Sean Dyche insisted he was not looking at the Premier League and Europa League standings despite Nottingham Forest's recent upturn in results.

Dyche's tenure has got off to a strong start at the City Ground, with their midweek win over Malmo in Europe making it three wins in three matches across all competitions.

During that run, Forest have also beaten Leeds United and thumped Liverpool in the league, moving them one point clear of the bottom three in the top-flight.

Their 3-0 triumph over Malmo also moved them up to 16th in the 36-team Europa League standings, though their attention quickly returns to domestic action this Sunday.

Forest return to the City Ground to face Brighton, and while Dyche was pleased with the mentality within his squad, he said his team's position in the table did not matter just yet.

"The mentality we are trying to build here is one game at a time. I have never lost sight of that," Dyche said after Forest's win on Thursday.

"Every game is important to me, and every game should be important to the team. You don't have to constantly look at tables when you are winning games.

"We have laid down some really good markers for us – not against what people on the outside think, but our internal markers.

"I'm really pleased for everyone who has worked so hard because it is important you do get your reward, and the reward is winning games."

Brighton, meanwhile, have gone three Premier League matches without defeat, propelling them up to sixth in the standings and just two points adrift of a place in the top four.

The Seagulls downed Brentford in their last top-flight encounter, but they needed a last-minute Bart Verbruggen stop to save Igor Thiago's penalty to earn their 2-1 victory.

But this weekend's fixture sees Brighton return to a ground where they suffered their heaviest defeat under Fabian Hurzeler, when Chris Wood's hat-trick led Forest to a 7-0 rout.

Indeed, it was Brighton's heaviest league defeat since a 9-0 loss at Middlesbrough on the opening day of the 1958-59 season in the second tier.

And Hurzeler is expecting another difficult test for his players, particularly given the start Forest have made during Dyche's time at the club.

"Impressive. They know how to win games. They have a very effective style of play. They have very experienced players on the pitch," Hurzeler said of Forest's form under Dyche.

"The players we faced last season are still there, so they have big individual quality. Their individual players are improving.

"They have key players for sure, especially Elliot Anderson, who is doing well. [Morgan] Gibbs-White is a key player. They have big potential.

"In their frontline, they have individual qualities, with players who can attack. They have different profiles, are flexible, and that's what makes them difficult to play against."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nottingham Forest – Morgan Gibbs-White

Gibbs-White missed Forest's Europa League win in midweek with a minor injury, and should he be passed fit for this game, you would fancy him to have an impact. 

That is because the England international has scored in each of his last three Premier League matches, doing so for the first time in his career in the competition.

His goal against Liverpool last time out also saw him become the first Forest player to register both 20+ goals (20) and assists (27) in the competition.

Brighton – Danny Welbeck

Welbeck has scored seven goals in his last seven Premier League games, with only Erling Haaland (eight) netting more than him since the first game in this run in September.

It is already the 35-year-old's second-highest scoring season with Brighton, following his 10 from last season, and he will be keen to continue his good form here.

MATCH PREDICTION: BRIGHTON WIN

Despite the Opta supercomputer favouring Brighton, Forest have won two of their three Premier League home games against the Seagulls (L1), winning 7-0 in this exact fixture last term.

Indeed, Dyche's side have also won their last two Premier League games, as many as they had in their previous 15. They won those matches by scoring three times in each, last netting three goals in three consecutive top-flight games between March and April 1995 (four).

Brighton have, however, won more points from losing positions than any other side in the Premier League this season (10). It is the fifth consecutive campaign in which they have won 10+ from behind, with only Liverpool (86) winning more in total than the Seagulls (75) since 2021-22.

But they have struggled on the road. Just 26% of Brighton's Premier League points this season have come away from home (5/19). Only Newcastle United (20%), Brentford (19%) and Fulham (7%) have won a lower share on the road.

And Hurzeler's team will still have nightmares of their last trip to the City Ground. After their 7-0 thrashing in the reverse fixture, Brighton are aiming not to lose back-to-back away games against Forest for the first time since a run of five between 1980 and 1982.

Brighton have scored more goals in the second half of games in total (15) and as an overall percentage (79%) than any side in the Premier League this season, though. Their eight goals in the final 15 minutes of games is also a joint-high (along with Liverpool).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Nottingham Forest – 32.1%

Draw – 25.4%

Brighton – 42.5%