It’s just ‘business as usual’ for Brighton

BRIGHTON boss Chris Hughton vowed it must be business as usual for the Seagulls as promotion to the Premier League looms large.

Hughton saw a 67th-minute strike from leading marksman Glenn Murray give Albion a 1-0 home win over relegation-threatened Blackburn.

He then stressed the importance of stability over the final seven matches as Brighton bid to clinch a top-two finish.

Huddersfield’s 1-0 home defeat against Burton has put them nine points behind second-placed Brighton in the Sky Bet Championship, although the Terriers have a game in hand over Hughton’s side.

Hughton said: “We have seven games left and each individually will be massive. But today I was far more pleased with our win than the other results.”

Asked how he stayed calm as a manager in the circumstances, the former Newcastle, Birmingham and Norwich boss said: “It’s all about getting the message across to the players.

“We are trying to be as normal as possible with seven games to go and not to change too much.

“Burton’s late winner at Huddersfield was a surprise but there is generally one or two surprises in the Championship.

“It was more important, however, that even in a scrappy game we got the job done.”

Blackburn remain one point from safety after suffering their first defeat since manager Tony Mowbray took charge on February 22.

Huddersfield are now nine points behind Brighton after they lost 1-0 at home to Burton, with Jackson Irvine’s effort deep into injury time moving Nigel Clough’s team four points clear of the relegation places. Dean Whitehead was sent off for the hosts after 88 minutes.

Elsewhere in the Championship, Leeds surrendered fourth place to Reading after they were beaten 1-0 by their playoffs rivals at Madejski Stadium.

Reading made the decisive breakthrough midway through the first half when Yann Kermorgant latched on to a loose ball on the edge of the area and lashed home an unstoppable drive. The French striker almost grabbed a second goal just before half-time but his low effort struck a post.

Leeds, previously unbeaten in seven matches, went closest through Pablo Hernandez in the first half, when he jabbed wide from close range.

The game ended on ugly note when objects were thrown at Reading goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi by Leeds fans for the second time during the match, but they did not appear to strike him.

Earlier in the day, Rotherham were finally put out of their misery and became the first side in the country to be relegated this term after a 1-0 loss to Fulham at New York Stadium.

With just four wins in the league all season, the writing has been on the wall for a long time, but Sone Aluko’s secondhalf goal was enough to confirm the Millers’ return to League One.

It was a 30th defeat of a miserable campaign and, with six games left, Rotherham could break the Football League record of 34 for the most losses in a season. The three points did wonders for Fulham’s hopes of leaving the division at the other end as they moved into the play-off positions and their top-six aspirations are now in their own hands.

They were boosted just before kick-off by news from 15 miles up the M1 that Sheffield Wednesday had only drawn at Barnsley, so they knew a win would send them above the Owls.

Wednesday led at Oakwell through Sam Winnall’s goal against his former team early in the second half but Angus MacDonald headed an injury-time equaliser for the Tykes.

Bristol City remain one point above the drop zone after losing 2-0 at Brentford.

First-half goals from Sergi Canos and Lasse Vibe gave the Bees the three points.

Nottingham Forest moved a point further away from danger after a 1-1 draw with Preston. Britt Assombalonga gave the Reds the half-time lead at Deepdale but Aiden McGeady equalised early in the second half.

Ipswich and Birmingham are both six points above the bottom three after sharing a 1-1 draw at Portman Road. Jonathan Grounds gave Birmingham the lead but Grant Ward levelled things up for the hosts. Wolves won at home against Cardiff. A Danny Batth double and a goal from Helder Costa gave them a 3-1 victory, with Kenneth Zohore replying.

Aston Villa continued to finish the season strongly after Jonathan Kodjia scored both goals in a 2-0 home win against Norwich, who had Ivo Pinto sent off with 10 minutes left. Brighton’s Glenn Murray puts the ball past Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Jason Steele