Mathew Ryan hails Brighton's rise up the Premier League table before heading off on international duty

  • Mathew Ryan praises Brighton's rise up the table in the club's debut season
  • The Australian shot-stopper has kept four clean sheets this season
  • Chris Houghton's side remain unbeaten in four games after beating The Swans
  • Glenn Murray's winner was his fourth goal in three games for The Seagulls 

Mathew Ryan hailed Brighton's journey into the top half of the Premier League as he prepared to embark on his own marathon round-the-world trip.

The Australia goalkeeper kept a fourth clean sheet of the season as Glenn Murray's winner at Swansea gave Brighton successive top-flight away wins for the first time since 1983 and plunged the Welsh club into the relegation zone.

It was the perfect boost for Ryan ahead of a World Cup play-off with Honduras which will determine whether the Socceroos will be at next summer's finals in Russia.

Mathew Ryan leaps highest to catch a cross and maintain his side's clean sheet in the 1-0 win

Mathew Ryan leaps highest to catch a cross and maintain his side's clean sheet in the 1-0 win

Chris Hughton's side continue to impress in their debut season as they sit eighth in the table

Chris Hughton's side continue to impress in their debut season as they sit eighth in the table

'I've got two massive games now and we'll be doing everything as a nation to get there,' Ryan said.


'I leave for Honduras now and after the game continue that way to Sydney for the second leg.

'I'm coming back to London through Dubai so I'm literally going around the world, but I'm not complaining by any means.

'It's part of being an Australian footballer and I wouldn't change anything to go and represent my country.

'The pinnacle of being a footballer is playing in the Premier League and getting the chance to go to a World Cup, so I'll focus on recovery now and getting to Honduras in the best shape I can.'

Glenn Murray scores past Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski to make it 1-0 on Saturday

Glenn Murray scores past Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski to make it 1-0 on Saturday

The English striker made it four goals in three games to help the Seagulls rise up the table

The English striker made it four goals in three games to help the Seagulls rise up the table

Ryan, in truth, was not overly-exerted at the Liberty Stadium as Swansea spluttered in front of goal once again.

Premier League new boys Brighton had a late scare when Swansea substitute Luciano Narsingh struck the crossbar in stoppage time.

But it was another solid defensive performance from Chris Hughton's Seagulls, who have now lost only once in six games.

'The confidence is high and I've always felt in my experience that when things are going well you just let your instincts take over,' said Ryan, a summer signing from Valencia.

'I'm in a bit of rhythm with the guys and everyone is similar. We've had that adaptation phase with players coming in and getting used to the league.

'The improvements are there to be seen and we're just growing and growing.'

Swans manager Paul Clement looks on as his side continue to plummet down the table

Swans manager Paul Clement looks on as his side continue to plummet down the table

Season at a glance

  • Premier League
  • Premier League
  • Championship
  • League One
  • League Two
  • Scottish Premiership
  • Scottish Div 1
  • Scottish Div 2
  • Scottish Div 3
  • Ligue 1
  • Serie A
  • La Liga
  • Bundesliga

Swansea's sorry season shows no sign of improvement and this was a fifth home defeat in six league games.

Tammy Abraham was called into the England squad in midweek but the 20-year-old striker, on loan from Chelsea, was starved of service as Swansea mustered only two attempts on goal.

And the atmosphere at the Liberty Stadium grew increasingly toxic as supporters vented their anger at the board and cheered certain substitutions made by head coach Paul Clement.

'It's not about one, two, three, four players. It's about everyone,' captain Federico Fernandez said.

'You can do a bad game but it's about the whole team, not just one player.

'At the moment it's not really working well, but we will try until the end to stay together and turn it around.

'We are really behind the manager, so we must think about positive things and work hard to improve.'