Preston 2-0 Brighton: Seagulls' unbeaten run ended

Brighton saw their 17-match unbeaten run ended by Preston, who deservedly triumphed 2-0 at Deepdale in Saturday's Sky Bet Championship clash.

The Seagulls' first away league defeat since August, and a first anywhere since September, came courtesy of goals in either half from Paul Huntington and Callum Robinson.

The hosts were worthy victors and maintained their play-off push in some style as Brighton's afternoon was summed up when substitute Tomer Hemed missed a 96th-minute penalty.

Preston grabbed the lead with a set-piece effort in the 13th minute when defender Huntington charged in to score his first goal in almost two years. He bundled home Paul Gallagher's free-kick from close range.

Before that, Robinson went close for the hosts, while the Seagulls responded when Oliver Norwood drove a shot just past the post from 20 yards.

Glenn Murray was heavily involved as the visitors sought to claw their way back into the game in the lead up to the interval. The 15-goal striker volleyed narrowly wide after racing on to meet Bruno's knockdown.

As the game entered first-half stoppage time, Murray came agonisingly close to an equaliser. He headed a whisker wide after meeting a neat out-swinging cross from league debutant Sam Adekugbe.

The Seagulls were punished in the 53rd minute when Preston doubled their lead. Latching onto a terrific through-ball from Daryl Horgan, front-man Robinson bravely held off a challenge from Bruno before drilling clinically past David Stockdale to register his seventh strike of the season.

The second goal clearly lifted the hosts. Midfielder Alan Browne twice went close before the hour-mark was up, firstly when his shot was blocked by Huntington, and then when heading over the top from eight yards.

Gradually Brighton began to try and force their way back into the game and Murray must have thought he was going to score in the 73rd minute, only to see the ball clipped off his toe by Preston skipper Tom Clarke two yards from goal.

The final act of the game saw Maxwell keep out Hemed's spot-kick, after Huntington had fouled the Seagulls substitute.

Preston boss Simon Grayson:

"It was a complete victory, a very well-deserved win against a really strong team. It's looking like Brighton will end up in the top two this season - or even win the league - so for us to beat them so convincingly says a lot about this team.

"We looked strong throughout, but this result has been coming for quite a while now. We've been putting in some strong performances lately, but not really getting the results we've deserved. mThis was a totally deserved outcome and so every credit to our players.

Brighton boss Chris Hughton:

"Preston are really strong here and we're not going to win all our games. I know very well how tough this division is. I can't complain about the result. We were beaten by the better side on the day.

"The timing of the first goal was bad news for us. From that point on we're chasing the game. We should have done better defending the early goal, but having said that we know how dangerous Paul Gallagher can be in a set-piece situation."

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