Fabian Hürzeler has challenged his Brighton and Hove Albion players to reach their “highest standards” to prevent Coventry City claiming a first Premier League point in 25 years.
The newly promoted Sky Blues were beaten 1-0 at Manchester City last weekend, suffering a third successive loss without scoring in their first top-flight season since relegation in 2001.
Albion face Frank Lampard’s side tomorrow (Sunday 13 September) with head coach Hürzeler braced for a “big challenge”.
He said: “I think they played really well against City. They created some chances. They created chances after transitions, they created chances after corners, after throw-ins.
“They looked very, very compact. They didn’t give away a lot of chances.
“We know that every Premier League club, no matter how many points they have at the moment, will be a big challenge and we have to reach our highest standards.
“We have to focus really on us, that we are able to start the game well, that we are able to play for 90 minutes with a lot of energy, with a lot of intensity, winning personal duels, because this will always be the foundation of our game.
“Away at Coventry we have to do this. We expect a tough opponent, a strong opponent, who really grow into this season.”
Brighton are aiming to return to winning ways after losing 4-3 at Chelsea and then drawing 1-1 at home to Leeds United after a 4-0 opening victory over Aston Villa.
Lampard believes that Brighton could present a tougher test than Manchester City as the Sky Blues seek to open their points account.
Coventry lost at the Etithad Stadium last week after being beaten by Arsenal and Hull City in their first two Premier League matches.
The Sky Blues host a Brighton side with four points from three games.
Lampard said: “For me this could be as hard, if not harder, than Manchester City for different reasons. That’s not to belittle City because we know what they are.
“We went to City with very little expectation on us and a clear plan to stop giving them spaces and give them problems when we did.
“We must have the same attitude against Brighton, nailing down what’s needed and doing it throughout.”
Coventry stormed to the Championship title last season but sit bottom of the Premier League while fellow new boys Hull and Ipswich Town have both tasted victory.
Lampard said: “We have to understand it’s a different level for us but we have to be adaptable for certain games. We have to find the best way and get there quickly.”
