Brighton & Hove Albion

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Adam Webster is only a few months from his sixth anniversary at Brighton and just two games off racking up 150 appearances for the club, but has his sights set on "getting a lot more than that" over the next few seasons.

After turning 30 last month, Webster told BBC Radio Sussex, he has neve rbeen happier.

"I was saying to my wife the other day that I love the fact I've been here for such a long time now," he said. "In football, it's not that common anymore. There are a few boys here that have been here for a while, but if you look at most clubs, then there aren't a lot of players.

"So I love that about this club. I love it here and I feel like we have got so much more to achieve together.

"Personally, I'm close to 150 appearances but I want to get a lot more than that. I obviously look at the likes of Lewis Dunk, who has made a lot of appearances here, and it is motivation for me.

"I want to try and achieve that."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

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BBC Sport pundit and former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha has been answering your questions on your club.

James Crook asked: Do you think it is time to sell Lewis Dunk? Every time he has played recently we look vulnerable and the amount of mistakes he makes is costing us a lot.

Nedum replied: I don't think it is time to sell him because the one thing that Brighton do well, despite bringing in players most years, is have a level of stability. That reflects in Dunk and the culture of a club changes if you don't have as many established players.

He might not have played as well this season compared with other years, but he is still very much the leader of the football club.

Brighton is his home, so I would imagine they would be very reluctant to get rid of someone who means so much to the club, even if he wanted a move away.

I would be wary of letting the captain go because it can send a funny message out.

He might be out of form but he is not a bad enough player to think you need to sell him. It is instead about having the belief he can get better.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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In the same way Brighton's intense rivalry with one south London club Crystal Palace emerged out of circumstance rather than geography in the 1970s, so an irritation with Chelsea is emerging now.

The reality is Chelsea have used their financial muscle to not only plunder Brighton's playing squad but manager Graham Potter and his backroom staff as well as recruitment specialists Sam Jewell and Paul Winstanley.

It gives an extra edge to meetings between the pair, particularly at Amex Stadium, and why the controversial manner of last Saturday's FA Cup success even sweeter.

But the league return is important beyond merely extending Brighton's bragging rights.

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It has been a strange first season under Fabian Hurzeler, with positive periods being followed by difficult ones.

In Premier League terms, Brighton go into the Chelsea game on the back of a 7-0 hammering by Nottingham Forest and a very disappointing home defeat by Everton.

Hurzeler's side are delicately placed at the bottom of the top half of the table - with a small cushion, no more than that, to loads of teams below.

Supporters want to beat Chelsea because it's Chelsea. Brighton as a club need to win to stay clear of a slippery slope.

Brighton came out on top when these two sides met in the FA Cup last weekend, and Chelsea did not offer much in attack after taking an early lead.

Enzo Maresca's side just seem to be going through a flat period at the moment. They are still fourth in the table, but their performances have definitely dipped.

The Seagulls' results have been very up and down too, and it's hard to pick a winner - so I am going to go with a draw.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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We asked for your views on the one thing no-one is talking about at Brighton.

Here are some of your comments:

Mike: Are we overdoing the intensity? This season's injuries are worse than last, which none of us thought was possible and we are picking them up in training. Fabian talks about the need for intensity in training. It seems like the two could be related!

Alastair: This is an ageing team with Lewis Dunk, Danny Welbeck, Joel Veltman, Jason Steele, Solly March, Adam Webster and James Milner, all in their 30s and beginning to show it.

Fred: We are one Welbeck injury away from having no number nine for the rest of the season.

Mohan: The fact that Veltman is one of our best players. He is the warmest character off the field, but the master of the 'dark arts' on-field. We must pin him down on a new long term contract! He is quickly becoming a club legend.

Joey: We need to start spending more on wages to entice players to stay rather than cashing in. We have spent big and rejected a huge offer for Kaoru Mitoma but players won't want to stay long given our current wage structure.

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Friday's Premier League game against Chelsea (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Captain Lewis Dunk "is doubtful" but he will be assessed after the training session today. However, Mats Wieffer has trained this week and "might be an option," but a decision will be made today.

• Left-back Pervis Estupinan is unavailable, while Solly March has returned to team training but Hurzeler thinks it is "still too early" for him to feature.

• On beating Chelsea in the FA Cup fourth round last weekend: "We have set our standards high, so it is about challenging ourselves, improving and playing more intense. It's not about outplaying the opponent. Chelsea are a good side - they have proved it before and they will prove it again."

• Hurzeler said he expects "a very intense game" against Enzo Maresca's side and there is the possibility they will change their game plan, so Brighton "have to be prepared for that and adapt."

• He said it is "not as simple" as keeping the same starting XI that beat them six days ago because "everyone has shown they want to play" in training this week.

• On new signing Diego Gomez, who featured from the bench in the FA Cup: "He is adapting really quickly. He is a good learner and his body is very resilient. He's very helpful in and out of possession and has great skill. You can see that he loves that he's here and he's enjoying playing football for Brighton."

• He praised Adam Webster's "character" and how "every time we need him, he is there" to step in for injured defenders.

• On pushing for the top eight: "We want to play this game and give our home fans another win so they have a good weekend. To make them proud and be happy is what they deserve. But on top of that, of course, we want to improve and take the next step in our process."

• On how important the games at Amex Stadium will be in deciding where Brighton finish this season: "Every game will be crucial, so we have to see every game as a final. We need our fans as the 12th man and I really enjoyed the atmosphere in the last game, so I am hoping it will be the same for Chelsea."

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

After spending more than any other club in the Premier League this summer, Brighton had genuine aspirations of building on Roberto de Zerbi's fine work and challenging the top four.

However, Fabian Hurzeler's side are 10th after 24 games in the German's first season in charge.

He has been seriously hampered by injuries and been forced to use 30 players in the league - the third most behind bottom two Ipswich and Southampton.

That is seven more than high-flying Nottingham Forest, who currently sit third.

Everton would like to bring in former player David Weir as their director of football, a position the 54-year-old Scot currently occupies at Brighton. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Want more news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Following a 7-0 drubbing at the hands of high-flying Nottingham Forest, Brighton then bounced back with an FA Cup fourth round win over stuttering Chelsea to continue their inconsistent form this season.

The transfer window is now closed so boss Fabian Hurzeler's playing cards for the remainder of the season are set.

But Seagulls fans, you know your club best - so we need you to tell us the one thing that no-one is talking about at Brighton but really should be?

Let us know here

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Former Brighton and Chelsea defender Gary Chivers says "target man" Danny Welbeck and "superb" Tariq Lamptey impressed in Brighton's FA Cup fourth-round win over the Blues, adding that Enzo Maresca should be looking out for the two in-form players when the Blues travel to Amex Stadium for the second time in a week.

Speaking on BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast, Chivers said: "They have an experienced player in Danny Welbeck. He knows where to run, when to hold the ball up and when to give it.

"Long may he stay fit because a fit Welbeck, playing at his peak, is brilliant for Brighton. He is the target man, he knows the game inside and out, and he brings players into the game. He is the focal point.

"Joao Pedro likes to drop off between the midfield and forward positions, but with Danny Welbeck you know that you can hit something long and he will hold it up and challenge for the ball. We do ever so well with Welbeck in the side.

"Tariq Lamptey gave Malo Gusto a hell of a roasting. It looked like he had a point to prove.

"He has got so much pace as well. He was just running riot every time he got the ball. Whether he went inside or outside, he put some lovely balls in the box.

"He just looked a danger every time and he was a threat all game. I thought he was superb."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

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Chelsea have lost just one of their seven Premier League away games against Brighton (W4 D2), going down 4-1 in October 2022.

Meanwhile, only Liverpool have come from behind to avoid defeat in more Premier League games this season than Chelsea (seven times – W3 D4). The Blues have also won two of their past three league matches when behind at half-time (v Tottenham and West Ham), as many as across their previous 31 when trailing at the break.

The latest episode of Albion Unlimited has landed.

The Seagulls have sailed through to the FA Cup fifth round and are set to face Newcastle United next, so what better time for BBC Radio Sussex's Johnny Cantor to dive into the podcast archives and reminisce about their previous trips to the north east?

Plus former Brighton players Gary Chivers and Warren Aspinall preview another meeting with Chelsea, this time on Valentine's Day at Amex Stadium.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Scott McCarthy
Fan writer

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What was the most impressive thing about Brighton knocking Chelsea out of the FA Cup?

Some would say the Albion bouncing back from their heaviest league defeat in 57 years seven days earlier. Others might go for the control and volley from Kaoru Mitoma which won the game - or the terrific performances of Tariq Lamptey and Georginio Rutter.

For me, though, it was the unrelenting commitment shown by Seagulls supporters to booing Marc Cucurella, Robert Sanchez and Moises Caicedo any time they touched the ball.

Do not underestimate the concentration and effort levels needed to maintain that sort of performance over an entire 90 minutes. And it was treatment all three deserved thanks to the classless manner in which they left Brighton.

Cucurella forced through his transfer before saying it had been his dream to play for Chelsea - despite his publicly stated dream having always been to play for Barcelona.

Likewise, Caicedo demanded a move to the club he supported as a boy, seemingly forgetting his love of Manchester United was already all over the internet.

Sanchez, meanwhile, burned his bridges before Chelsea came calling by throwing his toys out of the pram when replaced as Brighton number one by Jason Steele.

Compare that Albion fan reaction with the reception Alexis Mac Allister gets whenever Liverpool play Brighton. Mac Allister left in a respectful, classy way which means he will always remain popular at the Amex.

Given it seems Todd Boehly's only idea for improving Chelsea is to copy Brighton, the club can surely expect future bids from Stamford Bridge for players like Carlos Baleba or Jan Paul van Hecke.

Saturday night provided a lesson to the current Albion crop that the grass is not always greener elsewhere.

However, if you do move, do it in the right way.

Find more from Scott McCarthy at We Are Brighton, external

The draw for the FA Cup fifth round has been made. Here is a list of all the ties involving Premier League teams in the order they were drawn.

Games will be played over the first weekend of March.

• Aston Villa v Cardiff City

• Crystal Palace/Doncaster v Millwall

• Man Utd v Fulham

• Newcastle v Brighton

• Bournemouth v Wolves

• Man City v Plymouth

• Exeter/Nottingham Forest v Ipswich

See the full draw

Is there something you want to ask about a Premier League club?

Former Premier League defender Nedum Onuoha is ready to answer your burning questions and give his thoughts on some of the biggest talking points for a special Q&A.

Submit your questions here and come back on Thursday for his answers

We asked for your views on Brighton's FA Cup match against Chelsea.

Here are some of your comments:

Brighton fans

Matthew: After going down early from an own goal it looked like our confidence was shot from the 7-0 thrashing at Forest, but the team rallied and put in a solid performance over the 90 minutes with great goals. And all of this came despite losing skipper Dunk to injury. It's something positive to build on with the same opponents returning on Friday night for Premier League action.

Pedro: The same players, but a different team… each one took ownership of their position and fought to win the ball. A performance to be proud of, and something we could cheer for. Half the fans, twice the volume!

David: I'm sorry for Verbruggen. Keepers are only human, but if one makes a mistake, it is often a goal whereas an outfield player has others to rectify his mistake. A much improved performance but a long way to go. We need Baleba to stay fit.

Chelsea fans

John: Another inept performance. No tactical change when behind just a change in personnel in the same position. There has to be some form of tactical change because when teams get in front we struggle to break them down because of the system.

Guy: If I hear Maresca talking about us controlling the game after a defeat one more time I'm going to explode. What does he even mean? When you have one shot on target in the entire game, it doesn't seem to me like you're controlling much.

Gary: I thought Chelsea were woeful. I lost count of the backwards and sideways passes we played. Time to think up a 'plan B' for games like these, if the manager can bring himself to do that. Nkunku is not the striker solution.

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Georginio Rutter spoke to BBC Radio Sussex after Brighton's FA Cup victory against Chelsea: "I try every game to help the team by scoring or assisting. I did one of each so I'm happy.

"Today is more about the team. The last game was very difficult for every player and in this type of moment you have to talk and work hard. We have to look forward and that is what we did."

Asked about a cup run, he said: "Why not? I trust my team. For every player to win this title is a target. I don't know why we can't win this competition."

Seagulls forward Danny Welbeck spoke highly of his team-mate after Sunday's victory: "He has great qualities and when he's on the pitch everybody is happy. I really enjoy playing with him.

"When he's getting the goals it's nice, but it's not just goals that he's bringing. He has a lot more than that to him."

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist

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The perfect way to bounce back from that 7-0 thrashing by Nottingham Forest.

And boss Fabian Hurzeler will be happy that he let pretty much the same team make amends - with only one change for the 2-1 comeback win over Chelsea.

His side sit 10th in the league after back-to-back defeats - but are now back to winning ways, and maybe a new focus in the season.

Brighton have never won a major trophy in their history, with the 1983 FA Cup final - which they lost in a replay to Manchester United - as close as they have got.

Two more cup wins would mean a trip to Wembley for a semi-final.

They were not at their best but they were clinical, scoring with two of their six shots.

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Fabian Hurzeler spoke to the BBC after Brighton's victory against Chelsea: "Great reaction. We showed character after that start. I'm proud of how they came back. It's not easy. That's why it was well deserved.

"Mistakes happen. If a keeper makes a mistake normally it's a goal. We try to support him because he's a great goalkeeper.

"Georginio Rutter is doing good. He adapted quickly to the intensity of the Premier League. He has great skills and showed it today.

"It was a togetherness on the pitch. It's a team performance. They bounced back, they stuck together. They didn't point fingers after losing. They took ownership."

On no VAR: "But that's it. That's football. With VAR football is getting not that emotional like today. Everyone agrees that today was a great atmosphere. They can celebrate a goal because they know it's a goal. I'm happy it was like that.

"We always try to stay grounded and work hard. We try not to get euphoric after a good win or panic after a defeat."

Tell us your thoughts on the match here

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Brighton have reached the fifth round of the FA Cup in three consecutive seasons for the first time, while Chelsea have failed to progress beyond the fourth round in two of the last three seasons, as many times as in the previous 24 campaigns combined (fourth round eliminations in 2010-11 & 2014-15).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Brighton's performance

What did you make of Chelsea's display?

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