Brighton v Birmingham

FT 90 +6
HT 0-1

Chris Burke's stunning first-half strike gave Birmingham City their first away win of the season at Championship leaders Brighton.

Blues boss Lee Clark was undoubtedly looking for a positive response from his side following their 5-0 defeat at Barnsley last time out.

He got just that as Burke's 25-yard strike in the 27th minute was enough to give the visitors all three points.

Despite the defeat, Brighton remain top of the table on goal difference.

Brighton had won their last five games in the Championship, but were sluggish from the outset against Birmingham.

The first chance of the game came in the 23rd minute as Stephen Dobbie's half volley from just outside the area flew past Jack Butland's left-hand post.

Birmingham opened the scoring four minutes later. Gordon Greer's clearing header only went as far as Burke, who smashed an unstoppable volley past the stranded Tomasz Kuszczak.

Brighton improved after the break but still struggled to carve out a clear-cut chance.

Dean Hammond failed to make a meaningful connection with a Dobbie cross when well placed, while a David Lopez free kick was headed away by the Birmingham defence.

Five minutes of stoppage time was shown at the end of the 90 minutes but Brighton could not break down a resolute Birmingham defence and suffered their first home defeat of the season.

Brighton & Hove Albion boss Gus Poyet told bbc Sussex:

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"You have to give credit to the way they defended. They were more compact and more solid, we had so many chances to create something, that we didn't, and we only have ourselves to blame.

"The problem was they scored first, so it was always a hurry and looking for that special something and we didn't have.

"We need special players to produce and offensive players to give something special and they tried hard but we didn't produce."

Birmingham City manager Lee Clark:

"The goal was worthy of winning any game. "Everyone was hurting last weekend as we didn't perform to the demands made, but the players to a man have responded magnificently.

"It was an awful 72 hours but we needed a game plan coming to a place like Brighton and we simply couldn't dwell on the Barnsley game.

"There is a lot of ability in the Brighton team and they have several potential match winners and in my opinion they are right on the verge of progressing to the next level."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (5)

Brighton & Hove Albion

29 Kuszczak
03 Greer Booked
06 El-Abd (David Lopez - 61' )
14 Calderon
28 Bridge
04 Hammond
18 Dicker
26 Bridcutt
30 Buckley (LuaLua - 72' )
09 Barnes
10 Dobbie

Substitutes

16 Ankergren
05 Dunk
22 Painter
17 Harley
21 David Lopez
25 LuaLua
23 Agdestein

Birmingham City

01 Butland
04 Caldwell
06 Davies
23 Spector
24 Packwood (Mullins - 81' )
30 Robinson
07 Burke
15 Elliott Booked
18 Fahey
11 Lovenkrands (Redmond - 69' )
29 Lita (King - 88' )

Substitutes

13 Doyle
27 Hancox
08 Mullins
10 Ambrose
22 Redmond
09 King
19 Zigic

Ref: Langford

Att: 26,121

Match Stats

Possession 54 46

Shots

8 3

On target

3 2

Corners

12 0

Fouls

10 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:13 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +4:22

The ball is sent over by Inigo Calderon, Curtis Davies makes a clearance.

90:00 +1:12

Free kick awarded for a foul by Wade Elliott on Kazenga LuaLua. Free kick taken by Moreno David Lopez.

90:00 +0:06

The referee blows for offside. Jack Butland takes the free kick.

89:32

Corner taken by Gary Dicker played to the near post, Steven Caldwell manages to make a clearance.

88:27

A cross is delivered by Marlon King, clearance made by Gordon Greer.

86:48

Paul Robinson takes the direct free kick.

86:48 Substitution

Substitution Marlon King comes on in place of Leroy Lita.