Parsley

...and there's Brighton's customary penalty. What the fuck is that for?

Jesus Christ. Defence is all over the place.

I think it's as good a line-up as we could have hoped for, personally. Glad Atsu's kept his place.

Sounds as if Murphy's going to start.

Hope he runs into the back of someone, that's my favourite Colback foul. On the left-hand side, about half way into our half and right on the sideline while Dummett has the winger faced-up and under control.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/feb/28/chelsea-vitesse-arnhem-links-deeper-public-told

Yep. Odds on a soft-as-anything, first half yellow for Ritchie to keep him out of the Huddersfield and Reading games?

The Brighton game was rescheduled. Why couldn't it have been rescheduled to a different date?

How has it got to the stage where we're playing three away games in 7 days in opposite ends of the country by the way, totally apropos of the fact that we're playing 3 out of the current top 5? It's horrific scheduling, and no-one else seems to have been shafted by it quite to the same extent as us.

Not a chance Diame doesn't play IMO. It'll be him, Colback and Shelvey with a view towards outnumbering Brighton in the middle.

Be interesting to see how Hughton approaches this. Brighton normally only play 2 in midfield which should, in theory, give either Shelvey or the number 10 (probably Diame) more space to operate and allow us to dominate. Baldock is in good form and Murray is their top scorer so it'd be a bold call to drop one and match us man-for-man in the middle. Really hope Lascelles and Darlow get their fucking acts together mind. Can't afford to give sides like Brighton gimmies.

Nainggolan

Typical.

That is an outrageously bad call by the linesman.

Incredible that he's allowed to referee this match. I see he made (yet another) cock up yesterday in the Palace game and booked someone for diving yet it was a clear pen. Agreed. It's not asking much for the referee to be impartial and having no vested interest in the outcome of the game. It's a joke to be frank and I really hope it doesn't bite us in the arse.

The number of individual errors that we're suddenly making at the back is very concerning. Might be an idea to take Darlow out of the firing line for a bit.

Shit result, regardless of how Brighton and Huddersfield do.

Barnsley equalise!

Offside?

Judging by what we've seen so far I would 100% agree with this, there's been more than a few occasions this season where we've needed to freshen things up our change approach after going down or drawing and hes kept it the same. I think this is because Rafa prioritises 'control' over anything else - if we are having the lion's share of possession, winning the majority of second balls, forging openings if not necessarily chances etc then the goals will eventually come and there's little point making substitutes so as to upset the process. Blackburn away's a chief example - 0-0 and in supreme control of the game (if looking toothless) but Rafa opted to keep things as they were rather than bring on Atsu and/or Mitrovic and twist the knife; it was only until after they scored when he tried to drastically change things. That's the key I think; his subs are reactive rather than proactive more often than not but there's at least some sort of tactical justification behind the approach, whereas McClaren would inexplicably twiddle his thumbs until it is too late and Pardew would bring on a left-back for no reason whatsoever.

The football's not been that bad like, IMO at least.

Reckon Ritchie will be rested for this.

Reading and Sheffield Wednesday are very beatable IMO, especially considering the latter lost 2-0 to Brentford this eve. Draws against Huddersfield and Brighton would suffice.

Reading love a late goal themselves to be fair.