Brighton & Hove Albion vs Cardiff City - Brighton have a point to prove



Posted Tuesday, April 16, 2019 by PA

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Cardiff City - Brighton have a point to prove

Chris Hughton believes Brighton’s players will be keen to “prove a point” against fellow strugglers Cardiff after making them watch footage of the humiliating 5-0 home loss to Bournemouth.

Albion’s squad was called in for a team meeting on Sunday following the embarrassment of the club’s biggest Premier League defeat.

Saturday’s thrashing has increased the Seagulls’ relegation fears going into Tuesday evening’s visit of Neil Warnock’s 18th-placed Bluebirds.

Cardiff could suck Brighton to within two points of the drop zone with victory at the Amex Stadium and Hughton does not expect his team to be short of motivation.

“I don’t think there will be any difficulty in lifting the players,” said the Albion boss.

“They’ll want to prove a point on Tuesday – they will want to show an attitude that says they were that disappointed with Saturday.

“We had a meeting yesterday, went through the game and the goals that we conceded.

“It was probably our worst performance of the season but this is football.

“There isn’t one player in that changing room that wouldn’t have gone through a bad defeat, a bad performance, and what it’s always about is how you respond to that.

“I expect very much a reaction from our players.”

Brighton will be unable to call on the services of winger Knockaert for the next three games after he was punished for a reckless lunge at Adam Smith.

Hughton says the Frenchman must learn to control his emotions on the pitch.

“I’ve spoken with Anthony. It’s very clear for everybody to see that it’s a bad challenge that deserved the red card,” said Hughton.

“It’s one that he realises hasn’t done us any favours.

“I think it’s a bit of frustration, emotion. What he can’t afford to do is let those frustrations and emotions take part of the game.”

Cardiff boss Neil Warnock, meanwhile, believes Tiger Woods’ stunning Masters triumph can act as inspiration for the Bluebirds to mount their own comeback success story.

Warnock was watching on Sunday as Woods wrote one of the greatest sporting chapters by claiming a fifth green jacket at Augusta, 11 years after his previous major win.

Cardiff’s hopes of avoiding Premier League relegation also appear fanciful with a five-point gap to safety and their remaining five fixtures including games against Liverpool and Manchester United.

“We just have to look at the golf and at what Tiger has done – amazing,” Warnock said of Woods’ fifth Augusta triumph, which came after multiple back surgeries and personal problems had threatened to end the 43-year-old’s career.

“Nobody gave him a chance either, he has been written off that many times and we have.

“Obviously over the last few weeks we have felt sorry for ourselves a few times.

“We haven’t got time to do that (at Brighton) and if it’s not good enough then we accept it.

“But this is an opportunity to give ourselves a chance till the end of the season. We have to grab that.”

Oumar Niasse and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing are under consideration for starting spots should Warnock decide to freshen up his attack.



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