Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler says a united front on the pitch will be key if they are to secure European football next season.

The Seagulls earned back-to-back Premier League wins with a 2-1 triumph over struggling Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Diego Gomez and Danny Welbeck were on target either side of Morgan Gibbs-White's long-range stunner in a breathless opening 15 minutes at the Amex Stadium.

Brighton sit 11th in the table, but two consecutive wins have kept them well in the hunt for continental football.

Speaking to Sky Sports about their chances, Hurzeler said: "Togetherness (will help us).

"Being a unit with defence, being a unit on the pitch and doing the basic things right."

Brighton were far the superior side in the first half and registered six shots on target, while outperforming Forest's xG 1.11 to 0.14.

It was not quite so fluid in the second period, with the Seagulls recording just one shot on target after the break, with the Seagulls having attempted the fewest second-half shots of any side (13) in 2026 so far.

But Hurzeler was thrilled with the way his side dug in, adding: "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, [we were] 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."

Forest have lost 15 of their 28 Premier League games so far this season, only twice suffering more at this stage of a league campaign this century (18 in 2011-12 in the Championship & 16 in 2023-24 in the Premier League).  

Moreover, they have failed to win any of their four away Premier League games against Brighton (D2 L2), only ever facing Arsenal (nine) and Manchester City (six) more often on the road in the competition without success.

After winning their first game under Vitor Pereira, Forest have lost three on the spin – two of those were in the league, to leave themselves just two points above the drop zone.

"I believe we need to focus on the present and focus on the day we play, focus on the game we are playing, not to look at the future," Pereira told BBC Sport.

"The future we will see what happens. If you lose your focus thinking about what can happen, this is a mistake in my opinion. 

"Just look at the now. Just rest, be ready, prepare for the next game and focus on the next game."

Forest were slow out of the blocks at the Amex, and Pereira conceded his team lacked the desired energy levels, having faced Fenerbahce just three days prior in the Europa League.

He said: "We cannot press them if we are not prepared to press them.

"When we opened spaces, they are a very good team and they scored two goals.

"It was about the moment to press, the way to press.

"We thought we had the energy to do it, but when we go without coordination it is not possible, especially when we are not full of energy to go and to win the duels."