Fulham lost 4-2 to Brighton at the Checkatrade.com Stadium on Monday evening. George Williams opened the scoring with a pinpoint penalty, and a hectic 10 minutes before the break, Brighton scored twice before Stephen Humphrys equalised.

The second half was a different story as Brighton managed to get their noses in front in the 54^th minute through Steven Alzate, and Josh Kerr sealed it for the Seagulls with 20 minutes remaining.

Last time out, Fulham beat Portsmouth on penalties in the Checkatrade Trophy after a 3-3 draw.

The Whites took a very early lead against Brighton, 80 seconds into the match a lovely through ball found Williams. Will Collar panicked for the Seagulls and tackled straight through the Welshman from behind to give a clear-cut penalty.

Williams stepped up himself, and with the keeper diving the wrong way he slotted it into the bottom right corner, claiming the lead.

Humphrys was next with an opportunity eight minutes in. After a signature step over he blasted a shot towards goal, but Henrik Bjordal made a good block.

The attack continued from a corner, captain Aron Davies collected took the ball under his control and cut a pass to the Trialist, the centre back shot on target but a defender in a blue shirt blocked well.

In the 16^th minute Elijah Adebayo looked to have put Williams in, however Josh Kerr positioned himself well to made a superb tackle to cut short the Whites’ attack.

The Seagulls started to float crosses into the Whites’ box, Jordan Davies was in the middle and steered a couple of headers wide.

Thorsteinsson was next to try create a goal. He crossed low and hard, Williams got a touch, however the ball ricocheted off the defender and somehow Robert Sanchez in goal for the Seagulls collected.

25 minutes in and Adebayo had a crack from the edge of the area, he couldn’t get the connection he wanted and Sanchez swept up the ball.

Thorsteinsson sent another piercing ball through the Brighton defence, with a fraction too much zip on the ball and the on-running Williams couldn’t get it under his spell.

Sean Kavanagh added to Fulham’s attacking play, rifling a ball into the six-yard box however Adebayo’s run a split second too early.

Brighton found the leveller they were looking for in the 37^th minute, a cross from George Cox was aimed at Davies, and as Kavanagh put him under pressure, the right back headed the ball into his own net.

It wasn’t long before the Seagulls went ahead for the first time. in the 41^st minute Mandroiu curled a shot that bounced off the bar and into the net, too far for the outstretched Norman.

It took three minutes to draw level. Adebayo sprinted up the right, and was fouled close to the touchline. The free kick was hit short to Humphrys who flicked a header at goal, it took a deflection and rolled into the back of the net to equalise for 2-2.

With the second half under way, Williams cleverly chipped the ball into the path of Humphrys, however Sanchez read the danger and extinguished the attack.

It was Brighton who put their noses in front, and unfortunately it stayed that way. Cox drilled a cross into the box and Steven Alzate got a touch, steering it into the top right corner to make it 3-2 in the 54^th minute.

Williams was chopped down 25-yards from goal to the right of the area five minutes later. Kavanagh stepped up and slammed the effort with his left foot, but the effort sailed over the bar.

Thorsteinsson picked up a harsh yellow in the 68^th minute, leaving the Seagulls with an opportunity to hit a ball into the box, which Mattias Kait did well to nod out for a corner under pressure.

Brighton put some distance between themselves and Fulham with the resulting corner. The ball was swung into the box in the 70^th minute, and after several efforts to clear failed, Kerr got the final touch with his head to make it 4-2.

Fulham tried to get straight back into it, Humphrys blasted a shot from inside the area, which was blocked. Kavanagh latched onto the rebound and went himself, drilling a shot into the side netting.

Isaace Pearce was inches away from getting on the end of a Williams cross in injury time, but just missed putting it into the back of the net.

Fulham battled for a goal, but couldn’t find their way back into the match and it finished 4-2.