Brighton & Hove Albion

Tim Oscroft
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Fabian Hurzeler's side appear to be timing their run for a place in Europe next season very nicely.

The 2-0 win at Molineux means they have gleaned seven points from a possible nine, and they now have just two games remaining.

Having another go at European competition, two seasons after their debut under Roberto De Zerbi, is far from signed and sealed for the Seagulls though, with multiple possibilities that include Man City winning the FA Cup and Chelsea winning the Conference League.

But the visit of Liverpool and a trip to Tottenham on the last day of the season give Hurzeler a decent shot at emulating his predecessor in his first season at the Amex Stadium.

And those chances improve with the knowledge that Danny Welbeck is still proving to be a potent threat in front of goal, 16 years after his Manchester United debut.

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton's Danny Welbeck has scored 10 goals in a single Premier League season for the very first time, playing in his 17th campaign. Each of his last nine goals in the competition have either put his side ahead (7) or drawn them level (2).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Wolves' performance

What did you make of Brighton's display?

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

Your club, your voice.

We'd love to hear what you think of this club page.

What do you like?

What could be improved?

Send us your thoughts here

Wolves' winning run was ended by Manchester City last time out but I was still really impressed by their intensity and they will cause Brighton plenty of problems too.

It has been a strange season for the Seagulls, who have been a top-half team for the entire campaign but have won only one of their past seven league games.

I don't think their campaign is necessarily fizzling out because they played well in their draw with Newcastle last week, but their poor run might continue because I don't see them beating Wolves either.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here.

Five matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Fulham v Everton

• Ipswich Town v Brentford

• Southampton v Manchester City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Wolves v Brighton

• Bournemouth v Aston Villa (17:30 BST) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

All kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport Journalist

Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Wolves (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Hurzeler confirmed Solly March will be out for the remaining three games but hopefully be back for pre-season. Georginio Rutter is also unavailable but could return before the season ends.

• Meanwhile, Kaoru Mitoma will be an option for Saturday's match.

• Hurzeler was asked about dropping Yasin Ayari for last week's draw against Newcastle: "It was one my hardest decisions so far this season. I had a conversation with him. Of course, he wasn't happy and I didn't expect him to be. It's about the player and whether they will react in the right way after the feeling of disappointment."

• Hurzeler spoke highly of the club's end of season award ceremony, which took place this week: "It was a really nice, well organised evening which was special for our supporters. We want to give back to them after their support this season. It was important to get in touch with them and to listen to their feelings."

• He added: "Sometimes, I think the staff don't get rewarded enough. The players can't perform without the great staff around them and I am very grateful for them. It is important to mention them."

• On Tom McGill, who signed a new deal this week: "It was very important for him to extend his contract. You need goalkeepers who are the best challengers and trainers who try to compete with the first-choice goalkeeper. He has great character and tries to be his best every day. We are really happy to have him."

• On Saturday's opponents and their upturn in form since Vitor Pereira's arrival: "It's impressive - they have a clear style of play and are very good defensively. In possession, they have a clear formation too. It will be a big challenge and we will try to go for it."

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

Johnny Cantor
BBC Radio Sussex reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton goalkeeper Tom McGill has signed a new contract that runs until June 2027.

The 25-year-old has been with Albion since he was 14 and spent the first half of this season on loan with MK Dons, where he made 25 League Two appearances.

Men's first team head coach Fabian Hurzeler said: "Tom has been an important part of our goalkeeping team for a long time and we're pleased to see that continue.

"He gained some valuable experience with MK Dons this season and we're confident that Tom will continue to improve with us."

As well as loan spells with the likes of Greenwich Borough, Basingstoke Town and Crawley Town, McGill received his first call-up to the Canada senior squad in March 2023, before being named in his country's 2024 Copa America squad.

Image source, Getty Images

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

Here are some of your comments:

Terry: Lewis Dunk. He is Mr Brighton and Hove Albion but it's time to step back. His speed has gone and it's time to let the youngsters have a go if Fabian Hurzeler wants consistency and a quicker attack-minded team.

Kevin: I thought last season that Lewis Dunk looked a bit past it and his performances this season have confirmed it. In the six matches he was injured, Albion won five and drew one, rising to sixth in the Premier League and reaching the FA Cup quarter-final. In his next six games after coming back from injury, Albion lost five and were knocked out of the FA Cup. Looks like time has caught up with him sadly.

Some fans were also critical about the squad itself, with prominent players being linked with an exit and the deficiencies that exist within the team.

Matt: A defender who can kick with both feet. Bored of seeing Pervis Estupinan or Igor Julio just playing with their left foot. And sometimes looking like Daniel Day Lewis!

Dylan: Joao Pedro possibly leaving. He is our main striker and Danny Welbeck is getting old so who will we have to replace him?

Alan: Has all the money spent, particularly on midfielders, seen any improvement? Was going to be hard to replace Pascal Gross, but we let Billy Gilmour go for comparative pennies. Our best centre midfielders have been Yasin Ayari and Carlos Baleba, who were here already. So has all that spending really been wise?

Richard: If Kaoru Mitoma goes in the summer who is going to get us off our seats? No-one in the current squad had the guile and skill to get past players like the Japanese international.

Image source, Getty Images

Rayan Ait-Nouri has been directly involved in more goals than any other defender in the Premier League this season (11 – four goals, seven assists). He is the only Wolves defender to have 10 or more goal contributions in a single campaign in the competition.

Wolves (62 goals conceded from 439 shots faced) have let in a higher share of their shots faced than any other side in the Premier League this season (14%) except for Saturday's opponents Brighton, who have also conceded 14% (56 goals from 395 shots).

Image source, Getty Images

Bart Verbruggen says Fabian Hurzeler has instilled confidence in him since arriving at the club last summer.

After sharing goalkeeping duties with Jason Steele under Roberto de Zerbi last season, Verbruggen has established himself as the clear number one at Brighton in 2024-25.

He told BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited that Hurzeler has given him the freedom to perform.

"First of all, he gives me a lot of trust and that's what gives players confidence," Verbruggen said. "I am really grateful for the trust he puts into me and just try to repay him every week - and my team-mates as well.

"It's always nice to hear but I try to stay away from that because I know my potential and ability but I also know that I am not where I can be. I am just trying to put my head down and work as hard as I can.

"We have a young team and everybody is learning, including myself. There's been a lot of lessons from the season so far but the season is not over and we have to use those lessons to try and win the last three games.

"We have a good squad - a lot of individual qualities as well. We have to get them in good situations as much as we can to let them do their magic."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds.

Brighton are still in with a chance of a European spot this season but have won just one of their past five league games.

Give us a peek behind the curtain as Fabian Hurzeler's first season in charge nears its end.

Tell us the one thing that no-one is talking about at Brighton but really should be.

Let us know here

The Albion Unlimited team at BBC Radio Sussex are back with a fresh episode.

The team catch up with goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen as he discusses Brighton's remaining fixtures, as well as the draw with Newcastle.

They also look ahead to Saturday's trip to Wolves and the Molineux side's transformation under Vitor Pereira.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Scott McCarthy
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Attendance at Amex Stadium is a hot topic. There were at least 2,000 season ticket seats that went unsold on exchange for the Newcastle game. Looking around the stadium, there were many thousands more empty seats.

Those who do show up are leaving early in increasing numbers. The ground is now often half empty by the time the final whistle blows. Even Fabian Hurzeler spoke about it following the 3-2 win over West Ham. On that occasion, those who left early missed Albion goals in the 89th and 93rd minutes.

Brighton are still in the race for European football next season - so why are so many season ticket-holders staying away or leaving early?

The answer lies in transport. The Amex relies on public transport. For Saturday games, the train service tends to be good. But on a Sunday or midweek, it turns into carnage.

This is obviously an issue when TV demands butcher the fixture list. Many people are evidently deciding the chaos is not worth the bother.

I live 12 miles from Amex Stadium. I have made it home from watching England at Wembley this season - 88 miles away - faster than getting back from some Albion games.

Roadworks currently taking place on the A27 just before Falmer are admittedly not helping. Some fans reported getting on a Park & Ride bus in Portslade at 1pm and only making it into their seat at 2.37pm on Sunday. A 7.7 mile journey taking 97 minutes and meaning they missed the opening half hour of the game.

Yet even when the A27 is fully open again, the problems with public transport will remain. It feels at times like the club are unaware of quite how bad it can be.

Maybe if Hurzeler and the Albion decision-makers who seem perplexed by the early leavers and no-shows tried the time-consuming and arduous journey themselves after a home game, they would better understand why people find it off-putting enough to dictate whether they attend games or not.

Find more from Scott McCarthy at We Are Brighton, external

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton forward Yankuba Minteh spoke to BBC Radio Sussex after scoring against his former club Newcastle United: "Everybody wants to prove [wrong] the team that sells them, so I try to do that every time I play against them and I'm happy about it.

"If we grab the eighth place, that would be really good because that is what we're playing for."

Defender Jan Paul van Hecke, who returned to action after getting concussion, added: "It was a tough period, the first few days were bad getting headaches and being really tired. I was a bit worried but I could see a big difference after six or seven days.

"We can do a lot of things better, hopefully we can improve over the next few days and get Europe over the line."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Brighton's Premier League match against Newcastle.

Here are some of your comments:

Brighton fans

Fran: A draw was a fair result as I thought we lacked creativity in and around their box. Our build up play is so slow, giving the opposition so much time to get back into position. We hold the ball at the back waiting for the strikers to come to us but they don't and then we don't seem to know what to do so just pump it forward and give it away. Very frustrating and boring to watch. Let's just get the season finished!

Ben: Referee wanted to give them absolutely everything from minute one. A one in three rate for calling a penalty is abysmal for a referee of that calibre. Every time we tackled them and got the ball, foul. The opposite but no ball, play on no issue. Absolutely awful overall.

Stuart: Disappointed not to win the game. We were so close, but to be fair Newcastle have some amazing assets in their team, none more so than Craig Pawson, he played a blinder.

Newcastle fans

Chris: That was an incredibly frustrating game to watch. We have gone from scoring for fun to not being able to get our key striker into half chance positions, all in the space of a few games.

Philip: Disappointing in the first half, but really improved in the second. Would have won with more composure in the box. Dan Burn was man of the match for me. Tonali had probably his poorest game for us, but he's only human!

Roy: Poor performance overall, but a point is probably a fair result. Awful dive from Willock and he deserved his yellow. Wieffer very lucky to still be on the pitch for Brighton after a clear second yellow card was not given for some strange reason. I'll take a draw away against a very good Brighton side

Mark Chapman presents highlights and analysis from Sunday's four Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Brentford 4-3 Manchester United

• Brighton 1-1 Newcastle United

• Chelsea 3-1 Liverpool

Image source, Getty Images

Fabian Hurzeler spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Brighton's draw against Newcastle: "There were too many mistakes and then we conceded a very cheap penalty which was a late on in the game. Last time we had a great comeback against West Ham last time but this week was also possible but football was not on our side so we have to make the best of it."

On whether the football is on an upward trajectory: "Absolutely. A good team performance, although we made some easy mistakes. We were not able to control the game like we wanted to but overall it was a good team performance, we stuck together and supported each other and then we have a chance to win games."

Image source, Getty Images

Only Southampton (11) have conceded more goals in the 89th minute or later in the Premier League this season than Brighton and Hove Albion, with Alexander Isak's penalty the eighth the Seagulls have conceded.