IT WAS a momentous day – even Gary Lineker said so.

After showing the highlights of Albion’s 3-1 victory over West Bromwich on Match of The Day on Saturday evening, the host and former England star said it was a “historic” win.

Fans have been celebrating all weekend after the Seagulls pulled off their first triumph in the top flight of English football for 34 years.

There were scenes of jubilation at the American Express Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon just like those which surrounded their promotion from the Championship.

The win is significant as it will have ensured genuine belief in the squad and the fans that Albion are here to stay.

Fan Dot Purvis was celebrating by having a new seagull painted on the outside of her terraced home in Hanover, Brighton.

Dot, 83, has been a Seagulls fan for 45 years and her love of the club has outlived two husbands.

Despite having to give up her season ticket when she got too cold at matches, she was celebrating in style after Saturday’s victory.

She said: “It was a very good game. They did so well and I was so pleased for them.

“It’s been such a long wait.

“It’s been a slow start to the season so I’m please to see them going up the table and I’m sure they will finish about half way up the table.”

Dot’s home is a shrine to her love of Brighton and Hove Albion and she has found an artist to paint a seagull on the front wall to mark Saturday’s historic win.

She is hoping the mural will be finished soon and said she might even give the gull the nickname Pascal in honour of Gross’s historic first Premiership goal.

Paul Samrah, who was a leading light in the Falmer4All campaign, said Seagulls supporters were thrilled.

He said: “It was an excellent performance.

“The feeling among the fans was tremendous.

It was great to be there and part of the crowd. There has been so much pressure and expectation.

“The last two years they have done brilliantly, then coming up against Manchester City, whose subs bench cost more than the Amex and our training ground put together.

“The fans need to be realistic and support them through the hard times and the good times.

“But we’ve got that first goal in the Premiership and shown we can hold our own.

“We’ve scored three goals against an established Premiership side, who were unbeaten.

“Now we just need to stay positive.”

Paul said the only disappointment for him was that a fans’ minibus breaking down and being stuck at the stadium until 7pm – but they were thankful it didn’t happen before the match.

After the game, fans celebrated at pubs across the Sussex, including at the King and Queen pub in Marlborough Place, Brighton.

General manager Mark Such, who diplomatically said he did not support any particular team, said: “For the afternoon games everyone goes up to the stadium but we have a few in before and afterwards.

“Afterwards everyone was in great spirits.

“It’s a great start and the fans were obviously pleased but they’ve still got a long way to go.”

Lifelong Albion fan Sid Wallace, 45, of Portslade said: “You stick with them no matter what but you’ve got to admit there had been a bit of a start-of-the-season downer.

“Saturday felt almost as good as winning the Championship.

“We knew we had every right to be here and this shows it.”

Enthusiastic fans rushed to comment on The Argus website over the weekend.

Jeff Lomer said: “There would have been 100 posts claiming we are doomed, some people just can’t enjoy the victory. I’m buzzing this morning. Up the Albion.

Fan “Mark by the sea” said: “I thought they were magnificent yesterday.

“We don’t know about players on the bench having knocks or slight strains – hats off to March who actually contributed for 90 minutes rather than disappear during games .

“We roll on to Friday.”

Russellsnr22 said: “What a great result, a result that I hope we can now build on. “

Pebble counter said: “The team performance yesterday was brilliant and even if this season is difficult it will not be through lack of trying.

“The club wasted no time this summer paying £3 million for Gross from Ingolstadt and Hughton believes his full pre-season on the South Coast paid dividends on Saturday.”

Al Bion said: “We were great in the first half, and solid in the second.

“Onwards and upwards.”

Brighton’s first top-flight win since 1983 ended a goalless and winless three-match start to their Premier League campaign, with Tomer Hemed joining Pacsal Gross on the scoresheet.

Chris Hughton believes Gross’s versatility will stand Brighton in good stead across the course of the campaign.

“He’s someone who works very hard for the team,” he said.

“He’s got a good technical finish with both feet but he’s got to get into those areas.

“I thought he was good value for his two goals.

“We signed him because of his strength as an all-round player.

“He’s very adaptable in midfield – we wanted to have options off the front, a number 10 as such.

“He gives us options more advanced, or of course in a (central midfield) two.

“We knew he could create and probably mostly he’s a hard-working player.”

l See our sports coverage in The Prem starting on page 21 and our two-page picture special on pages 32 and 33.