Boss Chris Hughton praised Albion’s defensive qualities after they ground out a first away win since January at Blackburn Rovers.

An own goal from Matt Kilgallon gave the Seagulls a first half lead and they withstood a second half rally from Rovers to secure all three points.

It was their second successive clean sheet away from home and means they are now ten points clear of the Championship relegation zone.

Hughton said: “I thought we were excellent today and it was a victory we deserved.

“They are a good side and put a lot of balls into the box so our game management and discipline had to be good.

“We had a little bit of fortune with the goal and we knew in the second half they were going to come out strong and that we would have to cope with that which we did.

“We have found it quite difficult on trips away from home this season so that makes it an even better result”