Last Time Out: Ward's Winner

Brighton & Hove Albion welcome Manchester United to the Amex Stadium on Friday evening, over 35 years since the Red Devils last visited the south coast for a league game - and it was a memorable day for those inside the Goldstone Ground.

After taking just one point from their previous three meetings against United at the Goldstone, Albion finally secured maximum points in November 1982, with Peter Ward firing the winning goal in front of 18,379 supporters.

The forward chested the ball down and volleyed past United goalkeeper Gary Bailey to not only seal three points for the Seagulls, but also his 100th goal in league and cup competition.

The Seagulls also avoided defeat to Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Goldstone Ground that season - the same top-six sides that Chris Hughton’s men have secured points against at the Amex this time around.

Before the game against the Red Devils in 1982, then manager Mike Bailey said, “What delighted me was the big match atmosphere at the Goldstone - the way the crowd got behind the team certainly helped us win [against West Ham United].

“Today, as we take on Manchester United, I hope we get the same sort of support.

“To have United here certainly creates that vital atmosphere again and shows us that there is only one place to be in football, and that is the English First Division.”

Almost 35 years on, the Seagulls find themselves on the verge of securing their Premier League status for next season, and Hughton will be looking for the same backing for Albion’s final home match of the campaign on Friday.