

Brighton and Hove Albion will be looking for their first win in five games as they host Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday. Here is Last Word on Football’s Brighton predicted lineup for this fixture.

Brighton Predicted Lineup vs. Nottingham Forest In Premier League

“From defeat you can become better, you can become stronger.” 💪 Roberto previews #BHANFO. 💬 @MonsterEnergy 📲 pic.twitter.com/eEGpz8BLw5

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) March 9, 2024

Brighton Recent Form and Tactics

The Seagulls have lost their last three matches in all competitions, most recently in a crushing 4-0 defeat away to AS Roma in the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie.

In what is Albion’s first campaign in Europe, their tactical naivety and lack of experience – when it comes to knockout football on the continent was evident in the Stadio Olimpico as they were dispatched emphatically by Daniele De Rossi’s resurgent side.

Roberto De Zerbi said: “I think Roma is much better in terms of experience to play this type of game and we suffer a lot.”

Brighton will host the Giallorossi in the second leg on Thursday and will hope a positive result against Forest this weekend can inject a touch of hope into the build-up for that meeting.

The Seagulls suffered a similar fate in their last Premier League outing as they were beaten 3-0 away at Fulham. De Zerbi made seven changes heading into this one with an eye on the trip to Rome.

This defeat came after an FA Cup exit at the hands of Wolverhampton Wanderers and a 1-1 draw at home to Everton in the league, meaning the Seagulls have now gone three games without a goal.

Unsurprisingly, De Zerbi’s side dominated possession in their trip to Rome, having 60% of the ball, a statistic familiar to Seagulls fans this season. But with top scorer Joao Pedro out with a thigh injury and Kaoru Mitoma potentially out for the season, this domination of matches is not translating to goals and results.

Injuries and suspensions have plagued the Seagulls in recent weeks – and De Zerbi was without nine first-team players on the trip to Molineux just over a week ago.

Brighton’s last victory came in a thumping 5-0 defeat over Sheffield United and was Mitoma’s last appearance before he was sidelined by his back injury.

This was the third of four home games in a row in which Sheffield United conceded five goals at Bramall Lane, the first being a 5-2 defeat against Albion in the FA Cup.

As De Zerbi has searched for form and looked to manage Brighton’s extensive injury list, he has chopped and changed between using a back three and back four, with his side often switching between the two throughout games.

The South Coast side appeared to start with a back four in their Europa League clash, but Tariq Lamptey and Simon Adingra were fluid in their roles, often taking up wing-back positions.

How Brighton Have Lined-up Recently

Throughout the season, De Zerbi has continuously rotated between goalkeeper Jason Steele and Bart Verbruggen – with the Englishman starting the last three – the Brighton boss has potentially settled on who his number one is.

Lewis Dunk and Jan Paul van Hecke have been the regular centre-back pairing, with the Dutchman starting the last 19 in all competitions. There is constant rotation among the fullbacks, but former Chelsea youngster Lamptey has started the last six matches he has been available for.

Billy Gilmour and Pascal Groß have been pivotal for Brighton in central midfield this season – but with Gilmour picking up a straight red card against Everton, he will serve the final game of his three-match domestic suspension this weekend.

20-year-old Carlos Baleba started in the centre of the park against Fulham and replaced Gilmour late on in Rome, meaning he will likely get another opportunity in this game.

Brighton’s attack has been boosted by the return of Julio Enciso, who started his first match since August at Craven Cottage last weekend after recovering from a meniscus tear. Adingra, Danny Welbeck and Facundo Buonanotte look to be De Zerbi’s first-choice forwards in the absence of Pedro and Mitoma.

Absentees to Consider

De Zerbi said in a press conference on Saturday the fitness of Igor Julio will be checked ahead of Sunday’s game, and Welbeck, Lamptey and Enciso may not start due to general fitness.

Pedro, who has scored 19 goals for Albion in all competitions, has been sidelined since he scored in the victory over Crystal Palace at the start of February.

The Brighton boss confirmed last week that Mitoma is likely to miss the rest of the season due to a back injury he sustained ahead of the Everton fixture.

The Seagulls continue to be without Jack Hinshelwood, James Milner, and Solly March.