Goals from Neal Maupay and Adam Webster secured a 2-0 win for Brighton at strugglers Watford.

Brighton took the lead in style just before half-time when Maupay arrowed a volley into the top corner from Tariq Lamptey's right-wing cross.

In doing so, Maupay equalled Glenn Murray's record of 26 top-flight goals for the Seagulls — more than anyone else.

The Seagulls' second goal was less eye-catching, with Webster finding the net at the second attempt from close range after a corner had ricocheted around in the box.

The Hornets mustered just one shot on target and struggled to offer an attacking threat, slipping to a defeat that leaves them three points behind 17th-placed Newcastle, who have a game in hand.

Brighton's first goalscorer Maupay hailed the team's victory after three consecutive league draws.

He said: "[It was a] great performance overall from the team. It’s been quite some time without a win. Today it felt like everyone played really well. 

"We fought to the end. The second half was harder but we kept fighting. We kept a clean sheet. It’s good to start this big week with a win."

Reacting to match Murray's Albion record, he added: "For a French guy like me coming to England four years ago it's a great achievement [to be the club's joint-highest Premier League scorer]. 

"I'm sorry for Glenn but I'm a bit younger so I reckon I'll beat him soon. If it was against Manchester United on Tuesday that would be good."

Watford head coach Roy Hodgson, meanwhile, was not impressed with his side's performance.

He said: "I didn't think it was very good. In the first half in particular I was expecting us to be more confident and have more composure on the ball and make life difficult for Brighton. 

"To the players' credit, they worked hard and restricted the goal chances. But we didn't do enough. 

"We started brightly at the start of the second half and showed more intent but we are playing from a goal down and with a backdrop of a lot of defeats. 

"We were always liable, especially when we had a lot of attacking players on the pitch, that we would concede on the counter. We only have ourselves to blame. 

"We are going to need to show a lot more resilience and mental strength because after two performances against Burnley and West Ham when we did come close to getting more, today we have not come close. 

"But that is because you play matches, you don't dream about results you would like."

Did you know?

Watford have lost six consecutive home league games for the first time since 1990, a run which also included a defeat to Brighton.

Brighton have lost just one of their last 12 Premier League away games, all coming in 2021-22 (W4 D7) — no side has lost fewer away games in the top-flight this term than the Seagulls (1).

Watford have not kept a clean sheet in their last 17 home top-flight matches, equalling the record Premier League run without a home clean sheet along with Sunderland (2003-05), Blackpool (2010-11), West Brom (2010-11) and Wolves (2011-12).

Brighton have lost just one of their last 14 Premier League games against promoted sides (W7 D6), keeping a clean sheet in each of their last six (W5 D1) since a 1-0 loss at West Brom in February 2021.

Webster has scored two goals in his last three league appearances — as many as he had scored in his previous 60 in the competition.