Football: Brighton move closer to Premier League promotion
Brighton moved a step closer to the Premier League with 2-0 win over Wolves on Friday.
LONDON (AFP) - Brighton moved a step closer to the Premier League as Anthony Knockaert fired the Championship leaders to a 2-0 win at Wolves on Friday.
Chris Hughton s side are chasing a return to the top-flight for the first time since 1982-83 and Knockaert s double keeps them firmly on course for promotion.
The former Leicester winger put Brighton ahead in first half stoppage-time with a low strike from the edge of the penalty area that eluded a weak attempted save from Wolves goalkeeper Andy Lonergan.
Knockaert netted again in the 82nd minute with a clinical finish that took him to 15 goals this season and underlined why the Frenchman was voted the Championship Player of the Year earlier this month.
Brighton have won six of their last seven matches and are now 12 points clear of third-placed Huddersfield as they try to make amends for last season s painful play-off semi-final exit.
They will be guaranteed a lucrative place among the English elite if they beat Wigan at home on Monday and Huddersfield lose or draw at Derby.
That would cap an incredible revival for Brighton, who were penniless and homeless 20 years ago.
The Seagulls only avoided relegation from the Football League on the last day of the 1996-97 season and were forced to play in Gillingham, 70 miles away from their home town, for the next two years after their old Goldstone Ground was sold to pay off debts.
Huddersfield kept alive their slender chance of automatic promotion as Collin Quaner clinched a dramatic 3-2 victory over Preston.
David Wagner s side trailed to an Aiden McGeady strike before goals from Elias Kachunga and Jack Payne put them ahead at the John Smith s Stadium.
Jordan Hugill headed Preston level with 11 minutes remaining before the striker conceded a stoppage-time penalty for an off-the-ball incident with Kachunga.
Aaron Mooy s spot-kick was saved by Chris Maxwell, but Quaner tucked away the rebound to move Huddersfield within seven points of second-placed Newcastle, who face Leeds later on Friday.
Sheffield Wednesday strengthened their grip on the final play-off berth with a 1-0 victory over Cardiff.
Wednesday substitute Fernando Forestieri struck in the 84th minute to keep his sixth-placed side two points ahead of Fulham.
Fulham remain in contention for a top-six finish after beating Norwich 3-1 at Carrow Road despite playing the second half with 10 men.
The Cottagers were leading 1-0 through Stefan Johansen s early opener when striker Chris Martin was sent off for elbowing Mitchell Dijks just before the interval.
Tom Cairney s penalty early in the second half increased Fulham s lead and, although Norwich s Cameron Jerome pulled one back, Floyd Ayite s late goal sealed the points.
Brentford effectively ended Derby s play-off hopes with a 4-0 victory at Griffin Park.
Blackburn boosted their survival hopes with a vital 1-0 win at fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest.
Birmingham drew 1-1 at relegated Rotherham, while Bristol City beat QPR 2-1.
Aston Villa host play-off contenders Reading on Saturday.
