On the night they secured safety, Albion's players marked the moment in low-key style.

It felt like the right time, like it was needed.

Not a celebration as such. But the main job was done coming to the end of a marathon season.

Adam Webster believes safety was actually secured before that.

The lockdown, which offered a reset just as they hit their worst period of the season, was crucial.

That break allowed them to hit the sort of form which, earlier in the season, rasied hopes of more than a relegation battle.

Twelve points from nine games. An average of two points per match if you exclude the big three - Manchesters City and United plus Liverpool.

Safety was rubber-stamped on a warm Monday night at home to Newcastle as the teams shared a 0-0 draw.

Elbows were bumped and pleasantries exchanged before the teams walked off.

No end-of-season lap of thanks and appreciation in front of the fans, as is usually the case.

Not much of a fanfare or attention as TV focus switched to the 8.15pm game, although Webster did an interview at pitchside.

Reflecting on that evening, he told The Argus: “We had a few beers after the game.

“Going into the game, it would have been unlikely for us to go down , even if we had not got any more points.

“At the same time, we wanted to be mathematically safe.

“It was still hanging over us and we wanted to get the job done.

“We had a few beers together afterwards and I think it was needed.

“It was a shame fans weren’t there with us to almost celebrate. Hopefully next season they will be back soon.

“We’ve never been in the bottom three.

“We were always out of it but there was one point going into March when we hadn’t had any wins. That was a difficult period for the club.

“Before January we wouldn’t have said we would be near it but we had that difficult spell.

“We got a bit too close at one point but we have always been far enough out of it that we were out of the bottom three.”

Webster felt he recovered his early-season form for those nine restart games.

His performance at Southampton was regarded by many as his best for the club.

It left him battered and bruised but he was back to help secure that point against Newcastle, followed by an impressive win at Burnley He said: “I’ve absolutely loved it.

“It has not been easy, there have been a lot of ups and downs.

“I feel like I started really when I got into the team.

“Then a bit of a loss of form through the season.

“I made some mistakes, which is a bit similar to when I first made the step from Portsmouth to Ipswich, from League Two to the Championship.

“My first season, I started really well and then made some mistakes which led to goals.

“As a defender you are always going to have those challenges.

“I’m happy to have played as many games as I have in my first season.

“Next year I’ll be looking to improve and kick on and have a really successful season.”

There was England talk as he spoke to reporters in the interview area in the depths of the Emirates Stadium on the December night when his goal helped beat Arsenal.

But December also brought one of his lowlights of the season, at home to Sheffield United.

Webster speaks openly about his tougher moments.

He said: “I made a mistake against Sheffield United at home and we lost the game 1-0.

“I made another, literally a carbon copy, straight after half-time and it just felt like it wasn’t going for me that game. That was a tough game for me.

“We played Bournemouth away and lost 3-1. We were in complete control and then went behind and I think I made a mistake for the third goal.

“I’ve made a few mistakes but I think it is all about how you react.

“Since the lockdown I’ve been playing well and it (the 15-week break) came at a good time.

“It just gave me chance to take my mind off football.

“It was almost like a new season when we came back. You get your confidence back and that is a big thing in football.

“Lockdown came at a good time for us and gave us chance to reflect on the season and what we want to achieve.

“The way the club acted during lockdown was brilliant. As players, it was great for us as well.

“You want to be involved in a club which is doing the right things off the pitch and obviously Brighton did. 

“We all wanted to play at our own stadium. It was a big stance from the club to come out so publicly and do it and it has definitely helped us in the restart for sure.”

One key message which came across during all those Zoom team meetings and one-to-ones was to maintain clarity of thought.

Webster said: “It was going back to basics and not getting too carried away with your thought processes. The gaffer said you can’t affect all these things going on.

“Just think about your next thing that is going to happen. For me that has been quite a big thing.

“When you are playing the game, you can get carried away and your thought processes can go elsewhere.”

Now for a break - followed by a pre-season which will see on-loan defenders Ben White, Matt Clarke and Leo Ostigard back at the club along with new signing Joel Veltman.

Young player of the year Warren O’Hora will also be looking to make an impression.

It will be a turning of the tables for Webster, who ended 2019-20 as the man in possession with others coming in to compete. But he knows how the others will feel.

He said: “When I signed here, I knew how good the Duffy and Dunk partnership was over the last few years. I knew it would be tough to get into the side.

“I’ve been at a couple of clubs now where the best players have been the centre-halves before I got there.

“Duffs was player of the year last year.

“But everyone has been so together this season, whether they have been playing or not.

“Credit to Duffs. He has not played as much as he has wanted to but he is fully behind the lads and he is such a big character in the dressing room and it really helped us all.

“You need everyone to a man, not just the eleven who are starting.

“Next year we have got a Leeds and West Brom back in the Prem and they are big clubs so it won’t be easy.”