Brighton & Hove Albion-Brentford Preview

Thomas Frank believes he and Brentford have created "magic moments" together ahead of his four-year anniversary weekend at the club, prefaced by their Premier League clash with Brighton and Hove Albion.

The Dane returned the Bees to the top flight of English football and has helped them impress since, marking them out as one of English football's greater success stories over the past decade.

Reflecting on his tenure so far, Frank admitted he could "sit here for hours" to discuss what he has built with the club, but admits regardless, it has exceeded his expectations.

"Sometimes you go into a job and have dreams and ambitions but never know if you will achieve them," he stated. "It has been a remarkable and unbelievable journey with ups and downs, but mainly ups.

"We - and I mean we - that's me, my staff, everyone working at the club, the fans, the players have together created some magic moments that forever will be history in Brentford and I am very proud to be part of that."

Opposite number Roberto De Zebri meanwhile continues to settle in to life on the south coast and remains particularly enamoured with Leandro Trossard.

The striker is closing in on Brighton's Premier League goalscoring record, but his boss feels that he still has more to give in his role up front.

"He is one of the best players in the team," he added. "I always want better and better and better and more and more and more. I think he can score more goals, but I don't want his focus to only be on goals.

"For example, against Liverpool he scored three goals but against Tottenham, none. I want him to play well. The first thing is he has to play well and for the team. After we will look.

"I hope (he becomes the record goalscorer) and I want to help him. If he can score more goals he helps his team and the other players."

Brentford - Ivan Toney

The forward - called up for England last month - has scored all seven of his Premier League penalties taken, netting twice from the spot so far this season. Only Dimitar Berbatov (9/9) and Yaya Toure (11/11) have better 100 per cent records from the spot in the competition than Toney.

Brighton - Solly March

No player has had more shots (18) or more shots on target (8) without scoring in the Premier League so far this season than the Seagulls man. Indeed, he's not scored with any of his last 53 attempts in the competition, since netting against Aston Villa in November 2020.

- Brentford have won just one of their last six home league games against Brighton (D3 L2), beating them 3-2 in September 2014.

- Brighton won both Premier League meetings with Brentford last season - only against West Ham have they ever won three in a row in the competition (between October 2017 and October 2018).

- Brentford are unbeaten in their last nine league games played on a Friday, winning seven and drawing twice. The Bees have won each of their last five such games, including both in the Premier League last season (vs Arsenal and Watford).

- After an unbeaten run of seven Premier League games in London (W4 D3), Brighton lost 2-1 against Fulham in their last visit to the capital. They last lost consecutive such games in April 2019.

- Brentford suffered their biggest ever Premier League defeat last time out against Newcastle (1-5) - they've not lost consecutive league matches since February, though one of those was also against the Magpies.

Updated October 13, 2022