Brighton & Hove Albion have claimed a 1-0 win over Watford in Saturday's Premier League clash at the Amex Stadium.
The hosts were quick out of the starting blocks, with Tomer Hemed bursting into the box and firing a shot across the face of goal before Anthony Knockaert drilled the ball in again, only for the Hornets to clear.
Brighton continued to threaten and spurned a gilt-edged chance just after the half-hour mark, the unmarked Connor Goldson heading goalwards at the back post, but his effort was straight at Heurelho Gomes who put the ball round the post.
Right at the end of the half, Solly March played Hemed in down the line, only for Christian Kabasele to step across and clatter into the Seagulls forward, but no free kick was given as the first half ended goalless.
The game opened up after the restart, with the likes of March, Richarlison and Pascal Gross all weighing in with efforts, and the breakthrough came in the 64th minute.
A swift Brighton counter led to Hemed laying the ball off for Gross, who cut back inside and drilled the ball underneath Gomes to give Chris Hughton's side the lead.
The hosts wasted a number of chances following their first goal and almost came to rue those misses as Kabasele, Richarlison and Stefano Okaka all came close, the latter effort in injury time.
However, Brighton managed to hold on until full time and edged further away from the Premier League's relegation zone, while Watford will be nervously looking over their shoulders.
Brighton (4-2-3-1): Ryan; Bruno, Goldson, Dunk, Suttner; Stephens, Propper; Knockeart, Gross (Kayal 83'), March (Izquierdo 90+3'); Hemed (Murray 87').
Watford (4-2-3-1): Gomes; Janmaat, Prodl, Kabasele, Holebas; Cleverley, Watson (Capoue 74'); Carrillo, Pereyra (Sinclair 71'), Richarlison; Gray (Okaka 78').
Giuseppe Labellarte
