Brighton & Hove Albion

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Brighton's Solly March says he had "questions and doubts" over his return to first-team action before featuring for the first time in 11 months.

March came on as a second half substitute in Sunday's win over Nottingham Forest for his first taste of action since suffering a serious knee injury in April 2025.

"It's been a long time coming, a long journey," the 31-year-old told BBC Radio Sussex.

"Probably a bit longer than expected but it's great to be back out there again. I've been training properly the last few weeks so hopefully long may it continue.

"Until you're actually out there you question it and doubt it but in the last few weeks I've been close. Last week I travelled with the team and got a sniff, and for now to be on the bench and come on is a great feeling.

"Hopefully I can be involved now for the rest of the season."

It is the second lengthy spell out March has endured as a result of a serious knee injury after previously missing 14 months between October 2023 and December 2024 with an ACL rupture.

After returning, he was injured again just four months later. March joined the squad in Marbella for pre-season last summer while following his own fitness regime but had lost strength and muscle around the affected knee and had to wait until Sunday to be deemed fit for the Premier League.

"Just maybe trying to be a bit more thorough and making sure to double tick boxes," he added when asked what he had done differently this time.

"Just taking that little bit of extra time and making sure the knee is in a good place in the first place rather than chasing it which I maybe was looking back at it. My knee wasn't responding last time whereas it is this time which does make it easier.

"It's just taking it step-by-step slowly and building up the minutes. Hopefully I can progress each game and earn a place in the team eventually."

Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Title-chasing Arsenal visit a Brighton side showing signs of a return to form. BBC Sport examines some of the key themes before Wednesday's match (19:30 GMT).

Brighton back on track thanks to Welbeck

After a run of one win from 13 league games, Brighton have regained momentum by beating Brentford and Nottingham Forest, meaning Albion have the chance to claim three consecutive victories for the first time this season. If they are to manage that feat, the predatory instincts of Danny Welbeck are again likely to be key.

The evergreen 35-year-old scored his first league goal from open play since November in the 2-0 win against the Bees and was also on target in Sunday's 2-1 triumph versus Forest. That took the Englishman's tally to 10 Premier League goals this season, equalling the career-best figure he set last term.

Welbeck has consistently proved a thorn in the side of former club Manchester United, scoring eight times in all competitions since leaving his hometown team in 2014. But it has been a different story when reunited with Arsenal, where he spent the next five seasons.

He has managed only one Premier League goal against the Gunners since departing in 2019, with that strike coming in a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates during his single season with Watford. The veteran has not netted a league goal against the north London side since joining Brighton in 2020.

Corner turned - set-pieces giving Arsenal the edge

Arsenal restored their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League with Sunday's 2-1 win against Chelsea in a game where all three goals came from corners. That took the total number of goals scored from corners in the top flight this season to 138 – already three more than last term's final figure.

For better or worse, set-pieces have never been as important to success in English football and Mikel Arteta's side are setting the standard right now. The Gunners have already scored 16 times from corners in 2025-26, equalling the Premier League record for a single season, and have 19 goals in total from dead-ball deliveries (excluding penalties).

Arteta's side are clearly not one-trick ponies and have netted more goals from open play since Christmas than any other team. However, set-pieces remain invaluable in how they manage games.

Arsenal have taken a 1-0 lead in 20 Premier League matches this season, with the opener coming from a set-piece or penalty in 13 of those. Once in front, it becomes easier for the Londoners to find space and eventually pick off rivals who commit men forward in search of an equaliser.

Opponents Brighton have been one of the top-flight's better sides when it comes to defending corners this term, conceding only five such goals – although that includes one in their 2-1 defeat at the Emirates on 27 December.

Arsenal are not playing fluently at all, but look at the depth they have in their squad.

At the moment it feels like they have got players who can come off the bench and impact games if they need it.

This game won't be easy - Declan Rice is an injury doubt for the Gunners and Brighton have just picked up back-to-back wins, with Danny Welbeck scoring in both of them - but I still think Arsenal will find a way to win it.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Joe Sayers
Fan writer

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Funny what two wins in a row can do to the mood around the place, isn't it? Suddenly the conversations outside the Amex feel lighter. The shoulders drop. The jokes come back. Are you looking up again? Or are you still bracing yourself for a slide into mid-table anonymity?

The truth is, mid-table in the Premier League isn't the insult some make it out to be. This division has a habit of chewing up big reputations and spitting them out. Clubs with bigger budgets and louder fanbases have stumbled this year. So maybe a little perspective wouldn't go amiss.

We've come too far as a club to start talking like we're owed victories. Brighton & Hove Albion weren't long ago fighting just to stay in the league. Now there's grumbling if we don't dominate. That shift speaks to progress, real progress, but it can also blur reality. There's no divine right here. Every point is earned the hard way.

That's why the last two wins felt so good. Not just because of the results, but because of the response. There was grit again. A bit of edge. The kind of performance that reminds you this team still has its heartbeat. I celebrated them like cup finals, and I'm not apologising for that.

Now comes the interesting part. With a bit of pressure eased, we can look up without embarrassment. Let the so-called giants come and try us. Let the league leaders test our nerve. The business end of the season is approaching, and while some think we're playing out the string, this group might just have one more surge in them.

Why not us?

Find more from Joe Sayers at Albion Obsessed, external

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game against Arsenal at American Express Stadium (kick-off 19:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Hurzeler is "confident" Yasin Ayari will be able to face Arsenal after training on Monday and later today.

• He said "there are no new big injury concerns" but there are "some small issues" after the Nottingham Forest victory so "one or two players" might not recover in time.

• On Danny Welbeck signing a new contract extension: "Every coach would be happy to have a player like him. In the last two seasons he has scored more goals than in other seasons and it is because he is playing more minutes. He has unbelievably good fitness and we have a really good medical department so they work together."

• Hurzeler said Welbeck "would definitely deserve" to be at the World Cup if Thomas Tuchel selects him.

• He said his side have to "stick to their principles" when it comes to playing Arsenal and defending their set-pieces because "it is their strength and they have a lot of physicality".

• On facing the league leaders: "They are all top professionals and world-class players. They are definitely the best squad in the league but we have to believe in our quality. We know what we can go against the top teams."

• He added that it will be "a big challenge" but they are "ready for it," especially because it's a home game.

• Hurzeler said they "need fresh legs" and "players with a lot of energy" against the Gunners so there is expected to be changes to the starting line-up.

Hit play above to hear more from Hurzeler or listen on BBC Sounds here

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

Listen to live commentary of Brighton vs Arsenal on BBC Radio 5 Live from 19:30 GMT on Wednesday.

Got a question about Brighton? Get in touch here and we'll put it to our experts

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League Brighton and Nottingham Forest.

Here are some of your comments:

Brighton fans

Rob: I should be happy with three points but I'm just angry we continue not to be able to perform over 90 mins - is it the players or Hurzeler? So dominant for 45 mins and then we proceed to over play and pass everything backwards, giving encouragement to Forest, in the second half. Brighton continue to be a hugely frustrating watch.

Chris: Good performance, great goals and great defending. Great to see Solly March back in the team and what a reception he got when he came on.

Joe: Good result but we made that ridiculously difficult for ourselves. Substitutions were made far too late and we almost cost ourselves by sitting back unnecessarily against a team 17th in the league. Would love to know also what Hurzeler's big problem with Minteh is.

Steve: Welcome win after a rough patch. I feel we could still disrupt the top four if we play to our potential, starting on Wednesday. Looking much more potent going forward so hopeful for a strong finish to finish top ten.

Nottingham Forest fans

Stephen: Didn't look like winning. Always second to the ball, was just jogging around while Brighton were running their socks out. Didn't deserve any points today.

Fosi: Shocking defence today, another toothless display. We are down without doubt, no quality backup players. The same players every game are shattered . Someone should have taken the decision either league or Europe ages ago, now we will get neither . Total lack of management by Marankis along with his useless mate Edu!!!

Derek: Just lacklustre, no control, urgency or drive. So disappointing. Where was the team that played against Liverpool?

Ivan: Relegation written all over it. The players really need to take a long hard look at themselves.

Brighton forward Danny Welbeck scored his 10th goal of the season in the 2-1 win against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, as he reached double figures for a second consecutive campaign.

It also secured Brighton back-to-back wins for the first time since November, and the 35-year-old said his side had to put in the "hard graft" to pull it off.

"It was not easy at all," Welbeck told BBC Radio Sussex.

"We had a great performance last week [against Brentford], it was a nitty-gritty one, and I think we put in the hard graft. To follow up today with another mature performance, it's really important. Everyone in the dressing room, the club and the fans knew how big the game was.

"I'm feeling good, really strong and fit. Another 90 minutes under my belt and it was good to get the goal and double figures. We've got 10 games left so I'm looking forward to having an impact with goals and assists for the team.

"I always give my best out there but most importantly, it's better to win so whatever we do to win, hopefully I can get the goals to help us win.

"James Milner is a good role model to have. I'm just making sure I'm sticking to my usual stuff, doing everything right - prepare right, have a good sleep and eat right and we've got many people behind the scenes who help. It's working well, I'm feeling good and I'm happy to keep on contributing."

Welbeck's contributions are "invaluable" to the team, says team-mate Milner.

"It's incredible honestly, the amount of goals he's scoring," the 40-year-old said.

"He's not that young now, obviously I take a bit of the pressure off in that, but he's not that young himself but you see the nick he's in and the level of performances he's putting in and the work he does is incredible.

"Amazing role model for the boys - how he defends from the front and works hard and you know, I'm pretty sure that's cost him a few goals as well. If he was a bit more selfish he probably would get a few more but the work he does is invaluable.

"He's such a big player for us and he has many more years in him."

Hit play above to hear more from Welbeck or listen on BBC Sounds here

More from Milner on BBC Sounds here

Pundits Joe Hart and Leon Osman join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Brighton 2-1 Nottingham Forest

• Fulham 2-1 Tottenham

• Manchester United 2-1 Crystal Palace

• Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea

Emily Salley
BBC Sport journalist

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It was only a couple of weeks ago that boos and chants of "getting sacked in the morning" were being directed towards Fabian Hurzeler by a small section of Brighton fans.

But, as we all know, things can change very quickly in football.

The Seagulls had looked goal-shy during their six-game winless run, scoring just three times. In welcome contrast for their fans, they have now scored four in their last two.

And what will be even more promising for Hurzeler - though frustrating too - is that his side could have had more against Forest.

Kaoru Mitoma should have added another shortly after Danny Welbeck netted Brighton's second, but he took a touch too many and his effort was smothered by Matz Sels – one of many times the keeper came to Forest's rescue.

A rapid reaction from the Belgian keeper denied Jack Hinshelwood's diving header just before the break, while he made a low dive to stop a Pascal Gross free-kick from curling in after the re-start.

Fortunately for Brighton, they were not left to rue the missed chances and they defended well as Forest pushed hard for a late equaliser.

In just two weeks they have managed to put significant distance between themselves and the danger zone. Ten points now separate them and 18th-placed West Ham.

Fans will also enjoy the welcome return of Solly March, who came on for James Milner in the 86th minute to make his first appearance since suffering a serious knee injury in April 2025.

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler speaking to Sky Sports: "We wanted to create a desire to defend and create an energy on the pitch that brings the whole stadium behind us and I think we did that in the first half. We created a lot of chances, intense in our pressing and then in the second half we suffered a little bit.

"We showed a desire to defend and our fans pushed us over the finish line. I was very happy with their support as well. In the end I think the team got what they deserved."

On gaining confidence: "Wins always help and increase self-confidence. For me, the joy today was how easy we played football. We kept it easy, we had a good connection, not a lot of touches. We have to make sure we are able to do it for 90 minutes and then we will be happy."

On Jack Hinshelwood and James Milner's connection in midfield: "They have a really good understanding and you see it on the pitch. They support each other. James Milner can me a mentor for Jack on and off the pitch. How they are related and connect on the pitch can really help. We know what Jack is capable of. He can run a lot and has a good understanding of spaces and when to make a good run."

On what will help them fight for Europe: "Togetherness. Being a unit with defence, being a unit on the pitch and doing the basic things right."

Listen to more from Hurzeler on BBC Sounds here

Brighton midfielder Milner, speaking to Sky Sports: "We had good spells in the game. Second half, probably not our best free-flowing football but we managed the game pretty well, defended well.

"The run we have been on we have played a lot better and lost games so it's probably that know-how of winning games and finding a way to win which we've managed to do the last two games.

"Amazing effort for the boys to get it over the line, amazing defending and some great goals in there as well and really pleasing to get back-to-back victories."

On messages he has received since becoming the Premier League's top appearance maker: "Obviously it means a lot the messages I have had. Amazing tributes. That's pleasing. It's nice to show the effort you have put in and the impact you have made. But it was all about the team getting another victory today. The last two games have been so important to us."

Hit play below to hear more from Milner or listen on BBC Sounds here

Did you know?

• Brighton have won successive Premier League games for the first time since November last year, with both that pair of wins and this current pair of wins witnessing the second victory come against Nottingham Forest.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Brighton's performance

What did you make of Nottingham Forest's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Image source, BBC Sport

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler names an unchanged starting XI from their 2-0 win at Brentford last weekend.

James Milner is fit to start despite despite being forced off against the Bees with a thigh injury.

Brighton XI: Verbruggen; Wieffer, Van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu; Hinshelwood, Milner, Gross; Gomez, Welbeck, Mitoma.

Subs: Steele, March, Rutter, Minteh, Baleba, Kostoulas, Boscagli, De Cuyper, Veltman.

Vitor Pereira makes seven changes to his Nottingham Forest side after their mid-week second-leg defeat by Fenerbahce in the Europa League.

Goalkeeper Matz Sels returns from injury, while Morgan Gibbs-white, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Igor Jesus return to the starting line-up.

Ola Aina, Nikola Milenkovic and Ibrahim Sangare also start.

Nottingham Forest XI: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Igor Jesus.

Subs: Gunn, Awoniyi, Ndoye, Dominguez, Yates, Cunha, McAtee, Netz, Bakwa.

Image source, BBC Sport

There are four games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Brighton v Nottingham Forest - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Fulham v Tottenham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Manchester United v Crystal Palace - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Arsenal v Chelsea (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 14:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction from the 14:00 games here

And go here for Arsenal v Chelsea

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Brighton v Nottingham Forest" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v Chelsea", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Brighton badly needed last week's win over Brentford, just to settle things down under Fabian Hurzeler. There had been a lot of talk about his future while they were on a poor run.

Nottingham Forest did not deserve to lose against Liverpool last week but scoring goals is still a problem for them, and I feel like it could haunt them again here.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport senior journalist

Brighton & Hove Albion's first win in seven games last weekend, at the expense of Brentford, has given them a seven-point cushion over relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest. Albion last won consecutive games in November, when they beat Brentford and then Forest in the reverse fixtures.

Experience pays off

Those back-to-back victories three months ago put Brighton fifth in the table, just three points shy of Manchester City in second. They earned only their second win in 14 attempts since then with a surprise but deserved win at in-form Brentford, doing so with their oldest starting XI since September 2023.

Head coach Fabian Hurzeler, who turned 33 on Thursday, seemingly put faith in the adage 'with age comes wisdom' in a bid to end Albion's slump. Four players aged 34 or older formed the spine of a team with an average age of 28 years and 356 days, and Hurzeler admitted: "The only difference today was… we managed the key moments better. We had a lot of experienced players on the pitch who know how to do that."

It's a significant shift in approach from Hurzeler. The average age of the team across 2025-26 has been considerably lower at 26 years and four days, while last season's average of 25 years and 100 days was the second youngest in the division, behind Chelsea.

Welbeck nears career milestone

One of Brighton's most experienced players, Danny Welbeck, scored his first league goal of 2026 to double the team's lead at Brentford.

The 35-year-old now has nine Premier League goals this campaign, one short of his career-best tally from last season. Little wonder both Hurzeler and the club want to keep Welbeck beyond the expiry of his contract this summer.

Forest misfiring

Nottingham Forest have lost back-to-back games under Vitor Pereira, their fourth head coach of the season, though Thursday's Europa League play-off defeat by Fenerbahce didn't cost them victory in the two-legged tie on aggregate.

Pereira said he was "angry with football" after his side undeservedly lost to a 97th-minute goal by Liverpool last Sunday. Forest's first-half display in particular was excellent as they became the first side to have as many as 12 shots in the opening half of a league game against Liverpool since May 2015.

Scoring goals has been Nottingham Forest's issue all season, with a mere 7.1% of their shots finding the back of the net. Only bottom side Wolves have fared worse. The East Midlands side have scored 6.7 goals fewer than expected from the quality of chances they've had, the third biggest underperformance in the Premier League this season. Conversely, last season's overperformance of 11.5 was the highest in the division.

Over the previous two rounds of Premier League fixtures, Forest have created the most chances, had the most shots, the joint-second highest total of shots on target, third most touches in the opposition penalty area and accumulated an expected goals tally of 3.74 – but failed to score.

Brighton captain Lewis Dunk says his team aren't focusing on where they will finish the season, as they see out the campaign "game-by-game".

Brighton earned their first win of the month in their 2-0 victory over Brentford last week, and Dunk believes the team will be happy if they can keep that hunger going.

"I just want to see what we've seen in the last game," he told BBC Radio Sussex.

"The fight in us, the clean sheet, the way we defended, the hunger in us. I think if we've got that in us, then I think we'll be more than happy where we finish.

"People talk about targets and where we want to finish and Europe and this and that, and yes you can say it, but I don't get why we would. When really, we have to go game-by-game and that's how I look at football.

"Everyone would love to finish in Europe, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, but it's the Premier League and the Premier League is not easy. I'm not going to sit here and say we want to be in Europe again, we'll just see where we end up."

You can listen to Dunk discuss the Seagulls and darts by hitting play above or listen here on BBC Sounds

Listen to full match commentary on Sunday of Brighton v Nottingham Forest on BBC Radio 5 Live from 13:55 GMT

Newcastle United are looking at Brighton's Netherlands goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and Manchester City's English stopper James Trafford, both 23, as they target finding a long-term successor for England international Nick Pope, 33. (The i Newspaper - subscription required), external

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

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Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest at American Express Stadium (kick-off 14:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• There are "no new injury concerns which is quite positive going into the end of the season and final run".

• Yasin Ayari will return to first-team training today and if "everything goes well then he might be an option for the weekend".

• James Milner "needs a bit more recovery time" post-match than other players, but "he looked sharp again in the last two days on the training pitch" so is "definitely" an option for the Forest game.

• He said their squad depth is "crucial" for them and it's healthy because "there's competition to get into the squad and the starting 11".

• On the Brentford victory and what it means for their morale: "Wins create an energy and positive atmosphere. It puts the belief back into our quality, although we never lost it. It's an easier enjoyment when you come from a win, though."

• He said he has "spoken a lot about togetherness in recent weeks," but he felt that on Saturday among the players and fans. He added: "It felt great to have the support of the fans and then for us to give them what they deserve."

• On some of the negative reaction towards him: "I will never hide from criticism as it's my responsibility, but I am quite convinced it will be a great atmosphere [on Sunday] and a great opportunity for us."

• He said "it's up to us how we start this game" against Forest and "body language" plays a big role in overall confidence. Hurzeler added: "Good body has an impact to everyone. If we have good body language on the pitch and positivity then I am convinced it will transform into the stands and we can all take this opportunity to win this game."

• On Solly March and his road to recovery: "I've said we need to be patient with him. He needs game time to get back to his level but it's also about timing and not forcing it. He's getting closer and closer to the squad."

Listen to live commentary of Brighton vs Nottingham Forest on Radio 5 Sports Extra 2 from 14:00 GMT on Sunday.

Listen to Hurzeler on BBC Sounds

Eintracht Frankfurt's 22-year-old Germany defender Nnamdi Collins is the subject of interest from Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle, Brighton and Brentford. (Teamtalk), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Former Brighton defender Warren Aspinall says fans were "astonished" by Fabian Hurzeler's team selection in Saturday's win over Brentford, but the players he picked "performed really well".

"The manager put his head on the block with the team he picked," Aspinall told the Albion Unlimited podcast.

"He knew if it backfired he would take the blame and the fans were ready to pounce on him.

"Even the fans on our phone-in said they were astonished when they heard the team news so he was under pressure straight away. But, he put out lads that he could trust and they performed really well.

"The people on the bench are on there for a reason. He played a left back at right wing and kept two players who can play right wing and cost £80m combined on the bench. Is that a wake up call about the two lads in [Yankuba] Minteh and [Georginio] Rutter?

"I asked for a bit of bite and a bit more running, working a bit harder, and I got that. As a fan that's all you can ask for.

"If we're going to beat teams we have to run more and if we can do that and outrun them by 10% it's like we're playing with an extra player.

"We controlled the game in the first-half especially. Playing [James] Milner and [Pascal] Gross, two aging midfielders, worked. [Karou] Mitoma showed a bit more bite and did well defensively.

"Week in and week out [Lewis] Dunk and [Jean Paul] Van Hecke perform to the highest level and kept Igor Thiago quiet."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds