Garth Crooks lauds 'gutsy' Brighton and ponders club's survival chances after win over Southampton

Garth Crooks discusses Brighton's survival chances following Southampton win. (Photo by Andrew Couldridge - Pool/Getty Images)

Pundit and broadcaster Garth Crooks has commended Brighton & Hove Albion for their "gusty" performance that saw them beat Southampton 2-1 last weekend, but admitted he still can't predict whether the Seagulls will avoid relegation.

Writing his weekly team of the week piece for BBC Sport, Crooks picked out skipper Lewis Dunk for praise, and claimed: “This was a gutsy performance by Brighton I was critical of the Seagulls at West Brom when they wasted a hatful of chances.

“But this was a very different Brighton, who were full of enterprise and prepared to take risks and it paid off. Lewis Dunk scored a super header to set the victory up but the quality of defending that followed was as good as I've seen.”

He continued: “In light of what is happening below them, Brighton were desperate for the points against the Saints. Meanwhile, Fulham, Newcastle or Brighton are in great danger of joining my relegation certainties, Sheffield United and West Brom, in the Championship next season. The problem is I can't call it.”

Next up, the Seagulls host Newcastle United in a huge clash this Saturday night, in a real six-pointer towards the bottom end of the Premier League table.

When the two sides last met, back in September, a ruthless Brighton performance saw Graham Potter's side put the Magpies to the sword, with a 3-0 victory at St James' Park.

The Seagulls have been somewhat of a bogey side for Newcastle in recent times, with the North East outfit failing to win in any of their last seven encounters.