Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 3, Charlton Athletic 2.
BrightonBrighton & Hove Albion3CharltonCharlton Athletic2
Brighton came back from 2-0 down to beat 10-man Charlton and go back to the top of the Championship.
Charlton scored twice in the opening four minutes as Ademola Lookman and Reza Ghoochannejhad found the net.
James Wilson got one back for Brighton soon after half-time with a wonderful goal after a mazy run before Charlton's Patrick Bauer was sent off.
Bobby Zamora equalised from close range late on before Tomer Hemed headed in the winner a minute later.
Charlton shocked the Championship high-fliers with two devastating counter-attacks in the opening exchanges.
Lookman netted his first goal in just his fifth appearance as the highly rated 18-year-old picked up Ghoochannejhad's pass from the left, skipped past Bruno and fired high past David Stockdale at the near post.
Three minutes later Ghoochannejhad went from provider to scorer as the Addicks countered from a Brighton corner and Gudmundsson swung in a low cross for the Iran international to convert at the far post as Charlton scored twice away from home for the first time in the league this season.
It could have been three but for two fine saves from Stockdale as he kept out Ghoochannejhad's header and closed down Gudmundsson when the Icelandic international was one-on-one with him.
However, it was Brighton who came flying out after the break as Manchester United loanee Wilson scored on his full debut, dancing past three Charlton defenders before slotting home from 10 yards out before Solly March almost equalised as his shot was tipped on to the post by Stephen Henderson.
The game turned when Bauer was sent off with 30 minutes left after pulling back Zamora when he was through on goal, opening the floodgates for a host of Brighton chances.
It was not until the final few minutes that they took advantage as first Zamora converted from four yards out after good work from March on the left and then Israel international Hemed headed in the winner after coming off the bench.
The win extended Brighton's unbeaten start to their league campaign this season - they have now gone a club-record 20 games since their last league defeat.
Brighton manager Chris Hughton:
"We have a tough month and it was important that we have started it with a win. We would have wanted to win today no matter who the opponents were.
"I told the players at half-time not to get caught on the counter and not to try to win the game in the first five minutes of the second half. I also wanted them to show character and they did.
"As angry as I was, the players themselves were disappointed to be losing because of the run we've been on.
"We have shown character in abundance this season and we went on and won the game."
Charlton Athletic manager Karel Fraeye:
"It was a silent dressing room afterwards as all the players were disappointed not to get something out of it.
"We had our plan and Brighton were very lucky to only be 2-0 down at half-time. We could have finished it by then.
"But we conceded an early goal and then had a red card against us. I can't say anything about it but it influenced the game.
"The players have been through a lot this season but their heads didn't go down. We were unlucky to get nothing."
Line-ups
Brighton
Formation 4-4-2
- 13Stockdale
- 2Bruno
- 3Greer
- 5Dunk
- 14CalderonBooked at 45minsSubstituted forvan La Parraat 83'minutes
- 20MarchBooked at 90mins
- 6StephensBooked at 75mins
- 7Kayal
- 15MurphySubstituted forHemedat 73'minutes
- 21WilsonSubstituted forChicksenat 90+4'minutes
- 25Zamora
Substitutes
- 1Mäenpää
- 4Hünemeier
- 10Hemed
- 19Manu
- 24Ince
- 27van La Parra
- 28Chicksen
Charlton
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1HendersonBooked at 45mins
- 20SollyBooked at 90mins
- 5BauerBooked at 58mins
- 26LennonSubstituted forSarrat 29'minutes
- 21FoxBooked at 90mins
- 8CousinsBooked at 44mins
- 12Diarra
- 7Berg GudmundssonSubstituted forHolmes-Dennisat 75'minutes
- 16Ghoochannejhad
- 37Lookman
- 2Vaz TeSubstituted forBaat 65'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Sarr
- 9Makienok
- 17Holmes-Dennis
- 18Ahearne-Grant
- 22Ba
- 24Charles-Cook
- 30Pope
- Referee:
- Keith Stroud
- Attendance:
- 24,587
Match Stats
Home TeamBrightonAway TeamCharlton
- Possession
- Home70%
- Away30%
- Shots
- Home21
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away5
- Corners
- Home11
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away17
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 3, Charlton Athletic 2.
Post update
Attempt missed. Rajiv van La Parra (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Bobby Zamora.
Substitution
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Adam Chicksen replaces James Wilson.
Post update
James Wilson (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by El-Hadji Ba (Charlton Athletic).
Booking
Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Chris Solly (Charlton Athletic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Chris Solly (Charlton Athletic).
Post update
Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. Lewis Dunk tries a through ball, but Bobby Zamora is caught offside.
Booking
Morgan Fox (Charlton Athletic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Rajiv van La Parra (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Morgan Fox (Charlton Athletic).
Goal!
Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 3, Charlton Athletic 2. Tommer Hemed (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Rajiv van La Parra with a cross.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Stephen Henderson (Charlton Athletic) because of an injury.
Goal!
Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 2, Charlton Athletic 2. Bobby Zamora (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal.
Post update
Attempt saved. Tommer Hemed (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Solly March.
Substitution
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Rajiv van La Parra replaces Íñigo Calderón.
