Brighton & Hove Albion

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport journalist

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Fulham at Amex Stadium (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Hurzeler confirmed Karou Mitoma is available for selection after he was substituted against Newcastle: "He just had cramp - he will be an option. For the rest of the team, the options will be the same."

• He added: "Matt O'Riley is over his illness but we have to take care of his knee issue. We have to see if he can train. Lewis Dunk is closer, but still not an option."

• He says that everyone at the club is happy about Joel Veltman's contract extension: "He has proved he is a great player and has helped us in very difficult situations. He knows how to win games in the Premier League and he is a great character."

• On Saturday's opponents: "Fulham are very compact and have a clear style of play in possession. They have players who are mature in every position and who know how to stay calm in all situations. We are really looking forward to competing with them."

• Hurzeler says he has multiple options to replace the suspended Tariq Lamptey: "We played with Mats Weiffer last time and played with Jack Hinshelwood a few weeks ago. It will be a different style of play but I'm sure they will do it in a good way."

• On Yankuba Minteh's Premier League player of the month nomination: "It's well deserved, but it is important to understand that these small achievements only come from the team success. I'm happy with his development and he has improved out of possession. We still see a lot of improvement and a lot of potential."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Brighton have won none of their nine Premier League games against Fulham but have instead drawn four and lost five.

It makes Fulham the opponent they have faced the most without winning and conversely Brighton are the opponent Fulham have faced the most without losing.

However, Brighton have won each of their past three Premier League games – only once have they ever won four consecutive top-flight matches, doing so in April/May 1981.

Fulham have scored in each of their past 12 Premier League away games, netting exactly twice in each of their past six. It is their longest run of scoring multiple goals on the road in top-flight history, and have only once had a longer overall scoring streak (14 between September 1959 and April 1960).

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

On Wednesday, Brighton held a virtual fans' question-and-answer session, set against a digital backdrop of the Amex Stadium, complete with seagulls.

Joel Veltman, Ferdi Kadioglu and Bart Verbruggen spoke to former striker Glenn Murray about their careers and the season so far.

When asked for his two favourite games - one for Brighton, one across his whole career - Veltman picked Ajax's Champions League quarter-final away win against Juventus in 2019 and Brighton's 4-0 win against Manchester United, where he came up against Cristiano Ronaldo in both.

I asked about the mentality that was required to bounce back from the 7-0 hammering at Nottingham Forest on 1 February - which they all said was the heaviest of their career - to record five straight wins, Brighton's best run since April 2017 when they were promoted from the Championship.

"Sometimes you need a big defeat to wake you up," said Veltman.

"When you lose a game like that, the feeling in the dressing room is something you do not want to feel again. It makes you fight even more."

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

I have to admit, I was not expecting a news line to come out of a Brighton fans' virtual question-and-answer session this afternoon.

Former striker Glenn Murray was asking the questions against digitally created backdrops of both Amex Stadium and the home dressing room.

Veltman, 33, was asked if he thought he would spend the rest of his career at Brighton.

"My contract was expiring in the summer but I have extended it by another year," he said. "Beyond that, I will leave my options open.

"I have been here for five years and still love it but you never know in football."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Brighton striker Warren Aspinall has criticised Yankuba Minteh's attitude in their FA Cup victory at Newcastle on Sunday.

Speaking on the Albion Unlimited podcast, he said: "It's all about attitude of the players now [for the rest of the season]. Look at Tariq Lamptey - he has waited and waited and he has been playing out of his skin in the past three games.

"I didn't like the way that [Yankuba] Minteh came off, when he was shaking his head. Just get yourself off, hug your team-mate and sit down.

"If you have got any problems, go and knock on the manager's door on Monday morning. Don't show disrespect to the manager because he has made those decisions. The substitutions who came on won us the game.

"If I was the manager, I would be having a word with him and asking what his problem was."

BBC Radio Sussex's Johnny Cantor added: "You could say that his challenge gave away the penalty and I thought that if his shot hadn't been deflected, he probably wouldn't have scored. To be shaking your head in front of the manager, it's frustration there.

"It should be the norm [to support your team-mates coming on as a substitute]."

Listen to the full discussion here

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Brighton and Hove Albion deputy chairman Paul Barber says "everyone can be proud" of Brighton's financial accounts for the 2023-24 season.

Speaking on BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast, Barber said: "It is the highest turnover in the club's history, the third consecutive year of profit and the fourth year of profit in eight seasons in the Premier League.

"We have been advised by Kieran Maguire [a football finance expert] that these results make us the fourth most profitable club in the Premier League history. That is a 'wow'.

"We have been able to deliver these results while maintaining a degree of consistency on the pitch. We have been able to replace the players that have been sold - those players have been able to adapt very quickly to life in the Premier League.

"These results are the culmination of the hard work of people all across the club on and off the pitch - every department plays a part. The staff and the fans can be really proud.

"We cannot afford to stand still and pat ourselves on the back. It is nice to receive compliments, but at the same time there is a lot more work we have to do to maintain this position we have created."

Listen to the full discussion here

The latest episode of Albion Unlimited from BBC Radio Sussex is available now on BBC Sounds.

Brighton deputy chairman Paul Barber reflects on the club's latest financial figures, while Fulham fan and German football expert Archie Rhind-Tutt discusses Brighton's incoming striker Stefanos Tzimas and Saturday's visit of the London side.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Scott McCarthy
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

When Lewis Dunk was forced off at half-time of Brighton's 2-1 FA Cup win over Chelsea, Brighton looked in a spot of defensive bother with the only centre-back on the bench being Adam Webster.

There were a couple of reasons to potentially panic over Webster coming on. The first was he had played only 159 minutes of competitive football in four months since getting injured in October.

Hardly great preparation for any player facing being thrown in at the deep end against Cole Palmer and co, let alone one such as Webster who, throughout his six seasons at Amex Stadium has always needed four or five matches to shake off the rust after a lay-off.

The second reason to panic was what happened the previous time he faced Chelsea. Webster was all over the shop as Palmer plundered four goals in 45 minutes at Stamford Bridge back in September.

It looked like Father Time was catching up with him. The Premier League was at too high a quality. Obituaries were written.

All of these now need to be cancelled.

Since Webster took over from Dunk, Brighton have won five games out of five, conceding only twice. One was an absolute rocket from Justin Kluivert against Bournemouth. The other was a penalty in the FA Cup at Newcastle on Sunday.

Webster has seamlessly replaced Dunk as both centre-back and captain. Albion look more solid than at any point under Fabian Hurzeler with Webster in the team.

Dunk has been injured twice already this season and was almost instantly restored to the starting XI upon his return. That surely cannot happen this time.

Webster is in arguably the best form of his Brighton career. He is clearly enjoying every moment with that enthusiasm rubbing off on those around him.

And it is absolutely magnificent to watch.

Find more from Scott McCarthy at We Are Brighton, external

Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen is on Chelsea's radar for a potential summer move. (GiveMeSport, external)

Meanwhile, Albion striker Joao Pedro wants to join Liverpool this summer. (Football Insider, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Brighton fan Scott Daly says Fabian Hurzeler has started his reign at Amex Stadium "incredibly" since taking charge in the summer, adding that the Seagulls are "one point better off" in the Premier League this season than at the same point under Roberto de Zerbi in 2023-24.

Speaking to BBC Radio Sussex about Brighton's season so far, Daly said: "In the Premier League, Brighton have only lost six games this season. If you think back to five or six years ago, it is incredible to have only lost six games over halfway through the season.

"There have been quite a few draws where we could have stolen points and we should be in the top four, but Brighton are a very well-managed team at the moment. The club is very well run from the top to the bottom.

"Hurzeler has started incredibly. He has had an impact straightaway. Yes there was a little blip halfway through this season, but we are obviously on the rise again.

"If you are going to compare him with other managers, then I think that's silly. If you did want to compare him then I'm pretty sure that at this point in Roberto de Zerbi's last full season, we are one point better off than De Zerbi was.

"Being a young manager, some of your players are going to be a little bit older than you, but you are a manager who can gel with the team a little bit more.

"He can sympathise with them and he knows what's going on at that age. He can be more down to earth with them. Rather than being that father figure, he can be that brother figure that has a bit of banter with them and encourages them to do better."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

We asked for your views on the FA Cup fifth-round tie between Newcastle and Brighton.

Here are some of your comments:

Newcastle fans

David: Never a red card. The defender had a hold of Anthony Gordon's shirt and he merely over-exuberantly shoved him off - pathetic refereeing. The same referee had let off a definite second yellow card for Carlos Baleba just 15 minutes before. Newcastle deserved to progress, despite not being at their best. Sandro Tonali and Alexander Isak were a class above. Brighton were very fortunate but hung in there and rode their luck.

Rich: The wheels came flying off the bus. We were unlucky with two offside goals but ultimately we lacked accuracy of passing, imagination and skill in nearly every position. A two-week transformation is required if we are to stand any chance in the Carabao Cup final.

Simon: Another home defeat. It is becoming a frustration that every season seems to go in the same way. I don't know what I watched but it was amateurish and a calamity. Joelinton was just infuriating and he needs to rein his petulance in a little. Playing Isak was a mistake and I hope he wasn't injured. Gordon is out of the Carabao Cup final, which we will most certainly lose if we turn up defeated before kick-off. Eddie Howe has got a miracle to perform.

Chris: Some of our players aren't good enough for the Championship, never mind the Premier League. Do their brains switch off when the game starts? Do they listen to the manager? It looks like me and my son will never see Newcastle United win anything.

Brighton fans

Brian: What a fantastic end-to-end game, settled by a brilliant finish from Danny Welbeck. Brighton to win the FA Cup? Why not.

Ben: We played very well in attack and decently in defence. There were some silly fouls coming in, which shouldn't have done, but it was still a very good performance. Nice to see Solly March back on the pitch and getting the assist. What a player Danny is to get the final goal - what a legend.

Sergio: Welbeck was amazing but March also deserves credit for finding that deadly pass and putting in a shift defensively. They were both substitutes too! Fabian Hurzeler made some great calls in this game.

Ian: A good performance from both teams, only spoilt by an over-officious referee. Brighton had the edge throughout and deserved the win. A great goal from Welbeck for the winner.

Brighton are among the many clubs interested in signing Romania right-back Andrei Ratiu, 26, from Rayo Vallecano. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

The draw for the FA Cup quarter-finals has been made. Here are the four ties in the order they were drawn.

Games will be played over the final weekend of March.

• Fulham v Crystal Palace

• Preston v Aston Villa

• Bournemouth v Manchester City

• Brighton v Nottingham Forest/Ipswich

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day after his side sealed their FA Cup quarter-final spot: "It was a very emotional game, lots of ups and downs. The key was that we stayed together, stayed calm and tried to find solutions.

"They had a big chance, hitting the post, but then I thought we were controlling the game. The penalty was out of nowhere. We played with a lot of courage. We had some small chances and then after we conceded, we showed a brilliant reaction.

"We focused on our solutions and staying clam. In the second half, we were very dominant. We suffered a little bit when we received the red card but, overall, it was a great performance."

On Danny Welbeck and Solly March's performances: "Two special players. It is very helpful to have them in the team. They are great characters, they are hard workers, they have a lot of experience. It is important to have them in the squad."

On winning five games in a row: "We can only win something if we stay together, and that's what we must focus on. In football, there is not a lot of momentum but we have to understand why it's like this in the moment.

"It is important to stay grounded and keep doing the basic things."

On the possibility of reaching Wembley: "The fans can dream and we can work."

Brighton fans, what did you make of the performance? Let us know here

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Brighton's match-winner Danny Welbeck has been speaking to ITV after the game: "It is great to get the winning goal. It was a solid team performance. There was a lot going on in the game, lots of ups and downs, but we stuck with it. I'm so proud of the lads.

"Newcastle can always put you under pressure. They are very dangerous but we stuck to our guns and we put in a great shift.

"I'm feeling very good, feeling fit and feeling strong - thanks to my mum and dad for giving me good genes."

On Brighton's chances of winning the FA Cup: "It is going to be really tough."

On Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler: "I think he knows that whenever I'm on the bench, I'm going to be analysing and making sure I can have an impact. I tried to do my best and thankfully I got the winning goal.

"We have got to push on. There's a lot more to come from us as a team. It is exciting times and we are looking forward to finishing strong."

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist

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Brighton and Newcastle are both teams for whom winning the FA Cup would mean the world to their fans.

Albion, eighth in the Premier League, are clearly the best current team in England to have never won a major trophy.

Fabian Hurzeler's side are now two wins from reaching their first FA Cup final since 1983, the year they famously lost to Manchester United in a replay.

They were not at their best here and could have been more than a goal behind before Gambian Minteh levelled.

Minteh – who had brought down Tino Livramento for Newcastle's penalty opener - did not celebrate his goal on his first return to St James' Park, despite never playing a game for Eddie Howe's side before his departure last summer.

He joined the Magpies in the summer of 2023, but joined Feyenoord on loan on the same day. On returning, Minteh was sold for £30m to Brighton on 1 July.

Brighton had several chances to score – and when Gordon was sent off it looked as if they had the edge. But just before the end of normal time, Lamptey clattered into Murphy and followed the England forward down the tunnel.

When Schar volleyed in from the resulting Bruno Guimaraes' free-kick, the Seagulls looked to be out.

But semi-automated offside technology showed the Newcastle defender was offside and Brighton had a reprieve – which they took full advantage of.

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton have won five consecutive matches in all competitions for the first time ever as a top-flight club.

Newcastle United have been eliminated from each of their last five FA Cup ties against Brighton.

Brighton have beaten Newcastle twice at St. James' Park this season, after winning 1-0 in Premier League. They are just the fourth team to win twice away to the Magpies in the same campaign in the Premier League era, after Manchester City in 2013-14, Hull City in 2008-09 and Liverpool in 1997-98.

Danny Welbeck scored his eighth goal of the season across all competitions, his best scoring season since 2017-18 for Arsenal (10).

Were you at St. James' Park or following the game from elsewhere?

Newcastle fans - let us know your thoughts here

Brighton fans - tell us what you made of the display here

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies