Championship leaders Brighton host second place Newcastle this evening (7.45pm kick-off) in what look set to be a fascinating top-of-the-table encounter at the AMEX Stadium.

Chris Hughton’s Seagulls lead the North East giants by a point after beating Reading 3-0 on Saturday, just a few hours after Rafa Benitez’s Magpies could only muster a 2-2 draw at home to struggling Bristol City.

Huddersfield Town’s 1-1 draw at Barnsley means that there is a healthy gap between the top two and the chasing pack, although defeat this evening for either side will give those just outside the automatic promotion places renewed hope ahead of the run in.

Nonetheless, Brighton will be confident of victory having won three of their last four league games, and indeed 13 of their 17 matches at home this term.

Yet, Benitez’s Magpies possess the best away record in the division, taking 35 points from their 16 games, so it’s all set up to be a cracking match between two strong teams hoping for Premier League football come August.

So, with the build-up well underway to tonight’s game, here are THREE reasons why Brighton will pick up all three points at the AMEX Stadium this evening…

Best home record in league

With just one defeat at home all season, Brighton currently have the best home record of any side in the Championship.

The Seagulls have won 13 of their 17 games at the AMEX Stadium this term, with Brentford the only side winning there all the way back on September 10.

Since then, only Preston, Aston Villa, and Ipswich Town have taken points off Hughton’s men, which equates to a return of 36 points from a possible 42 – an unbeaten run of 14 matches.

Their 3-0 success over promotion-hopefuls Reading on Saturday further demonstrated their title credentials, and they certainly won’t be afraid of Benitez’s Newcastle this evening.

Lost just twice since September

Following their 2-0 defeat to Brentford on September 10, Brighton had picked up eight points from their first six games, and sat 13th in the table.

Fast forward five-and-a-half months, and the Seagulls are soaring at the summit of the division, losing just two of their last 27 Championship matches.

They have won 19 of those and drawn six others and, when you factor in that they have beaten all of the current top eight at home this term, netting 15 goals and conceding just twice in the process, they clearly relish playing the better sides at the AMEX Stadium.

Hughton’s men are unbeaten in five and have won seven of their last eight home matches, so they’ll be full of confidence ahead of this evening’s clash.

Chance to gain huge psychological edge

Top versus second is always a fascinating encounter, and this one takes on even greater significance given that both sides look set for promotion, but defeat here could spell danger for both sides.

Hughton’s Brighton are top and six points clear of Huddersfield in third, with Newcastle five points clear of David Wagner’s men, and with the Terriers not in action this evening, tonight’s game represents a great opportunity for one of those sides to gain a huge edge in the title race, as well as pushing the other nearer to the chasing pack.

Brighton know that victory would send them four points clear of the Magpies, who face Huddersfield and Reading in their next two games, so getting the three points this evening would certainly give them a psychological edge in the race for top spot.