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Adam Shergold at Daily Mail |
Fulham (0) 1-2 (0) Brighton & Hove Albion
If Brighton do go on to finally reach the promised land of the Premier League come May, they'll unquestionably look back to this day as one of the biggest milestones on their journey.
A quite incredible and unexpected turnaround that saw two goals 72 seconds apart swung this captivating Championship title race back in their favour, underlining in the process an indomitable spirit and resolve.
Fulham led courtesy of Lucas Piazon's 55th-minute goal and were, if not entirely comfortable, then on course for a fully deserved victory. Brighton's magnificent unbeaten run in the league was set to end at 18.
Then, in the space of a frenetic minute-and-a-bit, it slipped through their fingers. First, Tomer Hemed's twisting run was ended by Ragnar Sigurdsson's tackle and referee Stuart Attwell pointed to the spot.
Hemed, not long on as a substitute, rolled the ball home having argued with Glenn Murray for the right to take it, the Israeli's sixth of the season.
Fulham had barely recovered their breath as Brighton attacked again. Lewis Dunk, the game's best player, surged forward and fed it right to Anthony Knockaert. His effort was parried by David Button and Dunk, who'd astutely continued his run, headed in the rebound.
It sparked wild celebrations among almost 7,000 travelling Brighton fans in the Putney End, who launched into a chorus of 'we're gonna win the league.'
A considerable number of matches remain, of course, but they sit two points clear of Newcastle United and retain a game in hand. It is looking increasingly like their year.
Until those two hammer blows, Fulham had appeared likely to add Brighton to Newcastle and Reading to their high-flying scalps here this season.
They are more than a match for the best on their day and there's no reason why they won't continue their play-off challenge playing like this.
Indeed, Fulham should have led during a period of dominance early on, but David Stockdale saved a Stefan Johansen penalty. But in the end, they were left wondering how they'd let it go.
Slavisa Jokanovic was left fielding questions over Chris Martin, who again made himself unavailable as parent club Derby seek to end his loan early. Jokanovic said: 'My medical department did not find any problem. He has to be available.'
With Floyd Ayite departed for Africa Cup of Nations duty with Togo this month, it leaves play-off chasing Fulham light in attack and it was Matt Smith who led the line here.
Brighton had also been fogbound on Friday, their home fixture with Cardiff falling victim to pea-souper conditions on the south coast, and the fresher legs came in handy during a frenetic opening.
Both teams started at 100 miles per hour, but it was really only Fulham who created any openings and, after a moment of madness from Brighton skipper Bruno on the quarter-hour, they really should have led.
Kevin McDonald hooked in a cross that Bruno, under only the lightest of pressure, should have dealt with. Instead, the bounce seemed to scramble his brain and he daftly handled the ball, a clear penalty.
Johansen wanted his fifth goal in six outings but Stockdale dived to his right and a strong hand repelled the penalty, which was struck too centrally.
The tempo became tamer thereafter, with Brighton - surprisingly for a side chasing promotion and in such irresistible form - creating very little. A rare counter saw Knockaert cross towards an unmarked Glenn Murray, only with too much altitude to properly control it.
It meant Fulham bossed possession, working the ball around neatly enough inside the Brighton half until one of either Scott Malone, Ryan Fredericks or Sone Aluko could deliver from a wide position.
An inviting Aluko cross narrowly evaded Smith in the centre after the 6ft 6in giant flung himself at it, but Brighton - who had lost just one of 18 regular season Championship fixtures on the road - showed customary solidity.
That was until Piazon produced a lovely finish to give Fulham a fully-merited lead in the 55th-minute. In the hosts' first attack after the break, Johansen played it to Tom Cairney, who threaded a pass into the Brazilian on loan from neighbours Chelsea.
Using a defender as a screen to block Stockdale's view, he curled a perfectly-placed shot inside the far post.
Piazon's goal spurred Brighton into life - it had to - and Knockaert wildly fired over the crossbar when well placed after Dale Stephens had controlled and prodded the ball in his direction.
Fulham sensed they'd need a second but Piazon headed straight at Stockdale after Malone crossed.
The contest was suddenly end-to-end and Baldock's attempted lob of David Button had to be pushed away by the Fulham keeper after Oliver Norwood's perfect ball over the top.
Chris Hughton went for broke, introducing first Solly March and then Hemed. He didn't have to wait long for the dividend - and in stunning fashion.
Hughton wasn't getting carried away. 'We have stressed to the players that the second half of the season will be harder,' he said. 'We have not done anything yet.'
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