Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 2, Rotherham United 1.
BrightonBrighton & Hove Albion2RotherhamRotherham United1
Brighton extended their lead at the top of the Championship to five points with victory over bottom side Rotherham.
Israel international Tomer Hemed scored for the third successive Brighton game to give the hosts a 27th-minute lead.
The winless visitors improved after the break and Chris Maguire missed a good chance to level.
But Dale Stephens made it 2-0 with a crisp finish beyond Lee Camp before Jonson Clarke-Harris pulled one back with a header from a free-kick.
Brighton, who have scored first in each of their games this term, started brightly and Sam Baldock's volley flew over the bar before Jamie Murphy dragged a shot wide.
But Hemed gave the hosts a deserved lead with a neat finish from Murphy's low cross.
The Millers were given a great chance to equalise just after the restart but Maguire was unable to capitalise on some poor defending from the Seagulls.
The visitors could not make the most of their strong start to the second half and found themselves 2-0 down in the 67th minute when Stephens finished well after the ball broke into his path.
Substitute Clarke-Harris gave the Millers a glimmer of hope when he headed home Joe Newell's free-kick.
Bruno nearly made it 3-1 to Chris Hughton's side but Camp produced a fine save from his dipping volley as the hosts saw the game out.
Brighton manager Chris Hughton: "We could, and perhaps should, be winning games more convincingly. That is my only disappointment.
"At 2-0 up, we need to be managing the game better and need to be more clinical.
"We are now the only unbeaten side in the Championship and our points tally is brilliant."
Rotherham United manager Steve Evans: "What was critical from our point of view was when Matt Derbyshire missed an early header that would have put us in front.
"Chris Maguire also put a chance over just after the break so we did create things. I am not disappointed with the effort and commitment."
Line-ups
Brighton
Formation 4-4-2
- 13StockdaleBooked at 90mins
- 2Bruno
- 3Greer
- 4Hünemeier
- 12Bong
- 20MarchSubstituted forRoseniorat 89'minutes
- 7Kayal
- 6Stephens
- 15Murphy
- 10HemedSubstituted forInceat 80'minutes
- 9BaldockSubstituted forZamoraat 69'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Mäenpää
- 5Dunk
- 18Forster-Caskey
- 19Manu
- 23Rosenior
- 24Ince
- 25Zamora
Rotherham
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Camp
- 2Buxton
- 20RawsonBooked at 16mins
- 4Collins
- 3Mattock
- 7Maguire
- 33SmallwoodSubstituted forHalfordat 79'minutes
- 22Newell
- 14WhiteSubstituted forWardat 45'minutes
- 25Odjidja-Ofoe
- 27DerbyshireSubstituted forClarke-Harrisat 60'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Ward
- 10Ledesma
- 11Green
- 15Halford
- 19Clarke-Harris
- 21Collin
- 24Andreu
- Referee:
- James Linington
- Attendance:
- 21,397
Match Stats
Home TeamBrightonAway TeamRotherham
- Possession
- Home66%
- Away34%
- Shots
- Home21
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away1
- Corners
- Home7
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 2, Rotherham United 1.
Post update
Foul by Jamie Murphy (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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Chris Maguire (Rotherham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
David Stockdale (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card.
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Uwe Hünemeier (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Greg Halford (Rotherham United).
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Gordon Greer (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Greg Halford (Rotherham United).
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Attempt saved. Beram Kayal (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Bruno.
Substitution
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Liam Rosenior replaces Solly March.
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Beram Kayal (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe (Rotherham United).
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Foul by Beram Kayal (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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Chris Maguire (Rotherham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Bobby Zamora.
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Foul by Rohan Ince (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe (Rotherham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jamie Murphy.
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Attempt saved. Bobby Zamora (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Beram Kayal.
