Brighton climbed to fifth in the Premier League after battling to a deserved win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
Maxim de Cuyper opened the scoring just before half-time, and teenage substitute Stefanos Tzimas sealed the points late on, giving the Seagulls only their second away victory of the campaign.
Forest were forced to withstand heavy pressure early on as Brighton repeatedly pushed forward.
Ibrahim Sangaré and Morato both produced vital goal-line clearances to keep the visitors out, while Morgan Gibbs-White almost punished Brighton on the counter with a superb first-time volley.
Brighton finally made their dominance count in stoppage time at the end of the first half.
De Cuyper drifted into the box unmarked to meet Georginio Rutter’s pass and calmly slid the ball past Matz Sels.
The Forest keeper later pulled off an outstanding save to deny Diego Gomez from close range, while Bart Verbruggen was equally sharp at the other end to stop Igor Jesus.
Forest’s improved second-half performance brought energy but not enough cutting edge.
With two minutes left, Morato’s misjudged defensive header fell straight to Tzimas, who fired home his first Premier League goal to wrap up Brighton’s win.
The result leaves Brighton on 22 points, level with Sunderland but above them on goal difference.
Forest remain 16th, just one point above the relegation zone.
Brighton returned to the City Ground with something to prove after last season’s humiliating 7–0 defeat.
Fabian Hurzeler’s side came out with intent, controlling possession and pinning Forest back from the opening whistle.
Sels was forced into several early saves, Rutter saw an effort blocked on the line, and Brighton recorded nine shots in the first 20 minutes - more than any team has managed in that timeframe in a Premier League match.
De Cuyper, consistently dangerous down the left, eventually broke through with his second goal for the club.
Brighton had to defend resolutely in the final stages, but Tzimas’ late strike relieved the pressure and capped an authoritative performance from a side aiming for European qualification.
Forest entered the match in good form under Sean Dyche, having gone five games unbeaten with four clean sheets.
But they failed to match Brighton’s intensity and struggled without injured centre-back Murillo, whose absence left the back line unsettled.
Gibbs-White returned from injury and was lively in spells, but Forest struggled to create clear chances despite an improved second half.
Morato, starting in Murillo’s place, was involved in both goal-line clearances and the decisive mistake that gifted Tzimas his goal.
Dyche’s side now look nervously toward the relegation zone, sitting only a point clear of danger after their second league loss under the new manager.
