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Spurs v Brighton Cup record

FA Cup

Season   Rd   H/A  Result  Scorer(s)
2004-05   3    H    2-1    King, Keane

League Cup

1982-83  2(1)  H    1-1    Brooke (pen)
1982-83  2(2)  A    1-0    Crooks

4-4-1-1 anybody?

When Spurs last played Brighton (in the third round of the FA Cup in January, 2005), Brighton were managed by Mark McGhee, and occupied the Withdean Stadium pending their quest for a new home. That cup game was played at White Hart Lane, but it was Spurs who helped to christen the new AMEX stadium in a pre-season friendly in July, 2011, when we won with goals by Younes Kaboul, Corluka, and Jake Livermore. Former Spur Gus Poyet was the Brighton manager, but he has, of course, moved on to Sunderland along with his assistant, Mauricio Taricco.

Since McGhee, Brighton have had 6 managers, including the current incumbent, former Liverpool centre-back Sammi Hyppia. Even Spurs haven't had quite as many managers/coaches in that time - yet!

Manager turnover in the Championship is higher than that in the Premier League, because of the quest for higher ground. Why, Leeds and Watford between them have already had at least 6 managers between them so far this season!

Since they played us in 2005, Brighton have had to endure 5 seasons in the third tier, but Gus Poyet was their hero by getting them back into the Championship, and also making them contenders for the Premier League. Poyet led his team to the play-off semi-final, in May 2013, where the opponents were Brighton's nemesis Crystal Palace, who were the ultimate victors not only of that semi-final, but the final. Gus Poyet was suspended and ultimately parted from Brighton after a fall-out which began with the manner of his addressing his staff about a messy incident in the away dressing room at The Amex Stadium. The least said about that, the better.

Last season's coach was Oscar Garcia, who also led "The Seagulls" to the play-offs, but they were well beaten by Steve McClaren's Derby. Garcia offered his resignation, which was accepted. This season, he took over at Watford, only to step down due to illness.

Brighton lost their top scorer - Jose Ulloa (pronounced "oo-sho-a") - to Leicester in the summer, and their form so far this season has not been good. They lie one place outside the bottom three after 14 games, and they haven't won a game in their last 6. Feeling confident anybody? In Brighton's favour, 5 of those 6 games have been drawn, including Saturday's home match against Rotherham.

To reach this stage of the Capital One Cup, Hyppia's side have knocked out Cheltenham (2-0), Swindon (4-2), and finally Burton Albion of League Two (3-0). One of Brighton's goalscorers in those last two games was Rohan Ince, who is a second cousin of Tom Ince, and therefore also related to Paul Ince. Rohan Ince is a former Chelsea junior, but has been on Brighton's books for a couple of years.

Brighton's top league goalscorer so far is central defender Lewis Dunk, who has four goals to his name. They do have 30 year old Craig Mackail-Smith in their squad, but he has had several injury problems, and hasn't played this month. Perhaps their best known player is goalkeeper David Stockdale, formerly of Fulham.

Brighton have an important and difficult game on Saturday tea-time against high flying and eight goal scoring Bournemouth, so no doubt much of Hyppia's focus will be on that game.

However, Spurs will also be resting players ahead of Sunday's game at Villa Park, and the team facing Brighton tonight is likely to be a "B" team. That team could include two of our record signings though, with Paulinho surely due a game, and Soldado likely to start.

The big question might be who will play at right back. The good news is that Kyle Naughton is back in action, but will he play, or be saved for Sunday? Perhaps Eric Dier will be given this game to sharpen up his concentration after Sunday.

Vlad Chiriches will probably be one of the two centre-backs alongside Federico Fazio. Vorm might start this game, and Ben Davies will no doubt fill the left back slot.

This game would be the perfect opportunity for Mauricio Pochettino to try a 4-4-1-1, with Harry Kane "in the hole" behind Soldado, and Aaron Lennon offering width (please) opposite Andros Townsend. Stambouli is due a game, and will hopefully appear beside Paulinho, or Dembele.

Especially bearing in mind our poor league form, I do think more than ever that it is a priority for Spurs to win a trophy this season, and that means winning one of the cup competitions. We've had a good draw with this game. Let's not see our team squander an excellent chance of progress to the quarter-finals, where there at least four other potentially good draws that would lie in wait. Bournemouth, Sheffield United and Derby won last night, and Stoke play Southampton tonight.

First, we have to win our game tonight! I shouldn't be doing this, after my rash prediction for the Newcastle game, but I do think we will win tonight convincingly. Let's say 3-0.

· Did you know?:-

1. When we played Brighton in the League Cup in 1982, their side included future Spur Gary Stevens, and former Spur Neil McNab?
2. When we met in January 2005, the game followed our controversial 0-0 draw at Old Trafford when Pedro Mendes' "goal" was not spotted by the officials, which included our match referee tonight - Mark Clattenburg!
3. We lost our place at the top of Division Two after losing 3-1 at Brighton in April 1978, leading to our nervous run-in for promotion, which was only achieved in third place. We had Don McAllister send off in that game.

· 10 years ago this week, having lost at home to Bolton on the day of Bill Nicholson's death, we travelled to The Reebock, and beat the same team 4-3 after extra time in the third round of the Carling Cup. Bolton 3 Spurs 4 - 27.10.2004

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