CARDIFF CITY 0 BRIGHTON 0

BRIGHTON missed the chance to go top after an uneventful goalless draw with struggling Cardiff.

Glenn Murray thought he had given the Seagulls the lead in the 79th minute, but the goal was disallowed after referee Roger East pulled play back for a foul.

The result means Brighton close the gap to just a point to Newcastle, and remain unbeaten since September. Meanwhile, Cardiff stay in the bottom three.

Cardiff fired the first warning sign when Aron Gunnarsson weaved his way to the edge of the box and saw his shot saved by David Stockdale. The Bluebirds nearly gifted Brighton a goal in the 13th minute after Sam Baldock dispossessed Joe Bennett in the box, who squared the ball to Murray, but the forward failed to connect.

Cardiff started the second-half well and could have been ahead when Sol Bamba headed wide from three yards.

Brighton applied the pressure in the latter stages when Matthew Connolly blocked Murray’s effort, while Baldock forced Ben Amos into a good save.

Brighton had to play out injury-time with 10 men as Gaetan Bong saw red for a trip on Kadeem Harris.