Bart Verbruggen was the Brighton hero as his stoppage-time penalty save from Igor Thiago earned the Seagulls a 2-1 win over Brentford at the American Express Community Stadium.

Verbruggen produced a stoppage-time penalty save from Igor Thiago earned the Seagulls a 2-1 win.

Saturday’s victory moved Brighton up to fifth in the Premier League table with the win over Brentford on 19 points from 12 matches.

The Bees took the lead through a Thiago first half penalty, his ninth goal of the season to continue a run of seven goals in seven games for Brentford.

His flick to release Dango Ouattara in the build-up was even better as the Brentford winger was then felled by Carlos Baleba, who was taken off at half-time in another poor display from the midfielder.

Brighton fared better after the break and while Danny Welbeck missed a massive chance to level, firing over from 10 yards out, he eventually found the leveller with 20 minutes to go.

Yankuba Minteh’s glorious cross from the right was turned in by the striker who is set to turn 35 on Wednesday.

His chances of an England call-up, after being name-checked by Thomas Tuchel as an option during the international break, have gone up.

And Brighton completed the turnaround with six minutes to go when substitute Jack Hinshelwood, who had missed the last nine games with a ligament injury, turned home from the edge of the box after the electric Minteh saw a run and shot blocked.