Brighton player ratings vs Sunderland: Ten-man Seagulls battle to impressive victory after Pascal Struijk sees red

The Seagulls were slow out of the blocks on Wearside and almost paid the price midway through the first half when Wilson Isidor’s effort deflected off Pascal Struijk and on to the post.

Struijk then hit the post himself on the cusp of half-time, with his looping header beating Robin Roefs but striking the woodwork.

The game then burst into life after the interval when Maxim De Cuyper opened the scoring in the 53rd minute with a neat strike into the bottom corner after good work from Diego Gomez and Pascal Gross.