U18 Preview: Saints vs Brighton

Saints vs Brighton

Under-18 Premier League

Staplewood Campus

Saturday 30 October, 11am BST

Having claimed a 5-1 victory on the road at West Brom last Saturday, Saints’ youngsters go in search of their fifth win in the league this season.

A Dom Ballard hat-trick and a Kamari Doyle brace were the difference at West Bromwich Albion Training Ground last time out in the league.

Visitors Brighton are level on points with Saints in the league, with both teams racking up 13 points with seven games played.

Brighton claimed a 3-1 victory when they faced Reading at home last Saturday, with Zak Emmerson and Samy Olivier Chouchane the goalscorers.

Brighton came out on top in both fixtures when these two sides met in the 2020/21 season.

Todd Miller and Everitt Moore were the goalscorers when Brighton visited Staplewood in October 2020.

Despite a first minute Diamond Edwards goal, Saints fell to a 7-1 defeat on the road at Brighton back in February.

The two sides faced off again earlier this week as they met in the Under-17 Premier League Cup but this time Saints came out 5-2 victors.

“We played Brighton on Tuesday and now we play them again on Saturday,” said Under-18s Individual Coach Mikey Harris. “They’re going to come to us full of energy and different ideas to come and put that right.”

“I worked there myself for a long period of time and I know that their staff are really good and it’s going to be a really good challenge for us on Saturday.

“It’s one we’re really looking forward to. We’re excited to be home after a couple of away games so hopefully the boys can perform and continue to develop their knowledge of our principles and continue to move forward in a positive way."

"We work harder, we run harder, we press in line with our principles.

“Then it’s about our quality in the moments that decide football matches. We’ve got to be consistent with our principles, our energy and our work rate.”