Brighton have near enough secured a play off place after a crushing a relegation threatened Blackpool side 6-1 at the Amex on Saturday afternoon- although the seagulls can mathematically miss out on the top 6- Brighton fans can relax a little more now a four point window has opened between themselves and Leicester, who are sitting seventh at time of writing.

Will Buckley opened the scoring after just nine minutes for the seagulls, when he released a curling left footed strike past a helpless Matt Gilks into the top left corner. Not too long after it became two- nil when Matthew Upson, currently on loan from Stoke City, netted his first Albion goal. The game was over by half-time, as Orlandi danced through the Blackpool defence and rifled a shot into the far corner.

The rampant Brighton didn’t show any signs of resistance in the second half, as David Lopez added a fourth for the promotion contenders.  But Blackpool grabbed an unlikely consolation; something for the travelling fans to celebrate even if it wasn’t going to affect the game. A cross from Tom Ince was headed into his own net by Dean Hammond. Gus made a couple of changes- bringing on Kazenga LuaLua and Bruno Saltor, indicating that the Brighton boss wasn’t going to hold back. And LuaLua was key to Albion’s fifth, as his cross was put in by Ashley Barnes- his first appearance since getting a seven match ban for tripping the referee in the Bolton game back in March. Barnes netted again late on to end Blackpool’s misery and Brighton’s jubilation.

A win against Leeds United next weekend will confirm the seagull’s participation in the Play-offs and the chance to gain the ultimate…. a place in the Premier League next season.