A fourth defeat in a row left Brighton on 33 points and just two ahead of 18th-placed Cardiff - although The Seagulls have a game in hand.

Southampton are on 36 points from 33, Newcastle United on 38 from 34, while Ryan's Socceroos teammate Aaron Mooy's Huddersfield Town and Fulham are already relegated.

Cardiff had lost six of their previous seven games but, knowing that anything but a victory would probably end their survival hopes after one season in the top flight, repelled their hosts' strong start before they grew in confidence and fully deserved their victory.

The visitors went ahead after 22 minutes when Nathaniel Mendez-Laing curled in a superb shot from the edge of the box.

Brighton, who made five changes to the team thrashed 5-0 at home by Bournemouth on Saturday, looked edgy and went further behind when Sean Morrison headed in a Victor Camarasa free kick five minutes into the second half.

Glenn Murray sent a shot just over the bar but it was a rare chance for Brighton until the striker sent a close-range header against the woodwork in stoppage time.

Among Brighton's five remaining games are encounters with Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and, on the last day of the season, Manchester City.

"We are a young team in this division and there are going to be highs and lows and at this moment it's a low...," Brighton manager Chris Hughton said.

"But we have no choice but to get on with it, roll our sleeves up and show the quality we've got... It's still in our own hands and that's the way we have to look at it."

Cardiff's four remaining matches include a home clash with Liverpool this weekend and away to Manchester United to end the season.

"We are alive and kicking," Cardiff coach Neil Warnock told Sky Sports News.

"We've made it interesting for Sunday. It's better than us being relegated, so it's going to be a good game on Sunday (against Liverpool).

"We've got four games left altogether and we've got to do the best we can."

Australian Associated Press