Brighton extend their lead at the top

BRIGHTON & Hove Albion won for the sixth time in seven league matches as they extended their lead at the top of the Championship to five points last night.
Tomer Hemed celebrates giving Albion the lead against Rotherham. Picture by Angela BrinkhurstTomer Hemed celebrates giving Albion the lead against Rotherham. Picture by Angela Brinkhurst
Tomer Hemed celebrates giving Albion the lead against Rotherham. Picture by Angela Brinkhurst

Albion overcame bottom-of-the-table Rotherham 2-1 with goals from Tomer Hemed, who netted for the third successive match, and Dale Stephens.

Brighton bossed the first half and took the lead on 27 minutes when Hemed fired home from close range, off the underside of the bar, from Jamie Murphy’s low cross.

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Rotherham’s Chris Maguire blazed wide when well placed early in the second half and Brighton doubled their lead on 67 minutes when Stephens drove home from 20 yards.

Tomer Hemed gives Albion the lead against Rotherham. Picture by Angela BrinkhurstTomer Hemed gives Albion the lead against Rotherham. Picture by Angela Brinkhurst
Tomer Hemed gives Albion the lead against Rotherham. Picture by Angela Brinkhurst

Slack marking allowed Jonson Clarke-Harris to pull a goal back for the visitors from Joe Newell’s free kick four minutes later but Brighton held on to claim all three points.

Brighton manager Chris Hughton said: “It was a tough night and we had to work very hard to get the second goal. At that stage, the game was in our hands but we made life tough for ourselves by conceding when we did.

“I think that we went through a period in that second half where our game management should have been better; we should have kept the ball.

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“However we were worthy winners in the end, based on the performance and two good goals, but no side is going to lay down and die.”

Brighton celebrate Tomer Hemed's opener. Picture by Angela BrinkhurstBrighton celebrate Tomer Hemed's opener. Picture by Angela Brinkhurst
Brighton celebrate Tomer Hemed's opener. Picture by Angela Brinkhurst

Hughton has been delighted with his side’s start as they sit five points clear of second-placed Middlesbrough and said: “At the moment we are doing enough to win games. We probably have not had the ultimate outstanding performance in a game, but that is this division.

“It is very hard to do that, but at the moment we have enough in us to win games, which is great to see.

“We are delighted to be where we are and the massive thing about being on the run that we are on is that we are accumulating points; and our tally for this stage of the season is brilliant.”

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