Newcastle United will be looking to continue their excellent run of form when they host Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. Eddie Howe's side recorded their fourth win in five matches with a 2-0 success over Brentford last time out.
Joelinton gave the Magpies the lead as he headed home Ryan Fraser's cross, before Joe Willock added a second just before half-time with a composed finish. The result moved Newcastle four points clear of the relegation zone and they will be hoping to extend their unbeaten run to eight matches this weekend.
Meanwhile, opponents Brighton couldn't be in more contrasting form at the moment. Graham Potter's men have lost their last three matches without scoring, including a 3-0 defeat at home to Burnley.
Only Everton, Brentford and Leeds United have picked up fewer points than Brighton during the last six matches and it's something that will concern supporters. The Seagulls still occupy a top-half spot but could be overtaken if Leicester City manage to win their games in hand.
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One reason behind Brighton's slump in form is the absence of Dan Burn, who made the £13million move to Newcastle from the Seagulls in the January transfer window. The Seagulls have shipped 10 goals in five games since the Blyth-born defender left the club and they haven't looked as secure at the back.
There were some boos after the 2-0 defeat against Aston Villa last weekend and some fans are getting frustrated at how Brighton have been performing given their excellent start to the season. It wasn't so long ago that pundits were tipping the Seagulls to push for European football on the back of a seven-game unbeaten run.
Newcastle, however, have the opportunity to capitalise on Brighton's slump in form and register another important win at St James' Park. They could extend the gap between them and the bottom three to seven points and it would give them another massive step in securing survival.
It's a game that the Magpies would fancy their chances in after they drew the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign, with Isaac Hayden netting the equaliser in Graeme Jones' final game in interim charge. Howe's side are the second-most in-form side in the division and could be boosted with the return of Allan Saint-Maximim through injury.
