Anthony Knockaert scored a dramatic late winner as Brighton climbed above Newcastle United to go top of the Championship with a bad-tempered victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
Knockaert settled the match five minutes from time to give Brighton their fifth successive home win in all competitions.
The French winger scored before Wednesday drew level on the stroke of half-time when Lewis Dunk put through his own goal. Brighton were reduced to 10 men when Glenn Murray was sent off for handball, but Fernando Forestieri’s resulting penalty met with a brilliant double save by David Stockdale.
Knockaert had the final say before Wednesday had Steven Fletcher and Sam Hutchinson sent off in the closing stages.
Brighton, who suffered a play-off exit at the hands of Wednesday last season, came close to going in front in only the second minute. Knockaert brilliantly beat two defenders before delivering the perfect ball to Murray, whose goalbound shot was superbly parried by Keiren Westwood.
Brighton went into the game without their captain, Bruno Saltor, whose run of 74 successive league games was ended by a calf injury. Chris Hughton made five changes and the central defender Dunk returned from suspension while Tomer Hemed, Dale Stephens, Sébastien Pocognoli and Jamie Murphy were all called up.
The outstanding Knockaert again threatened midway through the half, forcing Westwood to block his low shot with advancing Brighton attackers unable to get the second ball.
Wednesday threatened for the first time in the 25th minute when a low shot on his favoured left foot by Adam Reach drew a good one-handed save from Stockdale.
Wednesday were forced into a change when their defender Jack Hunt had to be carried off after being hurt in a challenge by Pocognoli, who was booked.
Brighton broke the deadlock 11 minutes before the break in a swift counterattack. Hemed set it up with a strong run from the halfway line and, from his weighted pass, Knockaert scored with an angled shot.
Wednesday drew level on 45 minutes when the striker Forestieri crossed smartly with the outside of his right foot and the ball was diverted towards goal by Oliver Norwood towards Dunk, who headed into his own net.
Brighton should have regained the lead nine minutes after the break when their record signing, Shane Duffy, wastefully headed over from six yards following a free-kick from Norwood.
The match burst into life when the Brighton striker Murray received a straight red card for handling a goalbound shot from Glenn Loovens, which resulted in Wednesday being awarded a penalty.
Forestieri took the spot-kick but Stockdale denied the striker, first diving to his right to parry and then breathtakingly keeping out the rebound with a fingertip save low to his left.
Knockaert struck to give Brighton victory five minutes from time, stretching at the far post to prod in his second goal following a delightful cross from Pocognoli.
Wednesday had their substitute Fletcher sent off a minute from time when he received a straight red card for a flare-up with Stephens. Carlos Carvalhal’s side ended the match with nine men when Hutchinson received a second booking for a studs-up challenge on Solly March.
Hughton felt his side’s victory was reward for the “tremendous character” they displayed and said: “It is always a wonderful feeling when you win a game like that.
“I am delighted because we were playing against a very good side. To win the match having gone down to 10 men shows tremendous character.
“We were up against a very good team and if you beat teams around you it is an added bonus.”
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