Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Birmingham City 0.
BrightonBrighton & Hove Albion1BirminghamBirmingham City0
Brighton moved into a play-off position after midfielder David Lopez's second goal of the season ended Birmingham's 10-match unbeaten run.
Lopez struck after the interval, the 31-year-old Spaniard finding the bottom corner of the net after Andrew Crofts had seen his shot parried.
Birmingham had their chances, Chris Burke firing over before Kazenga LuaLua and Burke were both denied.
But Brighton deserved their win, with Crofts and Lopez both going close.
The Seagulls have lost only one of the last seven outings and are now five points behind fourth-placed Derby.
Birmingham, who failed to score for the third time in five games, are 17th in the Championship table, eight points above the relegation zone.
Blues boss Lee Clark can have few complaints, with the hosts managing 24 shots compared to seven by the visitors.
Lopez struck just before the hour mark, the former Athletic Bilbao man pouncing after Crofts forced Darren Randolph to parry his shot.
Striker Jonathan Obika, signed on a 93-day loan from Tottenham, came on for his Seagulls debut with 25 minutes remaining
And the 23-year-old helped set up a chance for Lopez to double the lead but this time he could not find the net.
Birmingham rallied, former Manchester United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak denying Burke an equaliser with a late save.
Brighton manager Oscar Garcia: "Yes, we are sixth, but I am pleased because we won the match and once again the performance of the team was very good.
"That is all, I don't want to comment further about our position in the league.
"I asked the players to be patient. We had to show Birmingham some credit as they were unbeaten in their last ten matches."
Birmingham manager Lee Clark: "We were a bit frustrated with our work in the final third.
"The quality of our final pass was not up to the required standard.
"We weren't clinical enough but the players have shown me terrific character."
Line-ups
Brighton
Formation 4-3-3
- 29Kuszczak
- 2Bruno
- 17Ward
- 4AndrewsBooked at 76mins
- 3Greer
- 20Upson
- 8CroftsSubstituted forOrlandiat 82'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 38InceBooked at 78mins
- 19UlloaSubstituted forObikaat 63'minutes
- 21López MorenoSubstituted forEl-Abdat 90+1'minutes
- 25Lua Lua
Substitutes
- 1Brezovan
- 6El-Abd
- 10Agustien
- 11Orlandi
- 14Calderón
- 22Obika
- 27March
Birmingham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Randolph
- 31CaddisBooked at 56mins
- 18Hancox
- 17ReillyBooked at 27minsSubstituted forFergusonat 82'minutes
- 8MullinsBooked at 90mins
- 4Robinson
- 7Burke
- 20LeeBooked at 71mins
- 19Zigic
- 15ElliottSubstituted forBrownat 63'minutes
- 12Novak
Substitutes
- 13Doyle
- 14Packwood
- 22Shinnie
- 27Ferguson
- 29Brown
- 32Bell
- 33Gray
- Referee:
- Roger East
- Attendance:
- 26,796
Match Stats
Home TeamBrightonAway TeamBirmingham
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away1
- Corners
- Home8
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Birmingham City 0.
Booking
Andrea Orlandi (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Kazenga Lua Lua (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Post update
Reece Brown (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Booking
Hayden Mullins (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Kazenga Lua Lua (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Hayden Mullins (Birmingham City).
Substitution
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Adam El-Abd replaces David López.
Post update
Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Tomasz Kuszczak.
Post update
Attempt saved. Chris Burke (Birmingham City) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Paul Caddis.
Post update
Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. Andrea Orlandi tries a through ball, but Jonathan Obika is caught offside.
Post update
Foul by Jonathan Obika (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Post update
Mitch Hancox (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Andrea Orlandi replaces Andrew Crofts because of an injury.
Substitution
Substitution, Birmingham City. Shane Ferguson replaces Callum Reilly.
Post update
Delay in match Andrew Crofts (Brighton and Hove Albion) because of an injury.
Booking
Rohan Ince (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Rohan Ince (Brighton and Hove Albion).
