RESULT! Zola-powered City mugged by Murray

GIANFRANCO ZOLA’S first game in charge of Birmingham could not have ended in a more agonising manner.

The Italian was a shock appointment to the Blues hotseat on Wednesday evening after the unexpected sacking of the popular Gary Rowett.

But everything seemed to be going perfectly when Lukas Jutkiewicz put Birmimgham ahead at St Andrew’s last night with a soaring header in the 52nd minute after a tidy move involving Greg Stewart and David Davis.

But that goal was pegged back eight minutes from time when lively Brighton substitute Solly March beat Robert Tesche down the left and cut back a perfect ball for Anthony Knockaert to slot home.

And then as the game ticked into a fifth minute of added time – when four had initially been indicated – Zola could only watch on as a free-kick was awarded for a foul on March.

That free-kick was cleared for a corner which found the head of Glenn Murray, who notched his 14th goal of the season.

It meant that Brighton extended their unbeaten run to 16 games and maintained their one-point deficit of leaders Newcastle, who earlier in the day won 2-1 at Burton.

Brighton’s matchwinner Murray said: “I just got a glance on it and it seemed to take an eternity to hit the back of the net but luckily it did.

“It doesn’t matter what anyone else does, we’ve just got to concentrate on what we do.

“We’re going to try to chase Newcastle all the way.”

The Seagulls’ other scorer Knockaert said: “That’s the first one that I have managed to score since my father passed away and I dedicate this goal to him.”