Goals from Sam Baldock and two from Joao Teixeira have given Brighton a 3-1 lead over the Blues at half-time, Daryl Murphy having netted his 18th goal of the season for Town. Baldock put the Seagulls in front in the 18th minute, Murphy struck back four minutes later but Teixeira struck on 38 and in injury time to give the home side a commanding lead at the break.
Cole Skuse’s return to the side in place of Stephen Hunt was the only change to the Town team which beat Millwall 3-1 at the weekend.
Skuse, who had missed the previous three games having been ill, took up his usual central midfield role with Jay Tabb switching to the left and Stephen Hunt dropping to the bench.
Noel Hunt continued up front with David McGoldrick out with his knee injury. New signings Paddy Kenny and Freddie Sears were on the bench.
First-year academy scholar Kundai Benyu, a midfielder, travelled with the first-team squad for the first time but was left out of the 18 along with Cameron Stewart.
Former Blues loanee David Stockdale started in goal for the home side, who made four changes to the team which lost 1-0 at home to Brentford at the weekend.
The Seagulls were without Craig Mackail-Smith (ankle), Greg Halford (calf) and former Blue Nicky Forster’s stepson Jake Forster-Caskey (hip) due to injuries as well as suspended defender Lewis Dunk, their top scorer.
Town threatened for the first time in the fifth minute when Kevin Bru, fresh from signing a new contract, sent Daryl Murphy away down the left but the Championship’s top scorer’s cross was too long for any of his team-mates.
Murphy saw a shot deflect wide on 10 during what was largely a cagey opening to the match. The Irishman headed over from the resultant corner taken by Paul Anderson on the right.
The home side threatened for the first time a minute later when Chris O’Grady sent a dangerous low ball across the edge of the Blues’ six-yard box but skipper Luke Chambers was on hand to clear. From the corner Inigo Calderon headed weakly to Bartosz Bialkowski in the Town goal.
Seagulls keeper Stockdale did superbly to tip a Noel Hunt header over in the 17th minute after Tabb had chipped a cross to the edge of the six-yard box from the left, but the linesman’s flag had been raised for offside.
Despite the Blues having looked the more dangerous side, Brighton went in front in the 18th minute. Baldock brought the ball in from the left and as Anderson threw himself in to block smashed a 25-yard strike beyond Bialkowski and into the corner of the net.
Bialkowski saved low to his right from Teixeira on 21 but the Brighton lead wasn’t to last long. A minute later, Hunt sent over a well-struck low ball from the right and Murphy slammed home his 18th goal of the season.
Town weren’t far from going in front on 25 when Anderson sent in a freekick from deep on the left. Stockdale punched to the edge of the area and Bru headed only just wide of the post.
On 27 Murphy looked to tee-up Hunt inside the area but the former Leeds man scuffed his effort through to Stockdale.
Town were almost the architects of their own downfall on 19 when Skuse’s clearance was blocked into the path of O’Grady on the edge of the box, but Berra got across to challenge.
From the resultant corner, Hunt headed Rohan Ince’s looping header off the line at the post before Aaron Hughes sent the rebound onto the roof of the net.
Albion went close again in the 34th minute after Tyrone Mings had been harshly penalised when challenging Calderon, the Town left-back appearing to have been the one fouled. Danny Holla sent over the freekick and the ball eventually fell to O’Grady, who lashed over.
Three minutes later, the Seagulls threatened again from a set-piece, Hughes forcing Bialkowski to tip his header over from under the bar from Holla’s corner on the left.
The home side were looking increasingly dangerous and on 39 they went back on front. Teixeira was allowed to bring the ball forward unchallenged before cutting across onto his right foot and hitting a powerful strike which deflected off Skuse and into the corner of the net.
In injury time it got even worse for Town. Joe Bennett crossed from the left and an untracked Teixeira smashed a low shot into the corner of the net from the penalty spot. The whistle went soon afterwards.
There had been little in the game at 1-1 but Albion made the most of the Blues’ uncharacteristically poor defending - both from open play and at set pieces - and might have gone in front prior to Teixeira’s two strikes.
The Blues, who appear set to introduce Teddy Bishop for the second half, have a big task on their hands if they’re to beat the Seagulls from this position and move to the top of the table.
Brighton: Stockdale, Bruno, Greer, Hughes, Bennett, Holla, Ince, Calderon, Teixeira, Baldock, O'Grady. Subs: Walton, Rea, Chicksen, McCourt, March, Colunga, Best.
Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Mings, Berra, Smith, Skuse, Bru, Anderson, Tabb, N Hunt, Murphy. Subs: Kenny, Parr, Clarke, S Hunt, Bishop, Ambrose, Sears. Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire).