The Opposition View: Brighton & Hove Albion

Last updated : 09 March 2012 By Jim Bonner

What's your assessment of the season so far? Do you still believe promotion is attainable?

It's been a fantastic season. We've had a few dips in form at various points, but we're firmly back on track now, with an unbeaten league record in 2012 - and our current position just outside the play-offs would have comfortably surpassed most fans expectations back in the summer.

Promotion is still a definite possibility, and Gus has made some sound January acquisitions to boost our chances, but I'm seeing it as nothing more than a bonus from here.

Pompey fans will be visiting the Amex Stadium for the first time on Saturday. Now you've had some time to settle in, what's your overall opinion of the stadium?

Well, it's permanent, and it's ours - that alone would have satisfied the majority. But yeah, it's superb - an absolute world away from the Withdean, in terms of the match-day experience, and it generates a decent noise as well.

Aesthetically it still looks a little unfinished inside, but the future plans to expand the capacity to 30,000 will see to that. Make sure you try the pies, and you'll have your own local ale on tap in the away end as well.

What do you make of Pompey's plight? Any sympathy?

Sympathy for the fans, of course - and those who now find themselves out of a job. It can't be nice to see all your best players desert a sinking ship. But it's difficult to see how there is any way back now, with the seemingly insurmountable debt owing to the years of sickening financial mismanagement.

I'd never wish to see a club cease to exist - but might a fan-run AFC Portsmouth be the best solution in the long-term? All the best with it, anyway.

Craig Mackail-Smith was your big summer signing but would it be safe to say that he has been disappointing this season?

Disappointing in as much as you'd expect more goals from a player who has cost £2.5m, but there have been concerns from the off regarding whether he'd suit our style of play - we're very patient in our approach, and he tends to thrive off a gung-ho 'punt it forward' style.

We've started to mix it up a little more in recent weeks and he's been back amongst the goals - so there is hope yet that'll work out. Regardless of his scoring, his phenomenal work-rate remains an asset for us.

What are the biggest strengths in this Seagulls side?

Pace on the flanks - Will Buckley, Kazenga LuaLua and Craig Noone can all terrorise any Championship full-back on their day. We're also becoming a very organised unit, with captain Gordon Greer and Adam El-Abd becoming a formidable partnership at the heart of the back-line.

Liam Bridcutt marshals the midfield well in the holding role whilst Man City loanees Gai Assulin and Abdul Razak can provide a spark of quality further up the field.

What weaknesses in your team might Pompey exploit during the game?

Still questions marks over our ability to cope with the more physical sides, and we can sometimes struggle to deal with crosses into the box/frantic goal-mouth action. Poyet has us playing a patient brand of passing football at all times, and if we're not at the races in the final third, we can be quite easy to contain.

What sort of match are you expecting on Saturday?

Unsure, it's a game we should be looking to win if we have serious aspirations of a play-off place, but Portsmouth will be fighting for every point available, and still have players who can hurt us. It's the sort of game we'd typically slip up in - however, if we keep our nerve and control the game like we can, I fancy us to emerge with the 3 points.

Predict the outcome of the game.

Brighton 2 Portsmouth 0