Seagulls soar into Europe for first time in their history

Brighton secured qualification for European football for the first time in their history with a 3-1 win over Southampton.

A win, due to their superior goal difference, means they are all but set to finish in the Premier League top six which guarantees Europa League qualification. Aston Villa would need to beat them on the final day and benefit from a 16-goal swing to overtake them. To mathematically secure their place, Brighton need just one point from their remaining games with Manchester City and Villa.

Evan Ferguson put them on their way with a first-half double before Pascal Gross wrapped up the points after already-relegated Southampton threatened a comeback when Mohamed Elyounoussi scored and Theo Walcott had a goal ruled out for offside which would have made it 2-2.

Exactly 40 years since their only major final appearance in the FA Cup when defeated by Manchester United, this was a historic day for a football club that avoided relegation from the football league on the final day of the 96/97 season with a 1-1 draw that sent Hereford down on goal difference. Their rise has been astronomical under the ownership of Tony Bloom.

How Brighton booked their European ticket...

Southampton, who arrived on the back of their relegation being confirmed, were constantly mocked by their own fans in the first half, sarcastically cheering a spell of possession that actually ended with Kaoru Mitoma hitting the post for Brighton. It was one of two chances the Japanese winger missed having curled an equally glorious chance wide moments earlier. All the dynamism and energy was coming from the Brighton players and although Carlos Alcaraz fired wide for Saints, you sensed a home goal was coming.

Ferguson grabbed it after some sloppy play in midfield from Saints allowed Alexis Mac Allister to waltz into the box and feed the striker. His effort was full of power and found a way past the clutches of Alex McCarthy, who should've done better.

The dye was now cast on the game with Brighton keeping possession with such assurance and purpose. That said, it was yet more poor decision making from the visitors that set Brighton away for their second goal as Mitoma raced away after a turnover and crossed for Ferguson to slide home his second.

It should have set the tone for a party-like atmosphere after the break - but Southampton found their stride. Elyounoussi was on hand to flick home a perfect James Ward-Prowse delivery and for the next few minutes, Brighton wobbled.

Saints thought they had scored an astonishing equaliser when Walcott scampered through on goal and beat Jason Steele with a classy finish. However, with the game all set to be restarted, an offside check showed that Walcott was marginally ahead of the play - and the Brighton fans could relax.

That moment changed the momentum back in the favour of Roberto De Zerbi's team who restored their two-goal cushion when Gross fired home a low drive. From that moment on it was typical Brighton, who kept the ball with real aplomb and somehow failed to add to their tally with McCarthy kept very busy.