'You always have to believe and trust your ability'published at 18:15 BST 26 April
18:15 BST 26 April
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Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to Sky Sports about his side grabbing the last-minute winner at Amex Stadium: "I didn't enjoy it because shortly before the end we were 2-2 and we wanted to win the game.
"But the moment when we scored, that was unbelievable. You saw the reaction from the players, the crowd, the staff and the fans. We really wanted to win so this was a special moment.
"You always have to believe and trust your ability - and that is what the guys did today. They had setbacks but they reacted in the right way. They stayed together, especially the way skipper Lewis [Dunk] led the team was impressive."
Brighton stem poor run with defiant comebackpublished at 18:00 BST 26 April
18:00 BST 26 April
Joe Nelson BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Going into Saturday's game against West Ham, Brighton had not won in the Premier League since beating Fulham at the start of March.
Fabian Hurzeler's side have struggled with consistency this term, having gone unbeaten in their first nine.
These fluctuating performances mean the Seagulls have dropped out of Champions League and Europa League contention, but against West Ham they got back to winning ways.
After Yasin Ayari's early stunner was overturned by second-half efforts from Mohammed Kudus and Tomas Soucek, Hurzeler's team could have felt sorry for themselves and settled for another defeat but they didn't.
They piled on the pressure before Kaoru Mitoma's header and Carlos Baleba's fine strike took them from defeat to victory in a matter of three late minutes.
The jubilant celebrations at the Amex Stadium demonstrated that Brighton believe they still have plenty to play for this season.
Brighton 3-2 West Ham: Key statspublished at 17:34 BST 26 April
17:34 BST 26 April
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Only in 2022-23 (62) and 1981-82 (52) have Brighton earned more points in a top-flight season than their 51 points this term.
Six of Kaoru Mitoma's nine Premier League goals for Brighton this season have come in 2025, netting as a substitute in each of his past two appearances.
'We have shown great character after a tough run'published at 17:12 BST 26 April
17:12 BST 26 April
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Brighton captain Lewis Dunk has been speaking to Sky Sports following the win: "That was good fun. We started excellently but, once we went 1-0 up, we stopped playing and the intensity dropped.
"In the second half, they started better but we showed character to win the game.
"I'm just buzzing. We have shown great character after a tough run. It is massive to keep us in the race to where we want to go."
On Carlos Baleba's goal: "We have worked on tactics around needing a goal in the last minute, but that wasn't a tactic. But he put it in the top corner so the gaffer can't say anything."
Sutton's predictions: Brighton v West Hampublished at 11:16 BST 26 April
11:16 BST 26 April
Both of these teams are badly in need of a win - Brighton have gone five games without a victory, while West Ham are on a run of six.
There are a lot of unhappy Hammers fans at the moment, especially after they could only draw with Southampton last week.
That is not the kind of result that wins fans over, and seeing Graham Potter take Jarrod Bowen off with the score at 1-0 did not help.
Potter has picked up fewer points per game since taking charge than his predecessor, Julen Lopetegui, and I don't see much changing for him on his return to the Amex, where he had a much happier time.
Brighton have issues too - their form has fallen off a cliff of late and their supporters are not pleased with the way they are finishing the season either.
They have still had a decent campaign, but they have become leaky at the back and they could do with a positive result or two if they are going to stay in with a chance of making it into Europe.
Hurzeler on Van Hecke, Pedro red card and 'model' commentpublished at 10:36 BST 25 April
10:36 BST 25 April
Sean Byrne BBC Sport journalist
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against West Ham at Amex Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
On Jan Paul van Hecke's availability after being stretchered off against Brentford: "No, not available. Everyone saw the foul, it was a tough one. We have to be careful with his health. We can't risk him."
On when Van Hecke can be expected back: "If we follow all the protocols, he will be back next week."
Joel Veltman "will be an option" for Saturday after a foot injury has left him on the sidelines since February.
On Joao Pedro being unavailable after his red card against Brentford: "Very frustrating. I said after the game, he immediately apologised. He knew he did something wrong. We had a discussion with him and we said we don't accept stuff like this."
He adds Pedro is a "young player who makes mistakes", adding: "Hopefully he learns from this in the future."
On reports he had ambitions to be a model before his managerial career: "I don't want to be one [a model]. It was more to identify myself with the city. I'm not just here as a coach, I'm here to integrate into the city. It's key if you really want to build a connection to the people and to the city."
Brighton v West Ham: Did you know?published at 09:54 BST 25 April
09:54 BST 25 April
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Brighton's Danny Welbeck is looking to score 10 goals in a Premier League season for the first time (currently nine). As it stands, he is the highest scorer in the competition never to reach double figures in a single campaign (76 goals).
He's scored more goals against West Ham than any other opponent in the top flight (six).
'Can't let Potter take points off us'published at 08:55 BST 24 April
08:55 BST 24 April
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Former Brighton striker Warren Aspinall has been discussing the upcoming fixture against Graham Potter's West Ham on Albion Unlimited:
"Some of this West Ham side are hiding because ofthe stick they get from fans. They are coasting. We can't have Potter taking another point from us at our place. No way!
"Yasin Ayari has been a bright light in the past couple of games and is a very intelligent player, but where he plays depends on if Carlos Beleba plays at centre-back, which I think is his best position. Play him at centre-back or take him out if Jan Paul van Hecke is fit.
"I think Kaoru Mitoma comes straight in and Danny Welbeck starts up front. Do they play Yankuba Minteh? I would take him off, for sure."
'Underperformed' or 'more than acceptable'? Fans on Albion's seasonpublished at 20:00 BST 23 April
20:00 BST 23 April
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We asked for your thoughts on whether fans need to keep perspective when reflecting upon this season - as argued by BBC Radio Sussex's Johnny Cantor below (13:00 BST) - or whether Brighton have underachieved.
Here are some of your comments:
Richard: Brighton underperformed, perhaps by lack of selection continuity. Not convinced yet by Fabian Hurzeler's ability. Nice is sadly not usually a attribute of successful Premier League managers.
Mark: Totally agree. In perspective, this is still one of the best ever finishes for the club, and if we can turn the form around for the last few games it could still make for another European tour next season.
Alex: People seem to forget where the club has come from and believe the only acceptable place for the team is in Europe. The Premier League is considered one of the toughest out there and finishing anywhere above the drop zone - especially with a new squad, new manager, inconsistent injuries and an influx of fans with little awareness of the history of Brighton - is more than acceptable at this point of time.
Tim: It has been something of a curate's egg. It seems the coach and his team get to a point where they are lavished with praise - only then to fall away to mediocrity. I feel at this point they are going to find it difficult to climb out of the pit they are currently in and the concern must be it will carry over into the next campaign. Let's hope not!
Martin: I think we need a balanced view on this season. There is clearly much to do, but in the context of a very tough Premier League, a finish in the top half would be acceptable and top eight a success. So let's see and remember we are living the dream.
'Everyone needs to play their part' - Albion look to sustainable futurepublished at 19:29 BST 23 April
19:29 BST 23 April
Nicola Pearson BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Brighton & Hove Albion have already made progress towards their sustainability ambitions but now want to continue to "drive positive change".
The impact of climate change is being felt in many different ways and football is not immune to these.
Previous research, external has suggested one in four professional football pitches will be at risk from flooding in 25 years.
While so much of the focus is what is happening on the pitch, there is an increasing expectation from supporters that clubs should be doing more to reduce their impact off it.
In the second part of our Earth Day chat with Tom Harris, the club's sustainability manager highlighted how important fans and the impacts of climate change have been in shaping their MyAlbion, MyPlanet sustainability strategy.
"One of the most important drivers is what fans expect of us," Harris said. "In our end of season survey last year, around 72% of fans think that it is important that the club is committed to environmental sustainability.
"Climate change is with us now and the world is already experiencing the effects. We are seeing the impacts of climate change, not just in other countries, but in this country as well.
"Those impacts are affecting sport and forcing clubs and associations to make changes to the game that we love, whether that is installing additional pitch drainage, rescheduling fixtures that have been postponed due to extreme weather or introducing water breaks for players during periods of high temperatures.
"Ultimately, if we are to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, everyone needs to play their part."
By publishing their sustainability strategy last year and signing up to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCC) Sports for Climate Action Framework, which commits the club to halving its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero by 2040, they have been able to set out a clear direction of travel.
Lots of positive work is already taking place and with plans to take these initiatives further, Harris knows they cannot stop now.
"The strategy is not an end point, but a marker of our ambition and commitment. The whole club recognises there is more to do," he added.
"With the work that has been done already, the club are in a strong position to drive positive change and progress their sustainability objectives."
What is driving Brighton's sustainability ambitions?published at 18:17 BST 23 April
18:17 BST 23 April
Nicola Pearson BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Brighton & Hove Albion's values are a key driver in them wanting to lead "by example" when it comes to sustainability.
The Seagulls have been taking action to reduce their environmental impact and drive positive change, both locally and on a larger scale, for a number of years.
This was brought together into one focused strategy last year when they introduced MyAlbion, MyPlanet and signed up to the UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action Framework - an initiative that aims at supporting and guiding sports bodies and organisations in achieving global climate change goals.
"We set out how we would achieve our vision of becoming one of the most sustainable clubs in world football and achieving our emissions reductions targets," the club's sustainability manager, Tom Harris, told BBC Sport.
"It sets out our two key missions - one, to reduce the environmental impacts from the club, and two, to inspire others, whether that is fans, our communities or our commercial partners and suppliers, to make their own positive changes as well.
"We are looking at both the environmental impacts from the club's facilities, operations and supply chain, as well as the positive impacts the club has made, particularly around biodiversity, culture and community.
"We wanted a strategy that supports the work across all areas of the club as sustainability touches on every department."
Brighton's sustainability strategy has six focus areas - energy and water, travel and transport, waste, supply chain, biodiversity and culture and community.
Some of the initiatives the club have implemented include solar panels at the training ground and their new fan zone The Terrace, free transport options for fans, use of local food suppliers, environmental education in the academy and with the foundation, upcycling unusable shirts into new products and, going forwards, calculating the club's carbon footprint.
"We have got a strong set of values and these values are the foundation of everything we do, including our sustainability work," Harris added.
"One of our key values is treating people well and, for me, that necessitates treating the planet well too.
"Even before I joined, the club had implemented a range of sustainability initiatives, primarily because they were the right thing to do. We've got very forward-thinking and progressive leadership who have always recognised the importance of environmental and social issues.
"This is coming down from the top of the club. We are committed to acting as a responsible business and leading by example in this in this area."
Come back later on Wednesday for more on Brighton's sustainability journey
How do you judge Brighton's season?published at 13:00 BST 23 April
13:00 BST 23 April
Image source, Getty Images
BBC Radio Sussex's Brighton reporter Johnny Cantor is wondering whether fans need to keep perspective when reflecting upon this season.
After taking only two points from their past five league games, Brighton have dropped to 10th, nine points behind Aston Villa in seventh.
Speaking on the podcast, Cantor said: "I know it's been a really difficult period, fans are frustrated, but at the same time they have four more points than last season, seven fewer than the year before.
"Do we need a little bit of perspective here? With a fully changed squad and a new head coach who is inexperienced in the Premier League, is eighth or 10th place actually not a bad season?
"Are we maybe getting a bit more frustrated then we should bearing in mind all those things? Also, dare I mention the injury list which has been long and extensive.
"It's what you make the comparison against. If you compare to last season or the season before when qualifying for Europe, but you could go back to when we first came to the league.
"I don't think it's been a bad season. There are things to be worked on, but injuries have made a big difference."
Booing Watson is 'brainless' - Gabbiadinipublished at 09:30 BST 23 April
09:30 BST 23 April
Media caption,
Marco Gabbiadini reacts to fans booing Tommy Watson over Easter weekend.
Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini says fans booing Brighton-bound Tommy Watson "seems a little bit brainless" after some supporters voiced their frustration with the winger over Easter weekend.
The Black Cats lost 2-1 away against Bristol City on Good Friday then suffered a 1-0 home defeat on Monday to Blackburn Rovers. Watson was booed off the pitch at Ashton Gate but received a more mixed reaction at the Stadium of Light.
Some supporters booed when the winger's name was announced as part of the starting line-up before the loss to Blackburn while others applauded as he took a corner in the first-half, and then there was a split reaction when he was substituted in the second.
It was announced at the start of April that Watson will leave Sunderland this summer in a £10m move to Brighton. Since then some fans have questioned whether he should feature in the remaining games this season.
Gabbiadini told BBC Radio Newcastle: "It seems a little bit brainless to me. It's modern football.
"We've got players, the top players in the country, who are coming to the end of their contracts and they're still playing for their teams but talking about where they're going to be next year and they might be leaving.
"You can't do that to players. It's just the business of football.
"He has agreed a deal in advance of the season finishing. The club are going to do well out of it. Hopefully in the future even better. He might even end up back here on loan in the summer.
"I'm glad that the majority of people did give him the support he deserves. You never know what might happen. He might have a fairy tale end to the season."
🎧 West Ham build-up as Brighton contend for European spotpublished at 08:28 BST 23 April
08:28 BST 23 April
The latest episode of BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast has landed.
Johnny Cantor and former Brighton striker Warren Aspinall discuss the upcoming fixture against Graham Potter's West Ham, plus Solly March gives an update on his fitness.
Can anyone meet Brighton's standards?published at 12:39 BST 22 April
12:39 BST 22 April
Scott McCarthy Fan writer
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Tony Bloom famously does not go in the director's box at Brentford because of a falling out he had with Bees owner Matthew Benham 20 years ago.
Images of Bloom celebrating victories at Gtech Community Stadium have gone viral in the past because no other Premier League chairman joins supporters on the terraces.
It is brilliant when things are going well, but maybe not so much when the Albion sink - as was the case on Saturday, when Bloom found himself sat in the middle of an away end in which a lot of people could be clearly heard singing: "You don't know what you're doing" at manager Fabian Hurzeler.
Brighton value their reputation as the best run club in English football so much that when there has been dissent from the terraces before, they have gone out of their way to tell the media it was only a "small minority" of "doom and gloom" fans.
That spin will not work this time though.
Just 1,600 Albion fans could buy tickets for Brentford. Those inside the Gtech were at the top of the loyalty points scheme and the most dedicated Seagulls supporters around - and enough of them turned for it to warrant mentioning in every match report about the game.
It seems a bit mad because Brighton are10th in the Premier League. If they end the season there, it would be the third highest finish in the club's history. It is a position every fan would have bitten your arm off for... before 2023.
The problem is Roberto de Zerbi. He tore up the rule book and showed European qualification was possible for Brighton - and that was before a £200m spending spree.
No Albion supporter expects a top-six finish every season, but managers are now being judged against what De Zerbi did. The standards have been raised.
The question is can Hurzeler - or anyone else for that matter - meet them? And if they cannot, does that mean they don't know what they're doing?
Jane: Great to see Bryan Mbeumo at his scintillating best. Although you can never say he has a poor performance, here he showed the class he is capable of. And the partnership with Yoane Wissa is just a joy to watch. Brentford fans are living the dream still.
Alastair: First, I hope both Konak and Van Hecke are both okay after their nasty clash of heads. Not often you can say Wissa missed a great chance but we should have been ahead very early. However, he certainly put things right with another sparkling showing alongside the maestro Mbeumo. Damsgaard and Norgaard ran our midfield throughout. Only concerns were our habit of switching off towards the end of first halves and our fears that Kayode may pick up a lot of cards. Although, he is a great talent going forward, he seemed a bit reckless in defence at times. Picking up a yellow card in that fashion was stupid. Overall very happy.
Coral: What an enthralling match that had us on the edge of our seats! Great to get quick goals to start both halves and finally we are getting players back from injury. What a partnership Mbeumo and Wissa are - 34 Premier League goals between them and more to come.
Brighton fans
Sarah: It's interesting that Fabian Hurzeler said he thinks we controlled the game - I wonder which game he was watching?! We had players out of position and it cost us the match. Although we have a lot of great players, the formation and strategy clearly isn't working. This needs sorting now!
David: Once again too ponderous on the ball, backward and sideways passes do not score goals. Our best part of the game was when we were down to 10 men. Beaten yet again by breakaway forwards who are faster than our defence.
Malcolm: Another inept defensive performance. Dunk is well past his best and his reappearance has coincided with our bad run. Joao Pedro looks like he doesn't care about the team, only himself, so the sooner we sell him the better. Team selection is down to the manager and there have been too many naive mistakes, so it is time to get someone in with experience if we want European football again. A very disappointing end to a season that promised so much. Time for change.
Image source, Getty Images
