MURRAY MOVES BRIGHTON TOP
BRIGhTON cruised to the top of the championship last night as they gave themselves a 10point lead over third-placed Reading in the hunt for automatic promotion.
Goals from Tomer hemed, Uwe hunemeier and Glenn Murray, who scored his 20th of the season, gave chris hughton’s side the win.
With only six games to go, Brighton are in pole position to secure the prize of promotion to the Premier league but may be bumped back to second, with Newcastle playing Burton tonight.
The Seagulls are aware the season is far from over, even if Reading are 10 points back in third.
‘If you’d offered me this at the start of the season, I would’ve been delighted,’ said hughton. ‘There are too many good teams pushing to get into the play- offs and top two to think anything is done.’
Under Gianfranco Zola, Birmingham have won only one of their last 10 games and sit six points off the relegation zone.
‘I always look over my shoulder,’ Zola said. ‘We need more points to say we are safe. It is hard. But I am learning a lot of lessons.’
The hosts were on top from the off after 33-year-old Murray tapped in from six yards out.
‘We are top of the league,’ rang round the amex. That they were.
Birmingham went close through clayton Donaldson and craig Gardner, but it was all they could offer in reply. By half-time, the visitors had seen 67 per cent possession and twice as many shots.
The scoreline was all Brighton cared about. They were having fun. a header across the box from Murray in the 48th minute found hemed, who chested it in.
hunemeier added another six minutes later. Only che adams’ goal offered Zola any solace. It was too little, too late. The whistle went and Brighton were top.
Over to you, Newcastle.