Brighton sent Champions League warning by Gus Poyet after Man City win (exclusive)

Brighton & Hove Albion are steadfast contenders for Champions League shot but cannot spend to gaffe up successful games they would beryllium expected to win, Gus Poyet has exclusively told Sports Mole.

The Seagulls' latest notable scalp arrived connected Saturday, arsenic Fabian Hurzeler's men stunned leaders Manchester City 1-0 astatine the Etihad acknowledgment to an aboriginal Yasin Ayari goal.

Brighton's triumph moved them onto 19 points from their opening 9 games of the season, taking them to wrong conscionable 2 points of Arsenal and Man City astatine the apical of the Premier League table.

Fabian Hurzeler besides masterminded a notable 3-0 triumph implicit Arsenal earlier the September/October planetary break, and his side's 24 goals is much than immoderate different squad successful the English apical flight.

Brighton's lone 2 defeats successful the Premier League this play person travel distant to Chelsea and Liverpool, though they did driblet 2 points successful a 1-1 gully with Leeds United astatine the Amex Stadium connected September 5.

Gus Poyet sends Brighton Champions League informing aft Man City win

Therefore, Poyet - who managed Brighton betwixt 2009 and 2013 - has warned the Seagulls that they could suffer their Champions League contenders tab if they commencement dropping points against bottom-half teams.

"Games against the apical sides are cardinal of course, but it doesn’t find Champions League contenders oregon not," Poyet said successful an exclusive interrogation with Sports Mole.

"For maine I would accidental Brighton are a contender. I spot them pushing for a top-six presumption and being successful Europe, truthful this is an betterment from past season.

"It’s large to execute good against the large sides, but if you driblet points to the teams astatine the bottom, past you can’t beryllium looking to beryllium a contender. Up until now, Brighton are successful the hunt for sure."

What does Brighton's fixture database look like?

As good arsenic getting the amended of Arsenal and Man City, Brighton person besides bested Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Coventry City, keeping cleanable sheets against each of the second four.

Palace, Coventry and Sunderland each find themselves successful the little echelons of the Premier League table, truthful Brighton cannot beryllium accused of slipping up against teams successful and astir the relegation places truthful far.

An highly benignant tally of fixtures present awaits the Seagulls, who conscionable Brentford, Hull City, Newcastle United, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, Everton and Ipswich Town successful their adjacent 7 top-flight games.

If the Seagulls look from that tally with astatine slightest 5 wins nether their belt, their Champions League credentials volition lone beryllium enhanced, but question marks volition creep successful with conscionable a mates of dissatisfactory results.

Gus Poyet was speaking to Sports Mole connected behalf of William Hill sports betting.