Goals from Dean Hammond and Andrea Orlandi gave Brighton victory over Bristol City and moved the Seagulls to within a point of the play-off places.

Both goals came in the first half with Hammond nodding home a cross early on from close range early on.

Orlandi swung in a free-kick which found the net through a crowded area and City were unable to respond.

Gus Poyet's side remain firmly in the promotion hunt having now gone seven Championship matches unbeaten.

Brighton tighten up

  • Albion may have gone seven games without defeat but today's 2-0 win represents just their second clean sheet in eight matches.

Poyet shuffled his strikers after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Bolton with Will Hoskins and Stephen Dobbie coming in to the starting XI and Ashley Barnes and Craig Mackail-Smith dropping to the bench.

It made little difference to their potency in attack as Hammond stole in to head home Liam Bridcutt's free-kick.

The home side's advantage was doubled 20 minutes later from another set-piece as Orlandi's inswinging free-kick caught out Tom Heaton and the ball went through the keeper's legs and into the net.

City had to wait until the 36th minute for their first real chance, which Stephen Pearson crashed against the crossbar from 20 yards.

Four minutes later Derek McInnes' men had another big chance to get back into the match but Neil Danns' effort was cleared off the line by Gordon Greer and when the ball fell back to Danns again he was denied by keeper Tomasz Kuszczak.

City continued to plug away in the second half but Albert Adomah and Neil Kilkenny both failed with efforts from range and when substitute Ryan Taylor headed Kilkenny's cross wide late on their fate was sealed.

Brighton boss Gus Poyet: "We got a clean sheet, scored a couple of goals so I've no complaints.

"It was a good, professional display. We needed to keep patient and make it difficult for the opposition.

"Dobbie and Hoskins were desperate to play and this was an opportunity for them to come into the side and impress. I think they both had good games without being spectacular."

Bristol City boss Derek McInnes: "The Championship is an unforgiving league and if you don't defend set-plays you're in trouble.

"The first goal came from a free header and the second was a breakdown in communication between Matthew Bates and the keeper.

"We kept going but for all our good play in possession we couldn't get anything from it.

"We've played Blackpool, Middlesbrough and Brighton in our last three games and they have been tough ones. Our league position is of concern, but I firmly believe we will be all right."

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (6)

Brighton & Hove Albion

  • 29 Kuszczak
  • 02 Bruno
  • 03 Greer
  • 05 Dunk
  • 22 Painter (Calderon - 84' )
  • 04 Hammond
  • 11 Orlandi
  • 26 Bridcutt
  • 30 Buckley
  • 07 Hoskins (Crofts - 77' )
  • 10 Dobbie (Mackail-Smith - 59' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Brezovan
  • 06 El-Abd
  • 14 Calderon
  • 08 Crofts
  • 21 David Lopez
  • 09 Barnes
  • 12 Mackail-Smith

Bristol City

  • 01 Heaton
  • 02 Foster
  • 04 Fontaine
  • 26 Bryan
  • 39 Bates
  • 08 Kilkenny (Reid - 86' )
  • 15 Pearson
  • 25 Elliott (Baldock - 80' )
  • 27 Adomah
  • 38 Danns
  • 16 Davies (Taylor - 46' )

Substitutes

  • 22 Gerken
  • 06 Carey
  • 40 Wilson
  • 11 Woolford
  • 24 Reid
  • 07 Baldock
  • 18 Taylor
Ref: Whitestone
Att: 24,044

Match Stats

Shots

6 5

On target

3 2

Corners

1 5

Fouls

3 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +2:57 Full time

Full Time The match has reached full-time.

88:56

Floated corner taken right-footed by Bobby Reid from the right by-line, Dean Hammond makes a clearance.

88:42

Albert Adomah takes a shot. Blocked by Lewis Dunk.

84:43 Substitution

Substitution Bobby Reid is brought on as a substitute for Neil Kilkenny.

84:43

Ryan Taylor has an effort at goal from close range which goes wide right of the target.

83:34 Substitution

Substitution Marcos Painter leaves the field to be replaced by Inigo Calderon.

79:23 Substitution

Substitution Marvin Elliott goes off and Sam Baldock comes on.

75:42 Substitution

Substitution Andrew Crofts on for Will Hoskins.

75:42

Will Hoskins has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

74:25

Neil Kilkenny takes the floated corner, save by Tomasz Kuszczak.

72:51

Will Hoskins concedes a free kick for a foul on Matthew Bates. Free kick taken by Tom Heaton.

70:44

Marvin Elliott gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Will Buckley. Direct free kick taken by Bruno Saltor.

67:03

Corner taken short by Liam Bridcutt.

64:27

Shot on goal by Albert Adomah from long range goes harmlessly over the target.

61:36

Neil Kilkenny fouled by Andrea Orlandi, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Neil Kilkenny.

58:52 Substitution

Substitution Craig Mackail-Smith replaces Stephen Dobbie.

56:55

Floated corner taken by Neil Kilkenny, save made by Tomasz Kuszczak.

47:27

Will Hoskins takes a shot. Tom Heaton makes a save.

46:10

Shot on goal by Andrea Orlandi from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

45:02 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Taylor is brought on as a substitute for Steven Davies.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +1:09 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

39:05

Neil Danns takes a shot. Clearance made by Gordon Greer. Corner taken by Albert Adomah from the left by-line, clearance made by Andrea Orlandi.

35:46

Shot by Stephen Pearson from 25 yards.

32:33

Andrea Orlandi has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the goal.

31:10

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Liam Bridcutt by Steven Davies. Direct free kick taken by Bruno Saltor.

28:30

Free kick awarded for a foul by Andrea Orlandi on Marvin Elliott. Direct free kick taken by Neil Kilkenny.

25:55

Assist on the goal came from Will Buckley.

25:55 Goal scored

Goal - Andrea Orlandi - Brighton 2 - 0 Bristol C Andrea Orlandi finds the net with a goal direct from the free kick from just outside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Brighton 2-0 Bristol City.

24:39

Will Buckley fouled by Joe Bryan, the ref awards a free kick.

22:38

Bruno Saltor fouled by Steven Davies, the ref awards a free kick. Andrea Orlandi takes the free kick.

17:37

Andrea Orlandi is ruled offside. Direct free kick taken by Tom Heaton.

16:10

Steven Davies decides to take the corner short.

12:38

Unfair challenge on Dean Hammond by Steven Davies results in a free kick. Bruno Saltor takes the free kick.

8:09

Free kick awarded for a foul by Matthew Bates on Stephen Dobbie. Free kick crossed right-footed by Andrea Orlandi, Matthew Bates manages to make a clearance.

5:45

Liam Bridcutt provided the assist for the goal.

5:45 Goal scored

Goal - Dean Hammond - Brighton 1 - 0 Bristol C Dean Hammond finds the back of the net with a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Brighton 1-0 Bristol City.

5:01

Joe Bryan challenges Will Buckley unfairly and gives away a free kick. Andrea Orlandi takes the free kick.

3:02

The assistant referee signals for offside against Stephen Dobbie. Matthew Bates takes the direct free kick.

0:55

Free kick awarded for a foul by Steven Davies on Bruno Saltor. Bruno Saltor takes the direct free kick.

0:00

The match begins.

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