BALDOCK FIRES GULLS TO THE TOP

BRIGHTON returned to the top of the Championship with an away win against play-off hopefuls Barnsley.

Striker Sam Baldock opened the scoring in the second half and star man Anthony Knockaert set up the forward for his second to wrap up the game.

The visitors came to Oakwell knowing a win would put them in first place, as previous leaders Newcastle do not play until tomorrow, when they host Steve Bruce’s struggling Aston Villa.

Meanwhile, Barnsley have now gone three games without a win at home, seeing boss Paul Heckingbottom’s hopes of a play-off place suffer a setback.

Brighton had early claims for a penalty turned down when Baldock went over in the box under pressure from George Moncur. Referee David Coote waved away the appeals and booked the striker for simulation.

Shortly after, Barnsley had their own claim for a penalty denied as they thought Lewis Dunk handled the ball while clearing Marc Roberts’ long ball into the area.

Both sides started brightly in the second half with both Jamie Murphy and Tom Bradshaw firing just wide at either end.

But the deadlock was broken in the 53rd minute, when Knockaert played a decisive ball through for Baldock and he unleashed a dipping shot from the edge of the box. Then Knockaert was again given time and space and he took full advantage, rolling the ball to Baldock, who slotted home to double Brighton’s advantage and seal the win.

Boss Chris Hughton said: “We had to make sure we were back to perhaps what we do best, which is keeping the game as tight as we can and showing that quality in whatever period of the game we can do.

“We knew that these were a good side, in good form, but it’s probably more about us at the moment not being as good away from home in this period.”