Seagulls win perfect for Poyet

Poyet: Delighted with birthday present of three points

The best present in my whole life is these three points

Gus Poyet
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Gus Poyet described Brighton's 3-1 victory over Southampton as the best birthday present yet.

The newly appointed boss tasted managerial success at the first time of asking as the Seagulls beat the Saints and snapped a 28-year-old record in the process to go 19th in the table.

The South Coast club had won just once all season going into Sunday's game, but the appointment of Poyet proved a masterstroke as he masterminded a maximum points haul at the St Mary's stadium.

And the former Swindon, Leeds and Tottenham assistant, who turned 42 on Sunday, was delighted by the performance by his side in only their fourth day working together.

"I think the lads were superb," Poyet told Sky Sports after the win which came courtesy of a Glenn Murray brace and an Andrew Crofts goal, between a penalty dispatched by Saints' Richie Lambert.

"The best present in my whole life is these three points."

Target

Poyet is now charged with the task of improving results on a regular basis for a Brighton side whose owners and fans alike harbour ambitions to be further up the league.

But the former Chelsea player insists he is going to take things step-by-step with regards to improving their League One form.

"The message right now is game-by-game," he added. "We need to think about the next one now.

"We need to think about keeping on improving as a team, keep working hard and believing in the strength of the team and work hard on the weakness.

"And I think they (the players) know and they are convinced we can do better."

Southampton boss Alan Pardew had no complaints after the defeat but felt his side's midweek progression to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy semi-finals took its toll.

"I thought we looked jaded from the game in the week," Pardew told Sky Sports.

"But the warnings that we tried to give them (the players) about a new manager and extra desire and spirit showed and it was enough to win the game for Brighton and they deserved to win."