Profiling each of the promoted teams, Adrian Clarke continues his analysis of Premier League debutants Brighton & Hove Albion.
After looking at their star player and tactical traits, he concludes by crunching the numbers.
Clean-sheet kings
Clean sheets mean a lot to Brighton.
Their total of 21 shutouts was the most in the Championship last season. And it continued a long-standing trend.
In the previous five seasons in the second tier, Brighton had never had fewer than 14 clean sheets. It is a long time since they were leaky at the back.
They are particularly strong at the Amex Stadium. Brighton did not concede a single goal in 12 of their 17 home victories en route to promotion.
Their disciplined and organised starts to matches led to Chris Hughton’s side leading 1-0 at half-time in 47.8% of their home fixtures.
If they can come close to repeating that excellent trait in the Premier League, it will stand them in fantastic stead.
Defensive duo
While Brighton defend well as a collective unit, the combination of first-choice centre-back pairing Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy is vital.
Signed from Blackburn Rovers last August, Duffy struck up a superb understanding with Dunk after the duo lost their first two matches together 2-0.
They are both tall, aggressive, dominant in the air, excellent readers of the game and comfortable in possession.
As they boast an outstanding record alongside one another, Hughton will deem them key players for the season ahead.
The Dunk and Duffy effect
| 2016/17 | Total |
|---|---|
| Matches played together | 28 |
| Clean sheets | 13 |
| Avg. goals conceded | 0.86 |
| Clean sheet percentage | 46.4% |
| Win rate | 64.3% |
| Avg. points earned | 2.1 |
Terrific frontrunners
Brighton's data from 2016/17 also points towards high fitness levels and sensible gameplans.
It is a testament to Hughton's management that, when the Seagulls scored first in away matches last season, they were able to fend off comebacks with relative ease.
Of the 10 occasions they broke the deadlock on their travels they won nine times and drew once. Brighton’s overall record from 1-0 positions last season reads: W25 D1 L1.
They were terrific frontrunners.
Strong finishers
The promoted side also displayed fine stamina, finishing matches better than the vast majority of their rivals.
They scored 49 second-half goals. This accounted for 66.2% of their goals, the second-highest share in the Championship.
So what does all this tell us?
Brighton are an astute side who try to put themselves in solid positions, before forcing opponents to come at them late on in matches.
Once this happens and holes begin to appear, they are adept at picking them off.
While an influx of fresh talent may be necessary to bolster their squad this summer, there are well-constructed foundations in place for their Premier League bow.
