LIVE: Stay tuned for instant updates on today’s 3pm fixture with Brighton travelling to face Sunderland
A mid-table clash with both teams fighting to see who’s holiday starts earliest!
Remember you can also follow today’s matches across Europe in our live soccer Saturday stream.
14:13: The line-ups are IN!
Sunderland team news:
Brighton team news:
14:18: Sunderland boss, Regis Les Bris addressed the absence of Ecuadorian winger Nilson Angulo and French midfielder Enzo Le Fee stating “Nilson will be out for four to six weeks and for Enzo, I hope for next week.”
14:51- Brighton’s Jack Hinshelwood mentions the squad are feeling refreshed after a ten day break from competetive fixtures.
15:00- Kick-Off is underway!
15:09- Melker Elborg makes a HUGE save in the opening stages for Sunderland as Yakuba Minteh crosses the ball low into the centre of the box and Sweedish keeper makes a stunning reaction save to Jack Hinshelwood’s shot. 0-0
15:15- Brighton have definitely been the brighter of the two teams in the first 15 minutes with another slick move down the right hand side but Danny Welbeck’s effort was blocked well at the edge of the box. 0-0
15:20- Minteh again leads the Brighton attacking charge, as he wriggles to the byline and dinks in a back post cross that is just too high for Gomez to head home. 0-0
15:26- Regis Les Bris will be looking to his captain Granit Xhaka and his midfield partner Noah Sadiki to gain some control in this match as Brighton are seriously knocking on the door, and the home crowd are showing nerves already. 0-0
15:30- Chemsine Talbi is now starting to make things happen for Sunderland on that left wing, similar to Minteh for Bighton on the other side, as he dances past two Brighton defenders but the cross is cleared just in time by Van Hecke. 0-0
15:34- After a free-flowing start, the game has become a little scrappy as Sunderland aim to keep hold of Brighton, and Diarra cynically fouls Gross on half-way to break up another Seagulls attack. 0-0
15:37- Brobbey tries to roll and power away from Van Hecke just outside the Brighton box but the Dutchman does brilliantly to stand his ground and clear away the danger. 0-0
15:43- Minteh springs back into life down Brighton’s left as he pokes a cross past the recovering Diarra but Ellborg calmly gathers at his near post. 0-0
15:45- The fourth official holds up his board to signal two minutes will be added onto the first half here. 0-0
15:48- The halftime whistle has been blown, but most of the stands had already been cleared out by the 42nd minute. The Stadium of Light must have some cheap pints on offer today! 0-0
16:06- Sunderland think they have lead….. but VAR comes to Brighton’s rescue! It remains 0-0.
16:10- The chances are starting to come for the home side as Lewis Dunk attempts to play out the back but plays it straight into Brian Brobbey but Sunderland’s number 9 blazes it over the bar!
16:16- GOAL! Yankuba Minteh has been the best player on the pitch so far today and seals it with a goal as he bursts past Granit Xhaka on the follow up of a corner and scuffs a cross on his right foot and wrong foots Elborg. 0-1 Brighton
16:21- That’s the end of Ballard’s afternoon as he’s replaced by O’Nien. Hopefully it’s not a major concern for the Northern Ireland international ahead of the season run-in. 0-1 Brighton
16:28- If the score remains the same here at the Stadium of Light, Brighton will leapfrog Sunderland in the Premier League rankings to move into 10th spot as the hosts slip to 12th.
16:34- Brighton’s scorer Minteh gets himself into a bit of trouble with an off the ball foul earning a yellow card and is subsequently is replaced by De Cuyper. 0-1 Brighton.
16:35- Minteh has certainly not made himself popular in the north as he holds up a 0-1 gesture to the home fans and he marches off the pitch. Charming. 0-1 Brighton.
16:37- Another change from Les Bris as Mayenda comes on for Brobbey.
16:48- The fourth official holds up his board to signal there’ll be eight minutes added on to finish this game. Surely plenty of time for the hosts to find an equaliser?
16:57- The full time whistle goes here as the Seagulls take all three points from the Stadium of Light, Fabian Hurzeler will be pleased with the defensive resilience his side showed in the last phase of this match.
17:00- Not the result Sunderland would have wanted ahead of the Tyne-wear derby next week Sunday, Brighton however will be full of confidence as they take on champions league chasers Liverpool next week in the early kickoff.
17:01- Thank you for keeping up to date with our blog, and don’t forget to stay tuned to our live Soccer Saturday stream which is still ongoing. Now it’s time to kick back, relax and (hopefully) watch Arsenal beat up Everton!
