Brighton v Cardiff. Match preview

Last updated : 21 August 2012 By Michael Morris

brightonpano

Malky Mackay takes his side to Brighton tonight for a tough fixture against The Seagulls.

Brighton lost their opening game of the season 1 - 0 at Hull so will be looking to put that right in front of their home fans. The match is close to selling out for Brighton fans and with City taking over 800 supporters it's sure to be a cracking atmosphere.

Cardiff are likely to be unchanged while Brighton's Spanish midfielder Vicente (groin) and winger Buckley (hip) will be handed late fitness tests.

Goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak and full-backs Bruno and Wayne Bridge will make their home debuts in front of what is expected be a record attendance after the Amex Stadium was expanded over the summer.

The dangermen for the homeside will be sriker Craig Mackail Smith and former City target Craig Noone.

Malky Mackay knows he's facing a decent team tonight.

“Brighton are a good team and were unlucky not to be in there or thereabouts last year,” he said.

“Gus has had a year longer in the job, the players have played in the division and know it.

“They have strengthened again so I do expect them to be up there or thereabouts this season.

“I think last season we ended up having the most away wins, apart from West Ham. Teams at home will come and attack you.

“Sometimes at home with reputations being the case, teams come to your stadium and invariably they sit in and you have to find different ways of breaking that down.

“It’s the challenge of the Championship, but away from home it can be different.”

While the boss believes his side will get better as play and train more.

“I’m delighted with the way the group have come together, adapted and trained together,” he said.

“Craig (Bellamy) has only been with the squad a few days, Heidar (Helguson) a week.

“People get better and better as they train together and play together more.

“That’s what happened last year.

“It takes time to get to know each other, although you do try to fast track that with the training you do.

“The longer they get to know each other the better.

“I’m confident in the ability of my players, but we are not going to go out and win every game 3-0 and 4-0. Absolutely not.”

City probable squad:

Marshall, McNaughton, Hudson, Turner, Taylor, Cowie, Gunnarsson, Whittingham, Mutch, Bellamy, Helguson Subs: Lewis, Blake, Kiss, Mason, Conway, Velikonja, Earnshaw.