Brighton and Hove Albion are 'very lucky' they are up against a Newcastle United side 'in freefall' in the Premier League's relegation battle.
That was the frank verdict of former Arsenal and England forward Ian Wright who believes the Seagulls have paid the price for poor finishing this term.
Graham Potter's side have earned plaudits for their style of football this season and the number of chances they create as a result.
In fact, such is Brighton's chance creation rate, the Seagulls rank in eighth place in the Premier League in terms of expected goals (XG) this term.
In reality, though, Brighton are locked into a relegation battle and are just three points clear of 18th placed Fulham and one point clear of 17th placed Newcastle.
The Magpies travel to the AMEX Stadium to take on Brighton on Saturday in what is a huge game at the bottom of the Premier League table.
Fulham have the chance to reel both sides further into relegation trouble on Friday evening, when they take on Leeds United at Craven Cottage, and Wright insists Potter's men should be grateful to teams like Newcastle that they haven't further been punished in their battle for Premier League survival.
"When you look at Brighton, they have dropped 17 points from winning positions," Wright told the Ringer FC Wrighty's House podcast.
"You look at the manager and I remember the Palace game was typical. Football fans know the game and when we were sat watching the Palace-Brighton game and Brighton were missing chances continually, we were all thinking: 'They are going to pay for that'.
"They have done that so many times. It is literally simple. They miss too many chances. This is why I thought it could be brilliant for Danny Welbeck.
"But I have seen him come on and miss chances and at this stage of his career, they have got him for a year, he takes those chances and he gets another year. That is why he is there but they can't miss those chances.
"They miss too many chances and they are very lucky they have got someone like Newcastle [going against them in the relegation race].
"You have got Newcastle who are in a freefall situation, West Brom and Sheffield United who are gone, who are worse off than them."
