Brighton & Hove Albion

Charlotte Coates
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

"Europe again, ole, ole" was being chanted by the travelling Brighton fans and with good reason as the Seagull's were sat fifth - just a point behind Manchester City in fourth.

However, no one would have predicted what happened next as the Seagulls let two points slip through their fingers as they finish the game week in seventh, rather than fifth.

Fabian Hurzeler's side may even feel as though they have missed out on possibly occupying fourth after dominating proceedings at Craven Cottage on Thursday, but ultimately falling to a 3-1 defeat.

A recurring theme in the last two matches for Brighton is the inability to finish games off when in complete control - like today at the King Power Stadium.

The Seagulls could well be five points better off than they are now and they will be feeling the 2-2 draw as if it was a loss.

Hurzeler said to Sky Sports at the end of the game: 'Young players will make mistakes but you can't repeat mistakes twice.

"We need to help them, we need to give them feedback and improve them. I'm sure they will learn quick and comeback stronger."

Image source, PA Media

Fabian Hurzeler spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Brighton's draw against Leicester: "How can you explain that? It's just football sometimes. We have to learn from it because we have experienced it this season. We need to be more mature and finish off the games. You can't explain it sometimes. We can also see it as an opportunity to show character.

"We had enough chances to lead more. We have to be really careful talking about the performance. We have to trust the process and we will reflect this and look at the positives. A big part is game management. We have to improve.

"No excuse. It's our fault and we have to take responsibility. I'm not a guy who will find excuses."

Image source, Getty Images

Tariq Lamptey has been involved in three goals (one goal, two assists) in four Premier League matches under Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler, as many as he managed in his 34 league appearances under previous manager Roberto De Zerbi (three assists).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Leicester’s performance

What did you make of Brighton’s display?

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

Four matches make up Sunday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

• Fulham v Arsenal - 14:00 - BBC Radio 5 Live commentary

• Ipswich v Bournemouth - 14:00

• Leicester v Brighton 14:00

• Tottenham v Chelsea - 16:30 - BBC Radio 5 Live commentary

All kick-off times GMT

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 15 he takes on Dougie Payne, bassist with rock band Travis.

Sutton's prediction: 0-3

I am not fooled by what Leicester did against West Ham, as big a win as it was for them.

The Hammers wasted so many chances, and the Foxes' defensive issues have clearly not gone away.

Well done to new Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, but he has got a hell of a job on his hands to keep them up.

I did not see Brighton's defeat at Fulham coming, because the Seagulls have been so impressive. They will be angry after that performance, and looking to prove a point. Away win, no doubt about it.

Payne's prediction: 2-2

Leicester look like a different team under Van Nistelrooy - it is kind of like what has happened with Ruben Amorim at Manchester United, where the players all look like they have just got out of jail. Brighton have really impressed me this season, and I feel like there could be some goals here.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Leicester (16:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Danny Welbeck will face a late fitness test on an ankle injury before Sunday, while Joel Veltman "could be an option" to play right-back in the continued absence of Ferdi Kadioglu and Jack Hinshelwood. Joao Pedro is fit after picking up a knock at Craven Cottage.

• On Facundo Buonanotte, who is on loan at Leicester, he said: "He's developing a lot which is what you want when you send a player on loan. He's very humble, he's played so many good games for Leicester so far. We are in touch. He's proved he's got big potential. I am sure he will have a future here."

• On the Foxes: "For sure it will be a tough game. They have quality, they play good football. They were very effective against West Ham. It will be interesting to see where they are. They have had a good start [under Ruud van Nistelrooy] so it is up to us to break that up and get back the points we lost yesterday."

• He has been working with the players to recover after Thursday's defeat: "You can say it's a good thing because you can immediately get back the points you lose and improve. We didn't do so well in the last game. We tried to regenerate the players today and bring them a bit away from football and get them in a better shape mentally. Then we have one good day tomorrow for preparation and then I'm sure we will be ready to face Leicester."

• On returning from his touchline suspension: "It is a mistake on my side. I have to learn from it so the team doesn't suffer. I have to improve myself and be available on the sideline every game."

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

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Brighton captain Lewis Dunk speaking to Amazon Prime about Fulham's second goal in which he believes he was fouled by Issa Diop: "It was a foul. It was the same as the one on the halfway line and in the box. I jumped for the header and he put his hands in my back. How he, the ref, or VAR can't see it? But it is what it is.

"It was clear. It's annoying and if you watch the replay it's a clear foul and a push in my back.

"I don't think the scoreline reflects the game. We picked ourselves up and I thought we were the better team but that's football. It baffles me sometimes how we have some people watching on a screen and they can't get the decision right.

"With the game on Sunday, we can bounce straight back. We need to recover."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Thursday's Premier League game between Fulham and Brighton.

Here are some of your comments:

Fulham fans

David: A definite smash and grab victory but we'll take it, most of the match a draw would have been a good result. Nelson injury looks bad, hope he returns quickly as he's very influential. Berge had an excellent game again. Will be tougher against Arsenal on Sunday.

Tim: Thrilled for Iwobi, who my Fantasy Football team is named after! Not sure I agree that Brighton dominated. Fulham created their fair share of chances despite what that stats might stay.

Bob: As I said previously we need to be more forceful in the way we beat teams. The early goal helped. We need to go into the second half of games without conceding early. Great result tonight! All round top performance from Iwobi. The rest of our team backed each other up.

Brighton fans

Chris: After a shaky start we absolutely dominated and looked the more likely winner. Cruel luck and a great finish by Iwobi turned a probable victory into an unlikely defeat…lots to be pleased with just not our night.

Phil: Not winning enough 50/50 balls, not using Mitoma and Adingra on the wings enough, and not enough through balls into space.

Rob: Another poor performance - we've flattered to deceive on several occasions and finally been caught out. Our league position is definitely false but we have a really good squad which is slowly beginning to gel. Europe is too much of an ask for this season but should be on for next.

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler following the 3-1 defeat to Fulham: "The performance was good but the result is disappointing. We created enough chances for two or three games! It was mistakes to concede the goals but in the end we created enough to win this game.

"It is about keeping our heads up as Sunday is the next chance to get the result we deserve. We have to learn from these mistakes.

"I think we all know that's not the result we deserved.

"We created a lot of chances and gave away a goal with an error in the build-up and an own goal.

"But it's football. That's exactly what I demand from Bart, to find solutions on the ground. We will give him feedback and the players will improve.

"But mistakes happen. If there were no mistakes there would be no goals."

On Lewis Dunk feeling he was fouled in the build-up to the second goal: "It happens more and more and I don't know whether it is the right thing. If they can't find a clear rule for it and just let the players block and block, then it will change a lot. So they have to find a solution."

Did you know?

• Only Southampton - with nine - have had more errors leading to goals in the Premier League this season than Brighton with six. Goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen is responsible for three of those – the joint-most by a player in the competition in 2024-25.

Brighton and Southampton are tracking 18-year-old Motherwell teenager Lennon Miller, with the Scotland Under-21 international also interesting Liverpool and Newcastle. (Daily Mail - subscription required), external

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

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, PA Media

Brighton missed a chance to go fourth in the Premier League as they left a wet and windy Craven Cottage empty-handed after a loss to Fulham.

And Fabian Hurzeler's side had only themselves to blame after they gifted the hosts a fourth-minute opener and then scored an unfortunate own goal from a set piece after they had pegged it back to 1-1.

The conditions were horrendous with heavy rain and strong wind, but there were still no excuses for Bart Verbruggen's early mistake that saw Fulham take the lead.

After only three minutes, Brighton's Dutch keeper, looking to play a short pass to team-mate Carlos Baleba inside the penalty area, saw Alex Iwobi intercept and score the first of his two goals.

However, despite the error, Hurzeler said there would be no change in the club's playing style after they suffered only their third league defeat of the campaign.

"If a goalkeeper makes a mistake it's immediately a goal," said Hurzeler. "But that [playing out from the back] is the way I want to play and we will continue to play like this.

"I'm completely convinced the players will develop and we will keep pushing him. He has made great matches for us, mistakes happen, that's football and we have to accept it and keep moving on."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Fulham's performance, external

What did you make of Brighton's display?, external

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

Two matches make up Thursday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

• Fulham v Brighton (19:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Bournemouth v Tottenham (20:15) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

All kick-off times GMT

Follow all the action and reaction here

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We asked for your views on what one thing - good or bad - nobody is talking about regarding Brighton at the moment.

Here are some of your comments:

Ricky: Many games this season, the attack is only present for one half. Against Southampton, Wolves, Liverpool and Chelsea, the attack has contributed virtually nothing. If we want to get into Europe again (ole ole) then the attacking players need to step up every game.

Philip: Same ol' Brighton! Magnificent against top teams and terrible against bottom of the table teams. Perhaps we need a psychologist to change their mindset so we don't sit back after scoring one goal. We should have beaten Southampton by at least three goals on Friday but sloppy efforts and stupid back-passing was like watching previous managers' gameplans. Fabian needs to shake them up!

Edwin: Where would we be if we had not let Viktor Gyokeres go?

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 14 he takes on James Ryan, bassist with rock band The Slow Readers Club.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Fulham were excellent against Tottenham on Sunday and their boss Marco Silva is probably still scratching his head about how they lost so heavily to Wolves the last time they were at Craven Cottage.

Regular readers will know I usually go with Fulham to win at home but I am not sure this time, because of how good Brighton have been so far.

There are reasons to back either side here, so I am going to split the difference and go with a draw.

Ryan's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Did you catch the latest episode of The Football News Show?

Ben Croucher and key guests focus exclusively on Brighton and ponder where the season may lead.

Watch the show above or get it on BBC iPlayer here

Image source, Getty Images

Argus journalist Brian Owen believes Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba has the potential to play at the highest level but needs to find consistency.

"I love what he does," Owen told BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast.

"He combines some of the best of players like Caicedo and Bissouma who we have seen in previous years.

"Because his highest level is so high you can't necessarily have that all the time - so sometimes the level will dip a bit.

"There was a sort of Baleba-sized hole at times in that second half [against Southampton] but I remember going up to Fulham last season and I think Van Hecke was in midfield so I hope we're better prepared this time."

Former striker Warren Aspinall believes "Baleba has to go straight back in" to the starting line-up when Brighton go to Fulham on Thursday.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds