Brighton & Hove Albion picked up a narrow 2-1 win over Birmingham City to reclaim top spot in the Championship.
The Seagulls started the day down in third, but goals from Solly March and Bobby Zamora in either half helped lift them back to the summit.
Jon Toral struck for a Birmingham side who have been strong on their travels this term to cancel out March's earlier opener, but Zamora proved to be the hero thanks to his close-range finish early in the second half.
Relive Sports Mole's live text coverage from the Amex Stadium below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Championship meeting between Brighton & Hove Albion and Birmingham City. The Blues travel to the Amex Stadium boasting the best away form in the division, but they come up against a side currently sitting third in the Championship table.
Albion have still yet to taste a league defeat this campaign; a run that currently stands at 17 matches - two less than the tally amassed by Queens Park Rangers in 2011. They will be looking to move one step closer to making some history this afternoon, while also regaining their place back in the top two.
TEAM NEWS!
BRIGHTON XI: Stockdale; Bruno, Greer, Dunk, Rosenior; Murphy, Stephens, Kayal, March; Hemed, Zamora
BIRMINGHAM XI: Kuszczak; Caddis, Morrison, Spector, Grounds; Gleeson, Kieftenbeld, Gray, Toral, Maghoma; Brock-Madsen
If Brighton & Hove Albion's intentions this season had not already been made clear by their solid start to the season, the transfer business pulled off by Chris Hughton in the week certainly sent out a clear message. Rajiv van La Parra was brought in to provide some added width, while James Wilson was a surprise loan purchase from Manchester United.
Both those new recruits start on the Brighton bench this afternoon, however, as Chris Hughton shows faith in his players from last time out. That means a start up top for Bobby Zamora on the back of his goal at Turf Moor last weekend, while Tomer Hemed will start alongside him in attack. Sam Baldock and Kazenga LuaLua remain out of the picture at the moment.
Uwe Hunemeier is another Albion absentee this afternoon due to illness, so we get a chance to see that Greer-Dunk partnership in the heart of defence. In terms of the visitors, meanwhile, they have also decided against throwing in two of their emergency deadline-day purchases for this match; James Vaughan and Greg Halford having to settle for a place on the bench.
Danish Under-21 international Nicolai Brock-Madsen is once again given the nod by Gary Rowett, so Vaughan - who fell down the Huddersfield Town pecking order - will be made to wait for his first Birmingham appearance. The striker's omission should not come as too much of a surprise, however, as City have used fewer players this term than any other Championship side.
BENCH WATCH!
BRIGHTON SUBS: Maenpaa, Calderon, Goldson, Ince, van La Parra, Manu, Wilson
BIRMINGHAM SUBS: Legzdins, Eardley, Vaughan, Solomon-Otabor, Shinnie, Lowry, Davis
James Wilson was brought in on loan from Manchester United earlier this week, but he has been made to wait for his first Brighton appearance after being named on the bench this afternoon. Birmingham also have a new striker among their ranks, with James Vaughan a part of their matchday squad.
So Brighton today have the chance to stretch their unbeaten start to the campaign to an 18th game, which would leave them just one match away from QPR's previous record run amassed in 2011. Despite their impressive start, the Seagulls have dropped down to third place in the table after drawing four of their last five games.
There is a risk that Brighton could become to caught up by protecting their unbeaten run, having failed to pick up enough wins over the past few weeks. The 1-1 draw away at Burnley was very impressive, though, with the chance to climb back to the summit with a win here today following Hull's defeat to Derby on Friday evening.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Albion have won three of the last four meetings between these two sides, with the other match in that sequence ending in defeat. Birmingham have only ever won away at Brighton twice before; once in 1994 and then another rare triumph 18 years later in 2012. This fixture last season finished 4-3, meanwhile, so hopefully we will see a fair few goals today!
Visitors Birmingham have seen their place in the top six come under real threat following Ipswich Town's impressive win over Charlton Athletic a little earlier, so they know that they must put some points on the board today. One win in their last five has seen the wheels just fall off a little, but they are still in a strong position in the current standings heading into this one.
Despite their sticky patch of form, no side can boast a better away record heading into this weekend's matches. City have looked impressive on their travels so far, and will no doubt prove a real test for Hughton and his men on the South Coast this afternoon. They will be without the division's leading assist maker, though, as Clayton Donaldson recently picked up a groin strain while away on international duty.
Birmingham have also had to contend with report linking Gary Rowett to the still-vacant managerial position at Fulham, but the Englishman - who has well and truly turned the Blues' form around during his 13 months in the West Midlands - looks likely to remain in place to see the job through at St Andrew's.
So it is all set up for what should be a real thriller at The Amex between two sides who, it is fair to say, have overachieved during the opening third of this campaign. Brighton have history in their sights, while opponents Birmingham need a draw at the very least to avoid slipping out of the playoff zone.
Chris Hughton's charges are looking to defend their 17-game unbeaten start to the campaign, while Birmingham can hold claim to being the division's best side on their travels. Kickoff on the South Coast is now just seconds away.
KICKOFF! We are underway at The Amex! Brighton, sporting their traditional blue colours this afternoon, instantly look to get down the right but a cross into the box is cleared away.
Promising enough start by Brighton, who are looking to feed off their home supporters this afternoon. Top spot is there for the taking should they pick up all three points, remember, but Birmingham will of course have different ideas.
Rosenior charges down the left but his cross has too much on it for Stephens, who is unable to direct his attempt goalwards. Birmingham having to do a little defending in these opening five minutes or so.
March can't quite slip in Zamora, as the home side continue to up the pressure. Just the two Birmingham wins away at Brighton in the entire history of this fixture, the last of which came in 2012.
SAVE! A lively couple of minutes, as Hemed was first denied a clean header on goal by a good piece of defending, before Hemed forced Kuszczak into making a save down low from a tight angle. Birmingham themselves also posing a threat on the counter, but no way through for either side yet.
Kayal and Greer are alert to deny Gray, who was looking to force his way through on goal. Brighton enjoying more of the possession at the moment, having created that one decent early opening already.
Brighton still stroking the ball around well, patiently making their way up the field. Rowett will be happy enough with that, but the danger is already starting to show.
GOAL! BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1-0 BIRMINGHAM CITY (SOLLY MARCH)
Brighton make the breakthrough at The Amex following what has been a promising start to the match. Murphy created the goal by beating a couple of players and swinging in a cross which March met in the centre of the box. The initial shot was well blocked, but the midfielder rocketed the rebound into the top corner.
A real setback for Rowett's charges, then, and they will now have to get a few more bodies forward. Still a long, long way to go, but Brighton are well on top now and looking to bag themselves a second in quick succession.
That goal lifts Brighton back to the summit, of course, having slipped down to third overnight as a result of Derby's win at Hull. March has been the home side's best player so far, controlling things in midfield and bagging that all-important breakthrough goal.
GOAL! BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1-1 BIRMINGHAM CITY (JON TORAL)
Well how about that! Birmingham, very much second best so far, have levelled things up with 22 minutes played at The Amex. Maghoma's initial shot had plenty on it, forcing Stockdale to simply parry it into the path of Toral who made no mistake in heading home from close range.
Rosenior is in some pain down after taking a clattering from Kieftenbeld. The initial signs do not look good - Brighton's medical staff were quickly on the field with the stretcher. The full-back's afternoon is over here, with just a quarter of this entertaining match played.
BRIGHTON SUB! Rosenior is stretchered off the field of play, receiving a nice reception from both sets of supporters. A chance for Calderon to impress at full-back now, as the contest gets back underway.
An evenly-matched contest on our hands now. Brock-Madsen has just fired one narrowly over, failing to build on Toral's leveller which has opened this one right up.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Brighton thought that they had taken the lead once more, only for the referee to rule out the goal. It was a real howler from Kuszczak, who failed to handle a cross into the box and appeared to drop the ball into his own net, but contact on him from an opposition player was enough to earn a free kick in his favour.
SAVE! Grounds in the book for his latest challenge on star player March. Kayal takes the resulting free kick from 20 yards out, which Kuszczak got a strong right hand to turn aside. A fine attempt and an even better save.
YELLOW CARD! This half has certainly not lacked action so far, has it?! Kieftenbeld becomes the second Birmingham player in quick succession to see yellow after catching Kayal. Plenty of challenges flying in all over the field.
A whipped March delivery is just about dealt with by Kuszczak, who is simply happy to concede a corner rather than a goal. March took the set piece and once more got his delivery spot on, but no Brighton player could turn it goalwards.
This has been Brighton's best spell since conceding just under 20 minutes ago. Real sustained pressure at the moment, with Kuszczak being forced into action on a couple of occasions - nothing too troubling, though.
Hemed appeared to be pulled back as he latched on to a loose ball on the edge of the box, but the referee was having none of it. The Israel international's effort was blocked behind by Morrison, as this sustained Brighton pressure continues in the closing stages of the first half.
Birmingham are desperate for half time now. They are just about holding on, defending well at the back to keep their opponents at bay, having been made to defend pretty much non-stop since equalising against the run of play midway through the half.
Rosenior's lengthy treatment has ensured that we will play a further five minutes at the end of this opening half, the first of which passes by with little action.
Rowett is furious on the sidelines as Bruno clips the heels of Toral, with the Brighton defender avoiding a booking. Two Brum players have entered the referee's book so far, hence Rowett's frustrations at that decision - or lack of!
CLOSE! Almost the ultimate sting in the tail at the end of this first half after Toral's right-footed curler ended just a few inches wide of the target. Birmingham have been the second best team, yet they could very well have gone into the interval ahead.
Grounds stands his ground to head away March's sweet cross. Just second of this enthralling half remaining, so we are likely to go into the break all square on the South Coast.
HALF TIME: BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1-1 BIRMINGHAM CITY
So we are all square the break following an entertainment half of football. Brighton have dominated the contest pretty much right from the off, but credit to Birmingham for taking one of their only chances and defending well for the remainder.
The breakthrough goal was provided by Solly March, who has probably been the game's best player so far thanks to his crossing ability and all-round attacking play. The midfielder was picked out by Murphy with 17 minutes of the game played, firing his first shot into a City player before dispatching the rebound with aplomb.
Brighton built on that early breakthrough and looked good value to add another, too, only for Jon Toral to ruin the party by levelling up shortly after. Maghoma's shot had too much power behind it for Stockdale to push it behind the post, with the parried save being mopped up by Toral to head home from close range.
The half has been almost exclusively played in Birmingham's half since then, as Kuszczak first dropped the ball into his own net only to see a free kick awarded in his favour, before a countless number of crosses and set pieces forced City further and further back. Despite being second best, Toral sent a shot just inches wide at the end of the half to remind Albion that they are no pushovers.
Brighton have already lost Rosenior to injury the first half, forcing Hughton to bring on Calderon, but they can still call upon new recruits Rajiv van La Parra and James Wilson. Visiting boss Rowett will surely look to keep things the same early on in the second half, meaning James Vaughan will have to wait a little while longer for his first Blues appearance.
BRIGHTON SUBS: Maenpaa, Goldson, Ince, van La Parra, Manu, Wilson
BIRMINGHAM SUBS: Legzdins, Eardley, Vaughan, Solomon-Otabor, Shinnie, Lowry, Davis
Solly March celebrates opening the scoring from Brighton & Hove Albion, four minutes before Jon Toral headed home a Birmingham City equaliser at The Amex.
RESTART! We are back underway on the South Coast, with neither manager opting to make a change at the break. Let's hope for an equally as entertaining second half at The Amex.
GOAL! BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 2-1 BIRMINGHAM CITY (BOBBY ZAMORA)
Bobby Zamora fires Brighton back into a deserved lead following a strong start to the second half from the home side. Jamie Murphy again created the goal, this time tricking his way down the left and pulling the ball back for March to fire a real stinger of a shot on goal. Kuszczak did brilliantly to keep the shot out, but it fell perfectly for Zamora to tap home from close range.
There is talk of Rosenior's first-half injury being a knee ligament damage, so his season will almost certainly be over if that is the case. A blow for Brighton in the long term, but right now they are flying high at the summit thanks to Zamora's strike.
Another real let off for Kuszczak, who once more flaps at a cross to put his side in danger. It appeared to be simple enough to deal with at his front post, but the ball ran loose before eventually being cleared away. Albion closing in on a potentially decisive third goal.
They have been treated to a fine display from their side so far.
YELLOW CARD! Dale Stephens is the first Brighton player to earn a booking for what appeared to be dissent. Birmingham desperately trying to find some momentum at the moment.
Brock-Madsen does well to head down a free kick, which Toral couldn't quite latch on to. Birmingham living off scraps still, with Brighton largely in control. Rowett must now be thinking about making a change or two.
SHOT! Hemed is allowed to turn inside the box and get a shot away at goal, but his attempt lacked any real pace and was simple for Kuszczak to deal with down low. Still just the one goal in this match as we enter the final 30 minutes.
YELLOW CARD! No complaints from Caddis, who went right through Murphy to earn himself a caution. Rowett appears to be readying a couple of players in an attempt to turn around his side's fortunes.
BIRMINGHAM SUBS! Vaughan is brought on for his Birmingham debut to replace Brock-Madsen, while David Davis is on for Maghoma. The City striker gets a header on target less than a minute after being introduced.
BRIGHTON SUB! Man of the moment Bobby Zamora makes way for Manchester United starlet James Wilson. This marks a chance for the youngster to play regular football in the second tier, so let's see what he's all about.
Birmingham have not really looked like scoring this half yet, with just one goal in the game, Brighton cannot afford to take their foot off the throttle at this stage. The Blues are still holding onto sixth place in the division, but should they concede another then they will slip out at the expense of Cardiff City.
For the first time all afternoon really, Birmingham are on top in this contest. Since making that double change they have asked more questions of Brighton's defence, but they need to start registering some shots on goal.
Things have gone rather bland all of a sudden at The Amex, not helped by those quick-fire subs a short while ago. Brighton have lost their groove and are now being forced to defend far more than they would like.
Toral catches Dunk with a boot to the chest, which angers home supporters. Birmingham really need to make the most of this lapse in Brighton's usual high levels. A point is there for the taking despite being second best for large parts of this match.
SAVE! March has been much quieter in this second half, but he finally comes to life and so nearly squares the ball for Wilson to tap home. Kuszczak did well to cut out the cross from the right, though, which sparked a Birmingham counter. Vaughan's flick allowed Gray to fire in a shot which was pushed behind by Stockdale.
March scuffs an effort horribly from 30 yards out, when he could have played in Hemed who was better placed to his left. Not seen a great deal of Wilson since he was brought on; the chances have dried up altogether.
March tries to make amends for that earlier scuffed shot by spinning in behind on the right, only for his latest attempt to flash wide of goal. The Brighton midfielder has been the best player on the park this afternoon, despite being quiet for the opening 25 minutes or so of this second period.
March is again involved, this time swinging in a fine cross which just evades the reach of Hemed. Wilson then fired a shot right across the face of goal, as the Seagulls begin to find their groove once more.
SUBS! Rohan Ince is on for Tomer Hemed, which suggests that Chris Hughton is happy to shut up shop in the closing stages of this match. Birmingham's final roll of the dice sees Viv Solomon-Otabor on for Gray.
OFF THE POST! Wilson is denied a dream debut goal by the width of the post. The Man United loanee was played clean through on goal, but he failed to pick out the net when left one-on-one with Kuszczak. How costly could that miss prove to be?
An awfully scrappy period of play following that glorious Wilson chance. That will suit Brighton far more than their opponents, of course, with just two minutes of normal time left to play.
Morrison heads well over the bar from a corner, with what could be Birmingham's final half-chance of the match. Still six minutes of added time to come, though, so plenty of time for City to snatch something.
CHANCE! A decent opening for Vaughan to make a real impact on his City debut, but he failed to find the target when turning inside the box. The effort ended well wide in the end, yet his reaction said it all - the Huddersfield loanee simply had to do better from there.
YELLOW CARD! Stockdale is shown a yellow card for time wasting. I make that seven players booked now, with around two minutes left to play at The Amex. Still time for a late twist.
SAVE! Stockdale is at full stretch to deny Birmingham the most dramatic of levellers. The visitors worked the ball well, playing it to Davis on the edge of the box to fire in an effort that was heading for the bottom corner if not for Stockdale's intervention.
YELLOW CARD! March is now booked for his time-wasting tactics. Kayal then fired in a shot for Kuszczak to save. Time is officially up!
FULL TIME: BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 2-1 BIRMINGHAM CITY
Brighton just about see out the remaining seconds to claim all three points. They made life difficult for themselves but the Seagulls got the job done in the end and they now climb back to the top of the Championship pile.
Jon Toral had earlier cancelled out Solly March's opener, before Bobby Zamora struck early on in the second half to win the game for the league leaders. Despite the rare away defeat, Birmingham still occupy a place in the top six at the end of today's action.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at the Amex Stadium, but commentary from the late Premier League kickoff between Leicester City and Manchester United can be found by clicking here. Enjoy!
