Southampton defender James Bree has suggested that things can not get any worse for the club as they battle for Premier League survival.

Saints are currently bottom of the table with just nine points after 25 matches and are 10 points from safety, having won just two games all season.

"I don't think anybody is scared to go out there," he said. "It's tough for everybody, the fans want results and we are not giving them to them. It would be easy for them to turn.

"With the position we are in, there is no point being scared because it can't get any worse than where we are right now.

"We all know it's a horrible position to be in. From the highs of last year to... it's not quite gone how we all thought it was going to.

"We are all gutted. We are gutted for the fans, gutted for ourselves, gutted for the gaffer. It's hard because we are all doing what we can and we are still not getting the results."

Brighton and Hove Albion defender Adam Webster, meanwhile, has spoken about his belief that the team has evolved since their 7-0 loss away to Nottingham Forest at the start of February.

Webster played his first full 90 minutes of the season in their 3-0 victory over Chelsea last time out, which made it back-to-back wins and was their fifth in seven matches in all competitions.

“I think we were a bit naive and we almost hung ourselves out to dry a little bit, playing like that, because it was such a high line," he said of the Forest loss.

“They have obviously got a lot of fast players, clever players. But we are a completely different team now.

“We didn’t give Chelsea that space, we tried not to give them that space in behind because they have got quick players and good quality players who thrive off that space.

“We have learnt a lot from that and we have evolved.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Southampton – Paul Onuachu

Onuachu has scored two goals and registered one assist in his last four Premier League appearances.

That total takes the Nigerian forward to just one off Saints' top scorer Joe Aribo.

Brighton – Kaoru Mitoma

Kaoru Mitoma has been involved in five goals in his last six appearances for Brighton in all competitions (four goals, one assist), as many as in his previous 28 (three goals, two assists).

He has registered seven shots in his last four appearances in which he has played the full 90 minutes.

MATCH PREDICTION: BRIGHTON WIN

Brighton are unbeaten in all six of their Premier League away games against Southampton (W2 D4) – they’ve only visited West Ham (eight) more often without ever losing in the competition, while Saints have only hosted Nottingham Forest (seven) more often without success.

Southampton have lost each of their last seven Premier League home games, conceding at least three goals in six of these losses.

The only sides to lose eight or more in a row at home within a single campaign are Watford (11 in 2021-22), Wolves (nine in 2011-12) and Sunderland (eight in 2002-03).

Only Tottenham (21) have dropped more points from winning positions than Southampton (20) in the Premier League this season, with Saints also winning a league-low one point from behind this term.

Southampton have also lost 13 of their last 16 league games (W1 D2), leaving them bottom of the Premier League table on just nine points – 10 points from safety.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Southampton – 20.5%

Draw – 22.3%

Brighton – 57.2%