Brighton vs Sheffield Wednesday Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

This is a massive game for both clubs you sense as they meet on the South Coast for the first time since their play-off clash at the end of last season. Brighton need a response after suffering a rare defeat last weekend while the Owls are hoping to complete a 3rd win against a top six side since Christmas and one that would send out a real message to the rest of the promotion hopefuls.

With the stakes high, it could be a cagey kind of game. Brighton would have been rocked to some extent by that 2-0 loss at Preston last Saturday, given nobody really saw it coming such was their imperious form. It was around this stage last term, they had their only real bad run of the season but one that was damaging enough to ultimately thwart their promotion bid. They’ll be desperately hoping history doesn’t repeat itself.

At the Amex though, they are very tough to play against. Brighton have conceded only 0.50 goals per game at home in the league this term, keeping clean sheets in a hugely impressive 67% of their home games. They also boast the best overall defensive record in the Championship with only 0.68 conceded per game so a Wednesday side that average less than a goal per game on their travels will have their work cut out trying to break them down.

However, they are a very strong defensive side themselves. The Owls have the joint 4th best defence in the Championship and have let in only 0.92 goals per game. That only marginally increases on their travels too and they’ve kept clean sheets in an excellent 38% of their away games. It’s also worth noting, they have tended to perform well away from home against the top sides. They’ve won 1-0 at Newcastle and Huddersfield and also kept a clean sheet away to a fairly free-scoring Norwich side earlier in the year.

They have played fairly cautiously in some of those games but have shown enough defensive resistance to suggest they could well frustrate Brighton for long periods of this game. Certainly it looks like the kind of game where defence could come out on top and backing Under 2.5 Goals & Both Teams to Score – No at 10/11 looks to offer value.