Dario Vidosic's wonderful start to life as a manager in the English Women's Super League has continued, with the Australian coach guiding Brighton into fourth place with a third win out of four, just a point off top spot.
Even far from their best, Vidosic's buoyant new seaside charges were able to eke out a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace that kept them one point behind powerhouses Manchester United, champions Chelsea and leaders Manchester City, who had Mary Fowler in their starting line-up as they won 2-1 at Liverpool on Sunday.
Brighton's on-loan striker Bruna Vilamala, snapped up from European champs Barcelona in an illustration of the Seagulls' fresh ambition under Vidosic, proved their match-winner on their London road trip, poking home an open goal in the 35th minute.
It was a controversial winner, with Palace keeper Shae Yanez adamant she had been fouled after colliding with Brighton's England striker Nikita Parris following a lofted ball into the box.
"I'm happy with the win, but we had to grind it out," admitted Vidosic, who has so far lost just one game - to Manchester City - since arriving from Melbourne City.
"We were probably our own worst enemies for a lot of that game with so many simple mistakes. We had to be a bit more patient in possession.
"We have a lot to learn, but it's also probably hard for me to think we're going to play 22 perfect games this season in the WSL. It's important that when we do have a day off, that we still find a way to win."
The same was true of Man City, who edged their victory at Liverpool with star striker Khadija Shaw's second-half double overturning Olivia Smith's first-half opener.
Fowler had a pretty quiet afternoon at the end of a fine week for City, following their midweek Champions League win over Barcelona.
"At the end of the day, sometimes an ugly win is just as important for the three points - we just have to keep going," said Shaw, whose ferociously struck winner came in the second minute of added time.
Neighbours Manchester United had little trouble prising open a Tottenham defence featuring Matildas Clare Hunt and Charli Grant as they won 3-0 with a brilliant brace from Norwegian striker Elisabeth Terland and Maya Le Tissier's third from the penalty spot.
Tottenham badly missed the fizz that their third Matilda, Hayley Raso, has brought to their attack because she was missing through injury.
Honours were even as Clare Wheeler's Everton drew 1-1 at home to Katrina Gorry's West Ham, with the sides propping up the table on just two points apiece.
