Brighton and Hove Albion will be hoping that home advantage proves pivotal when they welcome AFC Bournemouth to Amex Stadium on New Year's Day.
Chris Hughton's charges have performed well on home soil so far this season; indeed, the Seagulls have suffered defeat in just one of their last nine Premier League matches on their own patch.
Match odds:
Given that impressive record, Brighton could prove to be a popular pick with punters ahead of Monday's match and the Seagulls are chalked up as a 6/5 (2.20) chance with Betfair Sportsbook to kick off 2018 with a home victory.
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Bournemouth, by contrast, have failed to win any of their last five fixtures on their travels and, although boosted by Saturday's vital 2-1 victory against Everton, Howe's charges face a battle to beat the drop in the second half of the season. An upturn in fortunes away from home would certainly provide a much-needed fillip for the Cherries and Betfair Sportsbook offer 21/10 (3.10) that the visitors emerge as victors, while the same firm go 12/5 (3.40) that this match ends all square - three of the last five matches contested at Amex Stadium has ended in a draw.
The case for unders:
Neither side has been particularly prolific this season; the Seagulls have scored just 15 goals thus far this term, while the Cherries have scored just 20 times in the top tier.
Furthermore, Bournemouth have drawn a blank in three of their last five away fixtures, while there have been fewer than three goals scored in seven of the Seagulls' 10 Premier League matches at this venue.
Betfair Sportsbook offer just 8/15 (1.53) that there are fewer than three goals in this game, while the same firm go 3/4 (1.75) that either team fails to find the net during Monday's match; that particular play would have landed in three of Brighton's last four home games, with each of those three matches producing fewer than two goals.
Another tight tussle seems likely here, then, and Betfair Sportsbook's 7/4 (2.75) quote for fewer than two goals to be scored could well represent decent value for punters.
Tips and Predictions:
The Seagulls have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four fixtures at the Amex Stadium, while Bournemouth have drawn a blank in three of their last four Premier League away days.
Defensive discipline has been at the heart of Brighton's success thus far this term and, so, there could be value in backing the Seagulls to keep the shot-shy Cherries at bay; Betfair Sportsbook's 7/5 (2.40) quote for Hughton's men to keep a clean sheet could provide punters with a path to profit ahead of Monday's match.
Brighton to keep a clean sheet at 7/5 (2.40) for a 1pt stake with Betfair 
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