Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Brentford 1.
BrightonBrighton & Hove Albion0BrentfordBrentford1
Andre Gray scored his 10th league goal of the season to give Brentford victory over 10-man Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Bees went ahead just before the half-hour mark when Gray's left-footed shot deflected over David Stockdale.
Brighton had Lewis Dunk sent off after the break, when he picked up a second booking for shoving Jota to the ground.
Brentford keeper David Button saved from Adrian Colunga and blocked Danny Holla's stoppage time effort to deny the Seagulls an equaliser.
The west London club dominated possession in the early stages but Brighton, who beat the Bees in the FA Cup third round earlier this month, had the first clear-cut chances of the game.
Inigo Calderon and Solly March both tested Button before the visitors took the lead with their first meaningful attack.
Stuart Dallas broke down the left past Gordon Greer and found Gray, whose shot took a huge deflection off Dunk and looped over helpless keeper Stockdale.
| Relentless Brentford | |
|---|---|
| Brentford have yet to drop a point from leading positions this season, winning all 14 games in which they have gone ahead. | |
| The Bees have also found the back of the net in each of their last 13 league games - the current longest scoring streak in the Championship. | |
Former Luton striker Gray had a chance to double Brentford's lead five minutes later, but placed his header from Jake Bidwell's cross just wide of the post.
After the break, Seagulls forward Craig Mackail-Smith spurned an opportunity to end his goal drought, which stretches back to September, directing his volley straight at Button.
Brighton, who have won just two league games at the Amex Stadium this season, then had Dunk dismissed on the hour mark.
The centre-back, booked for a foul on Alex Pritchard in first-half stoppage time, was given his marching orders by referee Andy Davies following a tussle with Jota.
Pritchard and Jonathan Douglas had chances to extend Brentford's lead but were denied by Stockdale, while Button parried away Colunga's effort.
Jon Toral missed a simple chance to make it 2-0 late on, allowing Stockdale to smother the ball with the goal gaping.
Button then saved Holla's late effort as Chris Hughton lost his first game since his appointment as Brighton manager on New Year's Eve.
Brighton manager Chris Hughton: "I'm learning more with every week and every game.
"I knew that we've got a good group of players and my responsibility is to get this team as strong as possible.
"Generally, home form is an indicator for the league position and we must make this a tough place. We need to do something about our form at home."
Brentford manager Mark Warburton: "To come to Brighton and get three points is very pleasing but it's not always about grinding out a result.
"Had we taken our chances it would have been a more comprehensive result. It looked a hard-earned victory, so we have to be more clinical.
"I have enormous respect for Brighton and Chris Hughton, but we didn't take our chances and getting two or three more goals would have given us more belief."
Line-ups
Brighton
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Stockdale
- 14Calderon
- 3Greer
- 5DunkBooked at 61mins
- 30Bennett
- 22Holla
- 24Ince
- 27MarchSubstituted forO'Gradyat 72'minutes
- 18Forster-CaskeySubstituted forColungaat 57'minutes
- 9BaldockSubstituted forHalfordat 62'minutes
- 12Mackail-Smith
Substitutes
- 2Bruno
- 4Hughes
- 7Colunga
- 11O'Grady
- 17Vilaca Teixeira
- 31Walton
- 33Halford
Brentford
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 27ButtonBooked at 90mins
- 10Odubajo
- 6Dean
- 26Tarkowski
- 3Bidwell
- 8Douglas
- 23JotaBooked at 61minsSubstituted forToralat 74'minutes
- 21PritchardSubstituted forSaundersat 89'minutes
- 20Diagouraga
- 15DallasSubstituted forSmithat 78'minutes
- 19Gray
Substitutes
- 5Craig
- 7Saunders
- 14Tebar
- 16Bonham
- 17Toral
- 24Smith
- 28Yennaris
- Referee:
- Andy Davies
- Attendance:
- 27,186
Match Stats
Home TeamBrightonAway TeamBrentford
- Possession
- Home44%
- Away56%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away3
- Corners
- Home8
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Brentford 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Danny Holla (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Danny Holla (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Greg Halford.
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Attempt blocked. Rohan Ince (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Gordon Greer.
Post update
Foul by Sam Saunders (Brentford).
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Rohan Ince (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Sam Saunders (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Joe Bennett (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Booking
David Button (Brentford) is shown the yellow card.
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Foul by Jake Bidwell (Brentford).
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Íñigo Calderón (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. Greg Halford tries a through ball, but Craig Mackail-Smith is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Brentford. Sam Saunders replaces Alex Pritchard.
Post update
Attempt missed. Tommy Smith (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Jonathan Douglas.
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Attempt missed. Tommy Smith (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
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Attempt blocked. Íñigo Calderón (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rohan Ince.
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Foul by Moses Odubajo (Brentford).
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Adrián Colunga (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Dangerous play by Jon-Miquel Toral (Brentford).
