• Brighton fell behind after only 46 seconds in last weekend's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool

• Six Sunderland players have departed to play in the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco

• Recommended bet: Tie/Brighton Half Time/Full Time

Sunderland supporters will still be buzzing after last weekend's 1-0 Premier League win over north-east rivals Newcastle at the Stadium of Light.

Last season's Championship play-off winners have had a superb season so far on their return to the top flight, although they are clear underdogs to beat Brighton at the Amex Stadium.

Sunderland coach Regis Le Bris must cope without six players who have left for the Africa Cup of Nations and hosts Brighton have lost only once at home this term.

Team news

Brighton's Carlos Baleba is at the Africa Cup of Nations so Jack Hinshelwood could partner Yasin Ayari in central midfield.

Adam Webster, Stefanos Tzimas and Solly March are injured while Lewis Dunk and Diego Gomez are suspended.

Sunderland have been hit hard by AFCON as Noah Sadiki, Reinildo Mandava, Bertrand Traore, Chemsdine Talbi, Habib Diarra and Arthur Masuaku are all on international duty.

Luke O'Nien is suspended and Aji Alese remains sidelined.

The latest Brighton vs Sunderland odds are available on LiveScore Bet

The stats

Both teams have scored in 13 of Brighton's last 15 Premier League home games.

Brighton have scored 11 of their 25 league goals in the 76th minute or later.

The Seagulls have lost only one of their eight home fixtures in the league.

Sunderland's away matches are averaging just 1.75 goals per game this season.

The Black Cats have failed to score in any of their four away losses.

Sunderland have scored only five first-half goals in 16 league matches.

Prediction

Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike scored inside the first minute of Brighton's 2-0 defeat at Anfield last weekend but there could be a less dramatic start to the Seagulls' game against Sunderland.

Both of these clubs have done most of their goalscoring damage in the second half of matches this season so the Tie/Brighton selection is worth a bet in the Half Time/Full Time market.

The Seagulls are hot favourites to beat a depleted Sunderland side who have scored only four times in eight away matches.

However, Le Bris has made the Black Cats competitive at Premier League level and they claimed a famous 2-1 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in October.

Sunderland have scored 74 per cent of their goals in the second half of matches while only seven of Brighton's 25 goals came in the first 45 minutes.

Brighton may need to box clever if they are to break down the visiting defence although Sunderland's derby triumph will have taken plenty out of them, physically and emotionally.

Most of their best work has been done at the Stadium of Light and eight of their first 16 matches have been goalless at the break.

Brighton will go level on points with the Black Cats if they win on Saturday and manager Fabian Hurzeler may be celebrating another stirring second-half display from his side.

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