Categories: World Soccer

Cardiff sink relegation rivals Brighton to boost survival bid

Neil Warnock’s side would have been pushed to the brink of relegation with a defeat at the Amex Stadium.

But goals either side of half-time from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Sean Morrison moved third-bottom Cardiff to within two points of fourth-bottom Brighton.

Brighton have managed just two top-flight goals at home in 2019 and a fourth successive league loss keeps them in danger of being overhauled by Cardiff.

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The remaining hope for Brighton is they have five games to play compared to Cardiff’s four.

Albion face Tottenham, Arsenal and champions Manchester City during a tough run-in.

With Liverpool and Manchester United still to come this season, anything but a win would have been disastrous for Cardiff.

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Solly March had rippled the side-netting inside two minutes for Brighton.

Referee Andre Marriner waved away penalty appeals when Lewis Dunk was wrestled to the ground by Bruno Ecuele Manga following a Pascal Gross free-kick.

But Warnock’s decision to recall Mendez-Laing was rewarded in the 22nd minute when he drove forward on the counter-attack, exchanged passes with Junior Hoilett and curled a superb strike into the top corner from 20 yards.

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After Brighton were booed off at half-time, Cardiff doubled their advantage five minutes after the restart.

Spanish midfielder Victor Camarasa delivered an inviting free-kick deep into the Albion area, where centre-back Morrison headed home for his first goal in almost a year.

Brighton substitute Jose Izquierdo almost had an immediate impact when he laid the ball off for Glenn Murray to smash narrowly over the crossbar from 18 yards.

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Romania forward Florin Andone threatened to halve the deficit, only to be thwarted by a fine last-ditch block from the impressive Morrison.

Murray then nodded March’s right-wing cross against the right post late on, leaving the Cardiff fans celebrating only their third away win of the season.

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By Agence France Presse