Matt O'Riley says Brighton must become more ruthless to reinvigorate their flagging European hopes, ahead of Saturday's trip to Brentford.

Brighton were twice pegged back by Leicester City – who had failed to score in 13 hours of Premier League action – in a disappointing 2-2 draw at the Amex Stadium last week.

That result came on the back of defeats to Crystal Palace and Aston Villa and left them 10th in the Premier League table.

Fabian Hurzeler's team are only separated from eighth-placed Bournemouth and ninth-placed Fulham by virtue of their inferior goal difference, but O'Riley knows more is needed if they are to force their way into Europe.

"It felt like we stopped playing a bit in the last half an hour, stopped showing for the ball, stopped playing with courage," he said of the Leicester game.

"That's the difference between us and the top, top teams. They're just more ruthless and if I'm honest, we've got a little bit to go to get to that level.

"We're good enough to beat any team but we need to be able to do it consistently and do it against teams in the bottom half as well. Our problem has been consistency.

"We need to look at ourselves and definitely be better to have any chance of getting into Europe."

Brentford are one place and five points behind Brighton, and Saturday's game is surely a must-win for Thomas Frank's team if they are to have a chance of making Europe themselves.

They drew 1-1 at Arsenal last time out, with substitute Michael Kayode playing a key role in Yoane Wissa's equaliser, and he feels the togetherness in their camp makes anything possible.

"With football being a team sport rather than an individual sport, it gives you that team spirit and the feeling as a team is much more powerful," Kayode told Brentford's website.

"If you're really a great group and together as a team, aiming for the same goals and pulling in the right direction, no prima donnas, no protagonists; that's the key to winning, or to getting into finals and having the best shot at winning something.

"Being together as a group is so important."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Brentford – Yoane Wissa

Wissa scored his 15th Premier League goal of the season last time out, and with Bryan Mbeumo netting 16, Brentford are the first team to have multiple players net 15 times in the competition this campaign.

That goal also took Wissa to 50 goal involvements in the competition overall (41 goals, nine assists), with only Mbeumo having more for Brentford (64).

Brighton – Joao Pedro

Joao Pedro scored two penalties in Brighton's draw with Leicester last week, taking him to 10 Premier League goals this season.

Only Glenn Murray (13 in 2018-19 and 12 in 2017-18) has ever scored more Premier League goals for the Seagulls in a single campaign.

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW

After a run of four successive wins between February and March, Brighton are winless in their last four league games (D2 L2).

The Seagulls have also dropped 20 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season.

It is the second time they have dropped as many in a single campaign in the competition after 2020-21 (25), and that fragility could harm their chances on Saturday.

However, Brentford are winless in eight home Premier League games (D3 L5), with this their longest wait for a victory in the competition at the Gtech Community Stadium.

With both teams inspiring little faith lately, the points could be shared, which would do little for either side's European hopes.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Brentford – 38.7%

Brighton – 35.4%

Draw – 25.8%