REPORT: BRIGHTON 1-0 CARDIFF CITY

REPORT | BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1-0 CARDIFF CITY

Cardiff City fell to an unfortunate 1-0 away to Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday night. The Bluebirds created their fair share of opportunities at the Amex, but Tomer Hemed struck in the second half to secure three points for the Seagulls.

The Seagulls’ Tomer Hemed missed an early chance whilst Joe Ralls skewed an effort just wide of David Stockdale’s left hand post.

The Bluebirds were knocking the ball around confidently, looking to take the game to their hosts. Ralls set Kenneth Zohore free and the big striker showed good pace to race into the box but he saw his shot saved from a tight angle.

After the half hour mark City continued to press and won a flurry of corners. Captain Sean Morrison went close from a swinging Ralls delivery, but Stockdale was equal to it. The Bluebirds sent in several more corners in the minutes that followed but the Brighton defence held firm.

With the first half drawing to a close, Brighton’s Hemed played the ball to Solly March who saw his effort from just outside the box well saved by Allan McGregor in the City goal.

The second half began with Brighton pinning the Bluebirds back in their own half. They very nearly took the lead inside the first five minutes when Solly March played the ball across goal, through the legs of Sean Morrison, to Hemed. The Israeli had the goal at his mercy but could only poke the ball wide from close range.

Brighton eventually got their breakthrough twenty minutes from time when substitute Oliver Norwood picked out Hemed. The midfielder turned past Sol Bamba and blasted an effort that was too powerful for McGregor to keep out – the ball nestling in the net.

The Bluebirds responded well to going a goal down and looked threatening after the introductions of Craig Noone and Rhys Healey. Noone went extremely close moments after coming on but his goal-bound effort was well blocked by the Brighton defence.

City continued to push for the equaliser as the minutes ticked down and Noone picked out Gunnarsson with an accurate delivery but the Icelandic international could only head wide of Stockdale’s goal. That proved to be the last chance for Neil Warnock’s men as the final whistle blew, seeing Brighton hit the summit of the Sky Bet Championship table.

FULL TIME: BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1-0 CARDIFF CITY

Brighton & Hove Albion: Stockdale, Duffy, Pocognolie, Dunk, Goldson, Stephens, Kayal (Norwood 71), Solly March (Sidwell 82), Murphy, Knockaert (Skalak 90), Hemed.
Subs not used: Mäenpää, Hünemeier, Hunt, Towell.

Cardiff City: McGregor, Peltier, Morrison, Bamba, Richards, Halford (Healey 79), Gunnarsson, Ralls (Whittingham 89), Hoilett (Noone 79) Harris, Zohore. 
Subs not used: Murphy, Connolly, Kennedy, Lambert.