Gus Poyet told Albion to ignore the fuss around him the day he led them to victory at Southampton.

The former Spurs and Chelsea star took charge for the first time as the struggling Seagulls visited St Mary’s for a televised Sunday afternoon clash in League One.

He was the centre of attention having been appointed to his first job as a No.1, succeeding the sacked Russell Slade.

And it all went like a dream as the Seagulls won 3-1.

The TV cameramen and press photographers all had lenses focussed on Poyet as he took his seat and waved across to the Albion hordes behind the goal to his right and around into the corner.

“It was a big game, live on Sky,” recalled wideman Dean Cox.

“Most of the attention was on Gus coming in, although he tried to deflect that.

“I remember he kept saying, ‘It’s not about me, it’s about us together, the club and getting the result’.

“But, ultimately we knew the cameras were all on him.”

Albion got off to a flyer as the decision to play Cox down the right paid off.

The right-footer had often been played on the opposite flank and given licence to cut inside and shoot.

But Poyet changed that and used Elliott Bennett on the left with instructions to help mark the dangerous Michail Antonio.

Cox said: “I remember him saying about my crossing and putting me on my natural side.

The Argus:

“If I had to choose a side, I would probably say left wing because I played the majority of my games there.

“But he wanted my crossing - so I let Benno do the graveyard shift!”

Cox admitted it was strange not talking to former team-mates Dean Hammond and Dan Harding before the game.

He went head-to-head with Harding down that side and got away from him before crossing for the first of two Glenn Murray finishes in the first half.

Cox said: “With Muzza in the box it was just a question of hitting him in there and he did the rest.

“Dan Harding came quite tight so I played the one-two, then got my head up and made sure I got it on Muzza’s foot or head, otherwise he would be giving me a rollicking!

“I still speak to Deano and Dan now but I didn’t before that game so it was quite strange.

“From when I came through at the Albion, Deano was captain so it was very strange to see him on the other side.”

Rickie Lambert pulled one back for Southampton with a penalty right on half-time after Andrew Whing was rather harshly adjudged by Kevin Friend (yes, the same ref who has officiated at THREE Albion away wins this season) to have impeded Adam Lallana.

Andrew Crofts’ low drive on 86 minutes is remembered as the clincher.

“It’s in the bag for Brighton,” declared Sky commentator Martin Tyler.

Actually, Southampton had chances even after that to get back in the contest.

But Crofts had the final say on an afternoon when he had made the early headlines.

Poyet dropped skipper Adam Virgo and handed Crofts the armband, which was a huge story at the time.

“Gus made his mind up quite quickly,” Cox recalled.

“We came in to do a bit of team shape and Virgs wasn’t there and the lads were thinking, 'That’s a big, big call’.

“I felt it was slightly harsh. Gus had only been there a week so to make your mind up as quick as that…..

POTTER'S MESSAGE TO SIDELINED LAMPTEY

The Argus:

WHAT ROLE FOR LALLANA AGAINST HIS OLD CLUB?

TAU HAS TO BE PATIENT

“Virgs was upset and, if it had been me, I’d have been devestated.

“Crofty was second to none as captain. He was a natural leader.

“But it was pretty brutal.”

Southampton (4-4-2): Davis; James, Jaidi, Trotman, Harding; Antonio, Hammond, Schneiderlin, Lallana; Lambert, Connolly. Subs not used: Bialkowski, Mellis, Wotton, Paterson.

Albion (4-4-2): Kuipers; Whing, Elphick, Tunnicliffe, El-Abd; Bennett (Navarro 75), Dicker, Crofts, Cox (Hart 60); Murray, Forster (Dickinson 75). Subs not used: Livermore, G. Smith, Virgo, C. Davies.