The FA Cup returns this weekend and we have eight games spread across four days, all of which will be decided on the day as we are now at the stage where no replays will take place. On Saturday afternoon, Brighton host Derby in what will be the second game of the weekend, and there is no reason for the two teams to not fancy their chances in this one.

Brighton are rightfully favourites as the Premier League team in this tie, but Derby will not fear them and after already winning at Old Trafford in a cup competition this season, they know how to handle the pressure of being away at a bigger club.

Although the teams won’t need any additional encouragement to get through to the quarter finals of this competition, it is there for them if they want it. After this weekend we will be down to eight teams left, and a maximum of two of them will be from the Premier League top six. If they get drawn together in the next round, then that will blow the whole competition wide open. Manchester City travel to Newport and it is expected they will win that game, while Manchester United take on Chelsea on Monday night, so only one of those two can make it through.

While we may have seen teams rest players earlier in the competition, when we get to this stage and with the makeup of the tournament looking like it is, I see nothing else other than these two, and other clubs, playing strong teams this weekend. They will genuinely feel that a Wembley semi-final, and possibly even final, is within their grasp if the draw is kind to them, and you cannot blame them for thinking like that looking at the way things are.

A big opportunity awaits the winner of this game.

Brighton Aiming to Become a Regular Fixture in the Premier League

Brighton were promoted to the Premier League last season, and were among the favourites to go back down straight away. They survived and defied the odds, and again this season they were among the favourites to be relegated. A poor run recently has put them back in the relegation battle, and right now they are just three points clear of safety, and one of a number of teams that are in trouble towards the bottom of the table.

However, if you look back to earlier in the season then there is definite promise from them, and they have played very well in parts this season. There is still chance to turn that around, and they are just six points off the top half of the table, a good finish would give them a chance to challenge for that. The longer Brighton are in the Premier League, the more chance they have of becoming a regular Premier League club, which is their aim.

The money they earn thanks to the lucrative TV deals the league has, and the big gates they get for playing in one of the best leagues in the world will be used to help them improve and develop as a club. While this is happening, and Brighton are keeping their heads above water, they are going to keep going from strength to strength, and maintain their status. They only need to look at a club like Bournemouth to see how they are doing, and that is the kind of model that every promoted club should be looking to follow, not just Brighton.

An FA Cup win, or even a final appearance is something else that would go a long way towards establishing Brighton in the league. This season is a great chance for those remaining in the competition, and that includes The Seagulls, if the draw goes their way they could get to the final without actually playing anyone above them in the league standings. It is not often you get an opportunity like that, and this is why I expect to see Brighton fielding a strong team on Saturday, even though they are involved in a relegation fight at the moment. They do need to survive and that has to be priority number one for them, but an FA Cup medal whether it is a winners or losers medal, would go a long way to giving them huge credibility and putting them on the Premier League map.

Brighton vs Derby Betting Tips

This should be a good, fairly even game with both teams looking to attack and win the game. I expect both teams to field fairly strong starting eleven’s here, in an attempt to make the quarter finals, and I don’t think Derby will fear going to Brighton, just like they didn’t when they travelled to Manchester United and Chelsea earlier this season. They have experience going to far bigger clubs than Brighton, and they need to use that.

Having said that, there is a tough of Premier League quality that Brighton have in their squad, which Derby don’t and ultimately I think that will be enough to get Brighton over the line. I’m expecting their star names to feature here in what is a big opportunity for them, and those players are all capable of making a difference when playing against a team from the league below.

With a quarter final place up for grabs, and with how the FA Cup is shaping up in the latter stages, both sides will want to win this one. While I respect Derby, I fancy the additional bit of quality that Brighton have to prove good enough to see them through and into the quarter finals.

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