Brighton -Manager Fabian Hurzeler has outlined the most important tactical elements for which his team must be on their care to beat Southampton this weekend.
The seagulls travel to St. Mary’s on Saturday, and are aimed at handing their South Coast Rivals a third consecutive home defeat in the same number of weeks.
Southampton boss Ivan Juric is fighting to keep his side in the Premier League, with a discouraging gap of 10 points that they now separate from 17th placed wolves and safety.
Hurzeler has noticed an important tactical shift since Juric took over, away from the approach that was seen during their 1-1 draw in November under Russell Martin.
“There was a change. In general, they play very much oriented, “said the German.
“They try to build up the target player, Paul Onuachu, more and more. They still have individual quality with (mateus) Fernandes, (Tyler) Dibbling, (Kamaldeen) Sulemana.
“They have players in the front line who have the ability to score after every action. Moreover, I see that they play a little more immediately.
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“They try to press more by man -oriented, try to press very high, try to be very aggressive. I think there was a style change, yes. “
In the previous meeting between the two teams, Flynn Downes saved a point for Southampton after Kaoru Mitoma Brighton had put it first.
The saints had also not allowed a goal in a controversial way. Despite the fact that he had been difficult, Southampton was forced to settle for a draw, while Brighton climbed to second place at that time.
Now the Hurzeler team is in 10th place in the competition.
Thinking about that competition, Hurzeler acknowledged the lessons that could take his side in this meeting.
“The players are still the same. For example, they have a lot on the right feet.
“In their structure that is something we have to take care of. They play a lot and go with their center backs. These things, they didn’t change.
“Of course you can look back on the game we had on the Amex. You can think about it. You can take some lessons from this game.
“Hopefully you can do some small details better than in the last game. Depending on how we work individually, how we win the personal duels.
“That was the most important thing they were better than we were in the first game, especially in the second half.”
Brighton will hope to apply those lessons on Saturday, because they strive to continue their urge for a strong finish in the Premier League.
