Paul Trollope will be hoping for a change in fortune following the appalling performance his side put in against Leyton Orient last Saturday, losing 3-0 and having Regan sent off in the process. It was in stark difference to the exhilarating 6-3 victory away at Wycombe in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy just five days earlier where travelling gasheads would dare to dream about free flowing attacking football. That wasn't to last, however, as Rovers returned to their usual ways at the weekend.
The upcoming game will be far more difficult than the Orient test should have been, Brighton topping the table by six points from second place Charlton, whom Rovers must face on Tuesday. That being said, Brighton lost their last league game, a 3-1 reverse away to Hartlepool, and were also taken to extra time and penalties by Conference South side Woking, Peter Brezovan saving Elvis Hammonds penalty, allowing Cristian Baz to score the winning penalty for the Seagulls. Speaking in league only terms Brighton have lost only that game to Hartlepool in their last eight, winning their four previous games and scoring twelve times in the process including a three goal win at Peterborough and a four goal win at Charlton. Their home form has also been solid, in their last five at home Brighton have only failed to win one game, a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth thanks to a debatable injury time penalty, converted by Marc Pugh.
Rovers have failed to win in their last three away league games, losing two and only just managing a point at Hartlepool after two goals in the last five minutes salvaging the draw. Since then the Gas have played two more games on the road in the cup, disastrously losing at Darlington in the FA Cup before that aforementioned win at Wycombe.
There has been a summer of change at Albion with eleven players coming in, ten of them permanently, and thirteen players leaving the club in some form. Only two of those players coming in were paid for, they were Ashley Barnes, signing from Plymouth for an undisclosed fee, and centre back Gordon Greer for whom Brighton paid £250,000 to Swindon for, and both should be in the starting line up for Saturday. Barnes is the clubs top scorer this season with seven goals thus far, all of which have come in the league. It is his second spell with the club, having spent time on loan at the Withdean at the end of last season, scoring four goals in eight games for the Seagulls before he made his move from Plymouth permanent. But one of Brighton's most influential players will not be playing. Kazenga LuaLua, on loan from Newcastle United, was left with a broken ankle following a bad challenge in the Hartlepool loss. The side will miss his electric pace and the threat on goal from both himself and the potential to create for team mates that comes with it. Gus Poyet stated in an interview earlier this week that he was going to move quickly to bring in a replacement on loan for the winger in order to cover for him during his absence.
Brighton is Gus Poyet's first job as a manager but he does have previous in the coaching game. Poyet's coaching career started at Swindon Town where he was employed as player/assistant coach under his former Chesea team mate Dennis Wise before the pair moved on to Elland Road where they kept the same set up. In October 2007 Poyet moved on again to become assistant to Juande Ramos at Premier League Tottenham before he left the club alongside Ramos after Spurs poor start to the 2008/09 season. Nearly a year later Poyet was handed the opportunity to take over at Brighton where he lead the club away from the foot of the table to a respectable 13th place finish.
Since returning to League 1 in 2007 Rovers are yet to beat Brighton having drawn three and lost three of the six fixtures between the two sides. The last time Rovers recorded a victory against the Seagulls was in the 2004/05 season. That was a first round League Cup fixture at the Withdean where Rovers initially went behind to a Guy Butters goal but before half time they were ahead thanks to strikes from Lee Thorpe and Richard Walker. Prior to that fixture Rovers and Brighton had not faced each other for eight seasons and that was also the last time Rovers won a league match, Peter Beadle getting the goal that day.
Will Hoskins is still missing for Rovers but his rehabilitation is moving along quicker than expected and could be back in full training in a weeks time. Charlie Reece is still out having suffered back spasms prior to the Wycombe game. John Akinde may be available for the game, with Paul Trollope hoping he is able to train on Friday morning. Carl Regan will be serving the first game of his three match suspension while fellow defender James Tunnicliffe will not be allowed to play against his parent club Brighton. The substitute bench will have a youthful look to it as Lamar Powell, a player who has just signed his first professional deal with Rovers, will be sat on it as well as midfielders Darren Jeffries and Ollie Clarke, and, possibly, for the first time youth team striker Robbi Maggs, depending on the fitness of John Akinde.
Brighton will be without Kazenga LuaLua due to his broken ankle, as was mentioned earlier. The Seagulls will also be missing Alan Navarro who is a long term absentee as he recovers from a ruptured cruciate ligament while former Chelsea youngster Liam Bridcutt who is suspended. Assistant manager Mauricio Taricco will also be suspended after receiving two bookings in the FA Cup replay with Woking when making his first professional appearance for six years. One player who may potentially feature is Chris Woods, who has just signed on loan for Albion. His is a name familiar to Rovers fans as he was touted by many media outlets as a loan signing for Rovers, although no deal ever went through.
Gas gaffer Paul Trollope knows how tough a test Brighton will be and what his team must do to counteract them. He told bristolrovers.co.uk:
"Up to a month ago, even at the top it was very tight, but they have got a little bit of a lead now.
"They invested heavily in the summer, and got some quality players. We know it is going to be a tough test.
"We are going to approach it as we approached Huddersfield away. We went there and put in a disciplined performance, pass the ball well at times and scored a late goal to win it.
"We cannot go there with any fear, we have to go in there believing, despite last week's disappointment, that we are capable on our day."
After facing Rovers Brighton will travel to St Mary's where they will face an in form Southampton and manager Gus Poyet believes a good result against the Gas will get his side in the mood for the Saints trip, as he spoke to seagulls.co.uk:
"The players who are going to be involved on Saturday have been involved all season and have been doing very well, so there is no drama and everything is okay.
"It's a very important game, and maybe people don't quite realise how important it is to beat Bristol, so we are also ready for Southampton a few days later."
Rovers will have the advantage of not having played in midweek, where Albion were taken to extra time so Paul Trollope will be hooping for some tired legs in the Brighton camp, but it will be a stern test for the Gas and one that they will ultimately not be expected to get anything out of.
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