Mark Lawrenson reveals why he's backing Brighton & Hove Albion to topple Aston Villa this weekend
![Brighton](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/images/T0FLMTIwMDkyMjA5.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65&enable=upscale)
![Brighton](/img/placeholder.png)
Writing in his weekly predictions column for BBC Sport, Lawro backed Graham Potter's to pick up a comfortable 2-0 victory, while his opponent for the week, actor and comedian Tom King, went for a 2-1 win for Albion.
Explaining the thought process behind his tip, Lawrenson said: "Aston Villa got totally taken apart by Manchester City last weekend, and just seem unable to string any sort of run of good results together.
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Hide Ad"Brighton, meanwhile, only lost by one goal against Everton but it could have been more - the Seagulls were not very good. Both sides will see this as winnable game but Brighton have got home advantage and that is who I am backing."
The last time the two sides met back in October, an action-packed afternoon saw the Seagulls fall to defeat in stoppage time as Matt Targett's late effort bagged the Villains victory at the death.
A win for this weekend could see Albion leapfrog Newcastle into 13th, while a loss could see them in the dreaded relegation zone by Saturday evening.