CHERRIES’ starting XI may look very different this weekend, but it is still going to take something special to come away from Brighton with victory.

Gary O’Neil has seen his squad bolstered by five new faces since the last game, a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest.

He will also hope to welcome back some of his injured septet from two weeks ago in time to head to the Amex Stadium on Saturday.

But even the biggest clubs in the country have found the going tough against the Seagulls this season.

Bournemouth Echo:

FORM

Any fears Brighton may tail off following the departure of boss Graham Potter for Chelsea could not have been well and truly put to bed.

The Seagulls deservedly sit sixth in the Premier League table, with 31 points from 19 matches.

They have suffered defeat at home just three times this campaign, registering big resounding wins against Leicester City, Chelsea and Liverpool in the league, as well as dumping Jurgen Klopp’s Reds out of the FA Cup last weekend.

Across all competitions, Brighton are unbeaten in five matches, with their only league defeat since the World Cup break coming at the hands of leaders Arsenal.

Bournemouth Echo:

KEY ABSENTEES

Brighton will be without one of their star men this weekend.

World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister is set to serve a one-game suspension, having picked up his fifth yellow card in the draw at Leicester in the club’s last league match.

Former Cherries midfielder Adam Lallana has also been struggling with injury recently, while young striker Evan Ferguson came off during last week’s win over Liverpool.

At the time of writing, it remains unclear whether another of Brighton’s key men this campaign, Moises Caicedo, will feature.

The Ecuador international was subject to interest from Arsenal during the transfer window, but Brighton refused to sell, despite Caicedo expressing his interest to depart.

Bournemouth Echo:

PAST MEETINGS

Cherries, sitting in the relegation zone, head to Brighton as big outsiders.

But they do have a good recent record against the Seagulls.

The two sides are yet to meet this season, a date for the home fixture still to be confirmed after it was rearranged following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in the build-up to the original scheduled date in September.

Cherries have lost just two of their past 14 fixtures against Brighton.

The last meeting came in January 2020, with goals from Harry Wilson and Callum Wilson helping secure a 3-1 win. The previous month, Brighton recorded their first home win against Cherries in 11 years.

A trip to the Amex will always be remembered fondly by Cherries fans for the stunning 5-0 triumph in April 2019.

These two clubs have met 111 times, 44 ending in a Cherries win, 38 going the way of Brighton and 29 finishing level.