Belief is strong in the squad '“ Stockdale

Albion keeper David Stockdale Picture: Paul Hazlewood.

To start a crazy week at the summit, substitute Steve Sidwell struck late on to seal a 2-1 victory for Albion at Nottingham Forest on Monday.

Leaders Middlesbrough then left it even later the following night as Adam Forshaw’s 94th-minute strike gave Boro a 2-1 win over Reading. Those results leave Brighton third, two points behind second-placed Burnley and four points off leaders Borough.

With five games to go, Stockdale admits the squad have the belief to secure a finish in the top two. He said: “We’ve had a strong belief in our squad all the way through, we’ve never said we’re going to win the league and we are going to do this.

“We have meetings between ourselves and have our own beliefs and it comes out in games like Birmingham and on Monday night.

“We believe in each other and what the club are trying to do. We don’t listen to what other people say, we’ll do what we do and prove people wrong, that’s the mentality we have.”

Albion return to The Amex with a home clash against Stockdale’s former side Fulham tonight before welcoming Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday.

Brighton introduced Sidwell, Anthony Knockaert and James Wilson from the bench at Forest and the stopper believes that shows the strength of the squad.

He said: “Steve Sidwell, Anthony Knockaert and James Wilson coming off the bench shows you the strength in depth.

“It shows how we’ve been playing as a team for the gaffer to keep so-called household names on the bench.

“You can’t just buy in team spirit, you either have that or you don’t and here we have it and we’ll keep going.”

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