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.

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.

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.

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.

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.