Brighton carried their fine run through the international break with a composed 2-0 win at Sunderland, a result that lifted them into third place and firmly into the early Champions League positions.
Maxim De Cuyper broke the deadlock eight minutes after half-time, arriving in the opposition box to finish a move that began to turn the afternoon Brighton’s way. Sunderland, already short of confidence after three matches without a win, could not find the response required.
The visitors had arrived on Wearside in excellent order. Before the break they had beaten Arsenal 3-0 and Coventry 5-0, and this was a third successive victory, if rather more measured than the previous two. Joao Pedro Hadjam made certain of the points in the closing moments, adding Brighton’s second goal when Sunderland were chasing an equaliser.
The win leaves Brighton two points behind leaders Manchester City and second-placed Arsenal. It is a handy spot to occupy at this stage of the campaign, particularly for a side playing with the assurance shown in recent weeks.
For Sunderland, the concern is growing rather more quickly. They have now gone four league games without victory, losing each of the last three, and sit only one point above the drop zone. The margins are still narrow, but the table has begun to look less forgiving.
