Pundits divided as Ruud van Nistelrooy looks to repeat Leicester City magic against Brighton
Ruud van Nistelrooy looked like he had the magic touch after guiding Leicester City to victory against West Ham just three days after watching his new team blitzed by Brentford.
The Dutchman only had a watching brief in West London, the game coming just a few hours after his formal appointment as City boss, and his new team were quick to run up the white flag, trailing 2-0 inside half-an-hour before eventually losing the game 4-1.
So the transformation with van Nistelrooy in the King Power Stadium dugout was remarkable, City a team reborn as they beat the ailing Hammers 3-1.
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So with another home game now to navigate, this time against trickier opposition in the form of Brighton, the big question for supporters is which team will turn up on Sunday (2pm kick-off)? Ahead of the game, the pundits have been having their say - and they are divided on the likely outcome as van Nistelrooy takes the helm for a second time.
Here’s what the BBC’s Chris Sutton and BetVictor’s Harry Redknapp have had to say about City’s prospects this weekend…
Chris Sutton: “I am not fooled by what Leicester did against West Ham, as big a win as it was for them. The Hammers wasted so many chances, and the Foxes' defensive issues have clearly not gone away.
“Well done to new Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, but he has got a hell of a job on his hands to keep them up.
“I did not see Brighton's defeat at Fulham coming, because the Seagulls have been so impressive. But they will be angry after that performance and looking to prove a point. Away win, no doubt about it.”
Sutton's prediction: 0-3
Harry Redknapp: “I was as shocked as anyone about Ruud van Nistelrooy managing Leicester, and the shock factor went into overdrive when Jamie Vardy pounced after 98 seconds and got that goal against West Ham. Ruud may say he’s not a romantic manager and is purely a results man, but even he would have noticed the romance there.
“I must admit I was surprised that Brighton got beaten so convincingly by Fulham. To be fair, it was only their third Premier League defeat so far this season.
“That mistake by Bart Verbruggen early doors didn’t bode well for the Seagulls, although I have to say it was a lovely equaliser from the acrobatic Carlos Baleba.
“I think the Foxes have got an uplift from the arrival of Ruud at the King Power. Sometimes it’s things like that which can turn things around for a club, even if they are often short-lived.
And I hate to state the obvious, but I will - Jamie Vardy is on fire.”
Redknapp's prediction: 2-1
