Brighton 2 Brentford 0

Brighton achieved their first win since September after completing the double over Brentford.

In the absence of central defenders Lewis Dunk, Shane Duffy and Joel Veltman, Adam Webster and Dan Burn took the central berths in a flat back-four flanked by exciting attacking full backs Qadir Lamptey and Cucurella.

Adam Lallana, Jakob Model, Enock Maepu, Leandro Trossard and Alex McAllister were the five-man midfield with Neal Maupay upfront.

Leandro, who scored the winner at Brentford, put the Seagulls in the lead when his well-timed run brought him one-on-one with the keeper Rodriguez to clip the ball first time over his head.

Maupay added the second with a fine shot into the corner.

Brentford had their moments.

Twice Brighton had to clear off the line and twice Sanchez had to make vital saves. Brighton held out and occupy – like Brentford – mid-table positions.

Brighton’s chairman Tony Bloom once employed Brentford’s owner Matthew Benham but the two subsequently fell out so badly that neither will take up invitation or hospitality in their director’s box and stay in their own fans’ section.

Finally a word about Sussex CCC cricket.

Skipper Ben Brown has left and Pakistani wicket keeper Rizwan arrived.

So the core of the side over the last few seasons has gone – Luke Wells, Danny Briggs, Phil Salt, Chris Jordan, Laurie Evans and now Ben Brown all exited.

With Rashid, Travis Head and now Rizwan we can compete in both red ball and white ball formats but members’ dissatisfaction is high.