Morgan Gibbs-White has committed 29 fouls across his 25 Premier League appearances this season (1.28 per 90). Four of these fouls came in Nottingham Forest’s 2-2 draw with Brighton at the Amex Stadium earlier in the season, these infringements saw Morgan Gibbs-White sent off in the 83rd minute in that particular encounter. He is often tasked with more defensive responsibility than he would probably like in this Nottingham Forest side, with Nuno Espírito Santo insistent and demanding that his players work hard off the ball. This sees Gibbs-White drop in alongside the two holding midfielders Forest play with in their 4-2-3-1 system but this does become a 4-3-3 when he drops deeper to help out his fellow midfielders. Gibbs-White will be up against Carlos Baleba who is averaging 1.70 fouls won per 90 across his 25 Premier League appearances this season. Gibbs-White struggled to deal with his energy in the 2-2 draw between the sides earlier in the campaign which saw Baleba brought down once from his 12 duels.

Hinshelwood has committed 12 fouls across his 17 Premier League appearances this season, 15 of these have been starts taking his average to 0.86 fouls committed per 90 in the English top-flight this campaign. Hinshelwood has had two contrasting performances in his games against Nottingham Forest this campaign. He scored and was awarded Player of the Match in the 2-2 draw between the sides at the Amex Stadium earlier in the season, but was then hung out to dry in Forest’s 7-0 demolition of Brighton in which Hinshelwood was left exposed as the only holding midfielder for the majority of the game. Hinshelwood committed a foul in both of these games and also picked up a yellow card before being hooked at half time at the City Ground. He’ll be up against Morgan Gibbs-White who has won 30 fouls across his 25 Premier League appearances this season (1.33 per 90) and was brought down twice in each of the previous meetings with Brighton this season. Gibbs-White’s ability to win fouls at a consistent rate should cause a problem for Hinshelwood who is unlikely to be on his own in the middle of the park this time around, but will still have to deal with the dynamism of Morgan Gibbs-White, who should be fresh after not featuring in the international break for England.

Brighton are yet to get the better of Nottingham Forest this season, the sides played out a 2-2 draw at the Amex towards the start of the campaign before Forest fired seven past Brighton at the City Ground, which is a result that may just give the travelling side that extra psychological edge in this cup tie. Brighton have been on a solid run of form since that heavy defeat, remaining undefeated across their last seven games, winning six of these encounters which includes cup tie wins against Chelsea and Newcastle. However, finding that cutting edge to get over the line has been a problem for Brighton all season - they’ve drawn 11 games in the Premier League this campaign which is more than any other side in the top-flight, six of these draws have been at home. Nottingham Forest have one of the best away records in the Premier League, remaining undefeated in 10 of their 15 away trips this campaign. This should set up Forest well here to come out with a positive result when coupled with their decent showings already against Brighton this campaign.

Brighton will control the ball and dictate proceedings for the majority of this game but against a side like Forest who thrive off low possession and quick counter-attacks, this is no guarantee of success in terms of coming through the tie but should see them win the corner battle. Brighton won the corner match bet in both league meetings between the sides, racking up nine corners to Forest’s one in the game at the Amex and six to Forest’s four at the City Ground, despite coming away 7-0 losers in the game. This is a good metric for summing up how Forest like to play, they aren’t too bothered about sustaining attacks or looking to play out from the back and instead look to be as direct as possible, often being clinical when chances fall their way. Brighton had 70% of the ball in the initial league meeting between the sides at the Amex Stadium earlier in the seaso,n which is a fair blueprint for what we can expect in the possession numbers here. Brighton are averaging 5.14 corners per game at the Amex Stadium this season whilst Nottingham Forest are averaging 4.20 corners per game on their travels this term.

Ryan Yates has been shown eight yellow cards across his 26 Premier League appearances this season, a record that becomes even more standout when considering that just 15 of these appearances have been starts. No Nottingham Forest player has been cautioned more times in the Premier League this season than Ryan Yates. He’s committed 42 fouls across his 26 Premier League appearances this season (2.46 per 90), suggesting that these cautions are not by accident or due to bad luck and instead are a direct result of Yates’ combative nature which often sees him catch the eye of the referee. Yates will be in an intense midfield battle up against Georginio Rutter who has won 45 fouls across his 28 Premier League appearances this season (2.43 per 90). Rutter will be a problem for Yates and the other Forest midfielders to handle with his strong dribbling ability and impressive frame which makes him hard to dispossess, and informs his positive fouls won record this season.

Carlos Baleba is another that could be roped into a midfield battle here, the box-to-box midfielder has caught the eye of some of Europe’s biggest clubs with his performances this season, but he is still raw which shows itself through his foul and card record this campaign. Baleba is averaging 1.56 fouls committed per 90 across his 25 Premier League appearances this season, a record that has produced six yellow cards and one red card for the 21-year-old. Baleba can often test the referee’s patience not only with the physicality of some of his challenges, but also in reacting to the referee when he has blown his whistle. Baleba was cautioned in Brighton’s 2-1 win over Newcastle in the last round of the FA Cup in which he committed two fouls. He was also cautioned in Brighton’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City in their last game before the international break, taking this attitude with him to the national side (Cameroon) where he was cautioned against Libya as part of the World Cup Qualifiers.