Crystal Palace missed the chance to climb into the automatic playoff places as they were emphatically beaten 3-0 by Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium this afternoon.

Leonardo Ulloa grabbed a brace, either side of a superb David Lopez free kick.

Ulloa, who has now scored eight goals in 11 English games, broke the deadlock on 43 minutes, when he headed home from close range after a brilliant jinking run and cross from the right by William Buckley.

Buckley was at the centre of the action again moments later, as the former Watford winger was chopped down just outside the penalty area by Kagisho Dikgacoi.

Dikgacoi was issued with a yellow card, but he was then punished further as Lopez curled the resultant dead ball into the back of the net via the underside of the crossbar.

Ulloa found the net again five minutes after half time, heading Andrea Orlandi's pinpoint cross beyond Julian Speroni from six yards.

Palace and Brighton remain fourth and seventh respectively in the Championship table.