Brighton will be looking to bounce back from their 2-1 Premier League defeat to Manchester United when they take on West Brom in the fourth round of the FA Cup this Saturday.
The encounter between the two sides at the Amex is likely to see two English forwards in Glenn Murray and Jay Rodriguez line up against each other as Chris Hughton and Darren Moore attempt to guide their respective clubs into the fifth round.
Glenn Murray
Like last season, both Brighton and Murray are currently having a good campaign. The Seagulls have once again opened up quite a bit of a gap between themselves and the relegation zone with the Englishman’s eight Premier League goals helping to achieve that.
Murray, though, has proven to be more than just a goalscorer since arriving for his second spell at the Amex back in 2016.
The 35-year-old leads the line extremely well overall, holding up the ball efficiently and constantly bringing his team-mates into play.
He has never been the quickest of strikers, especially now at his age. But all things considered, there are not a lot of weaknesses in his game.
TT Grade: B+
Jay Rodriguez
With his injuries now behind him, Rodriguez has returned to being a very effective centre-forward, one who is probably too good to be playing in the Championship.
When in peak condition, the 29-year-old can be so tricky to defend against. His movement is good, as is his finishing, while he also knows how to take up dangerous positions in the box to pounce on any opportunity that drops to him.
Rodriguez’s versatility makes him a great asset to have, too, something which Moore has taken advantage of.
Should West Brom manage to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking, then they will have the England international, among some other very good players in their squad, to thank.
TT Grade: B
TT Verdict:
Brighton’s upcoming FA Cup clash with West Brom has the potential to be a close and tight encounter with Murray and Rodriguez set to be the protagonists on the day.
And heading into the game, on a more personal level, the latter should be looking towards the former for inspiration going forward.
Like Murray, Rodriguez has the skill set to thrive in the Premier League at the latter stage of his career. However, for now, it is just about getting back there for the West Brom man.
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