A WATFORD supporter was punched in the face and lost a tooth while on his way to the Amex.

The 23-year-old fan was going to watch Watford play the Albion when he was assaulted on Queens Road.

Afterwards, he took refuge in a nearby shop where his tooth was put in a sealable bag and the police were called.

The incident took place shortly before Saturday's Premier League match, and it is currently unclear whether the attacker was an Albion supporter.

One of the victim's friends, who asked to remain anonymous, said they had been singing Watford songs at the time of the attack.

He said: "He grabbed him by the shirt and punched once, and then again before then walking off past us and crossing the road.

“My mate had a tooth knocked out of his mouth.”

The Argus:

The victim and his friends had been in Wetherspoons in North Street, the designated away fan pub, before the attack.

They were walking ahead of a big group of Watford fans, making their way to the ground at around 4.00pm.

The attacker was walking away from the railway station with another man and, while walking past the victim, attacked at "the very last second".

Two women came to the fan's aid following the incident near the Clock Tower.

The victim's friend added: “He was okay in the end and got to the ground in time for kick off, but left after 30 minutes because as you can imagine it was a pretty awful day with the attack, added to the fact Watford were playing pretty poorly, he just wanted to go home.”

The match, which kicked off at 5.30pm, finished 2 - 0 to Albion.

Sussex Police appealing for witnesses

Sussex Police are now investigating the attack and are appealing for anyone who witnessed it to come forward.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “Police received reports of a man having been assaulted in Brighton on Saturday.

“The victim, a 23-year-old man from Swindon, described walking along Queens Road towards the railway station with a group of friends between 3pm and 4pm when he was attacked by an unknown man.

“He suffered facial injuries in the assault.

“His assailant has been described as being a white man in his mid-30s, 5’8”, stocky and wearing a khaki-coloured t-shirt and a cap.”

Anybody who witnessed the incident can contact police online or by calling 101, quoting serial 989 of 21/08.