Brighton vs. Leicester Betting Tips: Solly to March on for Seagulls

Super Sunday’s opener comes from the south coast as Brighton look to get back on track against a Leicester City side that looks ready for the winter break already.

That was the summer of his discontent, and it looks like it could continue well into autumn for Brendan Rodgers whose squad have looked disjointed and, frankly, abysmal since the season started last month.

They continued the run of poor form that sees them propping up the Premier League in midweek with a disappointing 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Manchester United - which followed a much more worrying loss away at Stamford Bridge. The manner of their defeats is what has been most worrying for Foxes fans, going 2-0 down to a side that played with 10-men from the 28th minute being arguably the most egregious.

The growing tension culminated in an explosive Brendan Rodgers interview immediately after the loss to United, in which he claimed former Leicester’s target for the season was 40 points - having been one goal away from a European final last season - and chastised a lack of support in the transfer market.

Indeed their only notable incoming came on transfer deadline day as Wout Faes joined in a £15m move from Stade Reims to replace the outgoing Wesley Fofana, who joined Chelsea in a deal worth up to a reported £75m. Amidst a sea of spending in the Premier League - from Chelsea splashing £253m on new signings to Nottingham Forest making an unprecedented British record 21 additions - there was a bizarre level of inactivity at the King Power stadium, except at the exit.

Fofana was the latest in a string of high profile outgoings in the Midlands, becoming the 6th key player in the last seven years to leave Leicester in the summer window. He joined Ben Chilwell, Harry Maguire, Riyad Mahrez, Danny Drinkwater, and N’Golo Kante in leaving for a Premier League rival in a deal worth over £30m.

Speaking of players leaving for fellow Premier League outfits in high profile moves, Brighton lost two of their key players in the window too, though the mood on the coast is far from downbeat. Marc Cucurella and Yves Bissouma left for London together, joining Chelsea and Tottenham respectively in deals worth a combined £85m.

The Seagulls had ready made replacements already though with Moises Caicedo slotting in wonderfully in Bissouma’s absence - and Billy Gilmoir joining on deadline day - whilst Pervis Estupiñán joined immediately from Villarreal to take over at left-wing-back. The latter arrives with Champions League experience and seems to have already settled into this role on the seaside.

It’s a testament to Graham Potter’s coaching that they clearly don’t miss two of their more important players from last season, and he’s the reason that Brighton continue to outperform their individual talents. His game-by-game tactical setups have proven to be fruitful on a regular basis, switching up their pressing style based on their opponent, whilst the base system he has set up has become a plug-and-play with players able to fill a multitude of positions.

One player that is benefitting from a reformed role this season and finding in the final third a little more often is Brighton midfielder-turned-wing-back Solly March.

The versatile 28-year-old has played all over the pitch for the Seagulls - and would probably do a job at centre-back if asked - but seems to have nailed a permanent spot on the right of Potter’s 3-4-2-1 this term, which has seen his numbers going forward enjoy a sharp increase.

March averaged just 0.6 shots and 0.3 shots on target per 90 in the Premier League last season, often hanging back so his more attack-minded counterpart Cucurella could attack the box.

Now he’s getting his turn at getting forward and he’s found himself in some dangerous positions, and could consider himself unlucky not to have scored yet this season - though his own poor finishing can probably be blamed for that.

He’s managed 2.4 shots per 90 and 1.3 shots on target per 90 in the league so far this year, which rises to an astonishing 4.44 shots per 90 and 3.17 shots on target per 90 in his pair of games at the Amex.

A great indicator of Graham Potter’s prowess as a coach is the speed and comfortability with which players adapt to new roles within his side, and Alexis Mac Allister has been a great example of that in his ever-present role so far this term.

Dropped deeper than he has typically been comfortable with to accommodate for the absence of Yves Bissouma and allow Pascal Groß a free role just behind the striker, the Argentine has stepped up and been one of the Seagulls’ best performers this year.

Acclimatising to a new role doesn’t come without its challenges though, and the already feisty Mac Allister is committing fouls and picking up cards at a higher rate than ever before.

With two yellows to his name in five starts so far this season - and nine fouls to boot - it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him earn another here against a midfield led by the magnificent James Maddison.

The England international has suffered more fouls (13) at a higher rate than all Premier League players besides Wilfried Zaha (15) and Luis Diaz (17).

Taking charge of this one is recently promoted referee Tony Harrington, who showed four bookings in the only Premier League match he has officiated so far this year.