Brighton star says survival celebrations caused 'a bit of a ruckus' in team hotel

Goalkeeper Mathew Ryan admits Brighton & Hove Albion's celebrations at staying in the Premier League would have been heard all over their team hotel in London yesterday.
Mathew Ryan. Picture by PW Sporting PhotographyMathew Ryan. Picture by PW Sporting Photography
Mathew Ryan. Picture by PW Sporting Photography

The Seagulls players were already in London ahead of their 1-1 draw at Arsenal this afternoon.

Crystal Palace's 3-2 victory at Cardiff relegated the Bluebirds and Ryan says the final whistle caused 'a bit of a ruckus' throughout the hotel.

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He said: "It was funny we had a team dinner at 7pm and there was 20 minutes remaining in the match.

"It was 2-1 at that stage and it was end-to-end stuff. Crystal Palace looked the most dangerous when they were defending and transitioning into attack

"Then when Cardiff were attacking and Morrison was up there causing havoc there were a few nervy moments.

"It caused a bit of a ruckus throughout the hotel. They'd have heard us probably from the bottom floor and we were on the top floor.

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"We're happy it was done that way but today's result shows it was still through our own doing as well.

"At the end of the day we put in the performances and got the results we needed to stay safe. We did it the hard way but most importantly we found a way to do it. That's what was required at the end of the day."

Glenn Murray's penalty cancelled out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's early spot-kick at Arsenal this afternoon. Reflecting on the draw at Arsenal - Brighton's first point away to a top-six side - Ryan said: "It's a game of what could have been. Bernd Leno makes a great save from Solly (March) at the end. I haven't seen the replay so am not sure if Solly should have scored or if Pascal (Gross) should have scored the rebound and then Flo (Florin Andone) a couple of times was breaking through and we had someone in the middle.

"Against a side like this you're always going to need to put in a big defensive effort to keep ourselves in the game.

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"I had to make a couple of saves and the defensive pairing made so many blocks and the guys in front of them cut out cut-backs and Bruno and Bernardo defended crosses.

"We did all that and to have the chances we did, it's one which could have been."

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