Stoke vs Brighton predictions: Seagulls should shut out cup hosts
- Only one of Stoke's last seven games featured over 2.5 goals
- Brighton won their last four Europa League group games to nil
- Recommended bet: Brighton Win to Zero
Brighton's run to last season's FA Cup semi-finals included a 1-0 win at Stoke in the fifth round and the Seagulls are hoping to repeat the feat in Saturday's third-round tie.
Roberto De Zerbi's men lost on penalties to Manchester United in the semi-final at Wembley but they have had a solid first half of the 2023/24 season, reaching the Europa League last 16 and competing well in the Premier League.
Stoke have endured a tougher time in the Championship although they are unbeaten in four games under new manager Steven Schumacher and held highflying Ipswich to a goalless draw on New Year's Day.
Team news
Stoke are missing the suspended Jordan Thompson while Lynden Gooch and Tyrese Campbell face fitness tests.
Josh Laurent and Enda Stevens are injured and Junior Tchamadeu has left to join Cameroon's Africa Cup of Nations squad.
Brighton captain Lewis Dunk is available after a ban but Julio Enciso, Joel Veltman, Ansu Fati, Simon Adingra, Igor Julio, Tariq Lamptey and Solly March are injured.
Kaoru Mitoma has been struggling with an ankle injury of late but has still been included in Japan's Asian Cup squad.
The stats
Five of Stoke's last six matches have ended in draws.
Only one of the Potters' last seven games featured over 2.5 goals.
Stoke have won only one of their last 12 Championship matches.
Five of Brighton's last 11 games in all competitions ended 1-1.
Both teams have scored in 18 of the Seagulls' 20 Premier League matches this season.
Brighton won their last four Europa League group games to nil.
Prediction
Brighton had to wait until their 20th Premier League fixture of the campaign to keep their first clean sheet in a goalless draw at West Ham earlier this week.
However, the Seagulls have been more impressive defensively in the Europa League this season and they should be backed to win to nil at struggling second-tier hosts Stoke.
Brighton's Lewis Dunk returns to the heart of the defence after serving a suspension and they won their last four Europa League group games to nil, beating Ajax twice, AEK Athens and Marseille.
Striker Evan Ferguson scored the only goal of the game in Brighton's FA Cup win at Stoke last season when the Potters had just 31% of possession.
Stoke beat Rotherham 4-1 at home in their opening fixture of the Championship season but since then they have scored only six goals in 12 league matches on their own patch.
They have found the net just twice in their last seven home fixtures — thanks to an own goal from Leeds defender Pascal Struijk and a Daniel Johnson penalty in the draw with Swansea — so Brighton should progress to round four with a clean sheet.
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