Brighton players Luka Vuskovic, Chema Andres and Pascal Gross celebrate and shout with intense expressions
Brighton are third in the table after a successful start to the season. Composite: Guardian Pictures (via Getty / REX)
Brighton are third in the table after a successful start to the season. Composite: Guardian Pictures (via Getty / REX)
Brighton are the apex B club – their next target should be a Champions League place

Diego Gómez’s wondergoal in a five-star demolition is just the latest in an impressive run of results for the south coast team

For two or three years now, it’s been standard to nod approvingly at how well-run Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth are, and to move on. What else is there to say? It’s true, of course – these are sides who have made the most of relatively limited resources. But there’s also an underlying assumption in the designation: that these are clubs who have no higher aspiration, that their limit is earning praise for upper mid-table finishes.