Zamora sends unbeaten Brighton top

Home News Premium Sports Betting Recomemndations Contact

Which Premier League club has gone 55 games without an English goalscorer?View more

28 Nov 2015

Bobby Zamora's fourth goal of the season earned a deserved victory over Birmingham and sent unbeaten Brighton to the top of the Championship table.

The veteran striker struck the winner after the break, tapping in after great work by the impressive Solly March.

March's thumping shot put the hosts ahead in the first period.

And although Jon Toral headed Blues level, Brighton's unbeaten 18-game start to the league season continued with a win thanks to Zamora's effort.

The margin of victory should have been far greater, with Manchester United loan striker James Wilson hitting the post late on and the Seagulls spurning numerous opportunities in the first period.

March twice had sights of goal before netting the opener at the second attempt after Liam Rosenior and Jamie Murphy had combined to tee him up on 17 minutes.

Toral levelled four minutes later, heading in after home goalkeeper David Stockdale made an unconvincing attempt to keep out Jacques Maghoma's original strike.

Blues keeper Tomasz Kuszczak was lucky not gift Brighton a second goal when he fumbled the ball over his own line only to be saved by referee Gavin Ward who spotted a foul.

The visitors, who remain in the final Championship play-off place, could have made it 2-1 in five minutes of first-half injury-time played because of a nasty looking injury to Rosenior, who had to be take off on a stretcher.

But midfielder Toral's fine left-foot effort went just wide and Brighton were back in front on 47 minutes when Zamora tapped home his fourth goal in seven games at the back post.

Teenager Wilson replaced Zamora with 25 minutes to go and had the best chance to add a third home goal but saw his attempt come back off the foot of the post after running through one-on-one.

Stockdale then had to pull off a fine low save in injury time to ensure Brighton have won all seven of their home games in which they have gone ahead this season.

Brighton's Solly March celebrates his first-half goal against Birmingham

Solly March has scored three goals in 15 appearances this season

Jon Toral was Birmingham's main goal threat and almost put them ahead in first-half stoppage time

Lineup, Bookings (8) & Substitutions (6)

Brighton & Hove Albion

13 Stockdale Booked
02 Bruno
03 Greer
05 Dunk
23 Rosenior (Calderon - 27' )
20 March Booked
06 Stephens Booked
07 Kayal Booked
15 Murphy
10 Hemed (Ince - 83' )
25 Zamora (Wilson - 66' )

Substitutes

01 Mäenpää
14 Calderon
17 Goldson
19 Manu
21 Wilson
24 Ince
27 van La Parra

Birmingham City

29 Kuszczak
31 Caddis Booked
28 Morrison
23 Spector
03 Grounds Booked
08 Gleeson Booked
06 Kieftenbeld Booked
19 Maghoma (Davis - 64' )
20 Toral
07 Gray (Solomon-Otabor - 83' )
44 Brock-Madsen (Vaughan - 64' )

Substitutes

01 Legzdins
02 Eardley
15 Vaughan
17 Solomon-Otabor
22 Shinnie
25 Lowry
26 Davis

Ref: Gavin Ward

Att: 27,242

Match Stats

Possession 62 38

Shots

22 15

On target

9 5

Corners

9 6

Fouls

9 10

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full Time Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 2, Birmingham City 1.

90:00 +7:23 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 2, Birmingham City 1.

90:00 +7:14

Attempt missed. David Davis (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jonathan Grounds.

90:00 +5:45

Attempt saved. Beram Kayal (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by James Wilson.

90:00 +5:16

Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Jonathan Spector.

90:00 +4:53 Booking

Booking Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card.

90:00 +4:05

Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.

90:00 +4:05

Foul by Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City).

90:00 +3:28

Attempt saved. David Davis (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by James Vaughan.

90:00 +2:36 Booking

Booking David Stockdale (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card.

90:00 +0:53

Attempt missed. James Vaughan (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Jonathan Grounds.