Having recorded just four wins from their last 18 Premier League home matches against sides beginning the round in the relegation zone, Brighton knew a positive start was needed as they welcomed south coast rivals Southampton to the Amex.
Roared on by the fervent home support, the Seagulls dominated the opening 20 minutes, with Kaoru Mitoma twice going close to an early breakthrough, while Carlos Alcaraz wasted a rare opportunity for the visitors at the other end.
Desperate to make their pressure count, Brighton continued to probe for an opener, and their patience was duly rewarded on the half-hour mark, as Evan Ferguson fired a powerful strike through the body of Alex McCarthy.
Armed with the momentum, the hosts looked to press home their advantage before the break, and Roberto De Zerbi’s side doubled their lead in the 40th minute when Mitoma’s superb cross was slotted home by Ferguson for his sixth goal of the campaign.
Faced with a two-goal deficit, Southampton emerged after the restart with renewed focus, and pulled a goal back through Mohamed Elyounoussi, who headed home from James Ward-Prowse’s inviting corner.
That goal knocked the hosts’ confidence, and the Saints, sensing blood, thought they’d found a leveller just four minutes later when Theo Walcott lifted a clever finish over Jason Steele, but VAR intervened to rule the goal out for a marginal offside.
Grateful for that reprieve, Brighton regained some semblance of composure and restored their two-goal lead with 20 minutes remaining, as Pascal Gross cut inside and powered a low strike beyond McCarthy at his near post.
With little to play for, a late comeback from the visitors always seemed unlikely, and the Seagulls coasted through the closing stages to move three points clear of Aston Villa in seventh and secure a spot in next season’s UEFA Europa Conference League at the very least.
As for Southampton, their 11-year stay in England’s top-tier continues to whimper to its conclusion after a 12th game without victory.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Evan Ferguson (Brighton & Hove Albion)
