Brighton & Hove Albion 2 Hartlepool United 1

Last updated : 19 April 2008 By Footymad Previewer
Dean Cox's late winner kept Brighton's slim hopes of snatching a play-off spot alive.

They remain four points adrift of Leeds with two matches left after snatching a fourth home victory out of five against mid-table Hartlepool.

It seemed as if their chances of catching Hartlepool were over when, in the 89th minute, Cox pounced.

Skipper Steve Thomson's deep cross was headed back across the face of goal by Glenn Murray for the pint-sized winger to volley in his seventh goal of the season from close range.

It was harsh on Hartlepool because they looked the likelier winners once Joel Porter pulled them deservedly level with 15 minutes left.

Substitute David Foley's angled shot was not held by Brighton goalkeeper Michels Kuipers and Porter converted the rebound.

That cancelled out Murray's 38th minute opener for Brighton. Cox picked him out with a pinpoint cross and the former Rochdale marksman headed his eighth goal in 18 starts.

Brighton thought they had taken the lead in the 19th minute when Thomson scored with a crisp drive from outside the area after Cox's corner had not been properly cleared but it was disallowed for offside.

Hartlepool were unfortunate to be behind. Andy Monkhouse had a shot parried early on by Kuipers and Michael Mackay failed to connect with a scissor kick with the goal at his mercy.

Michael Nelson also had a header from a corner cleared off the line by Thomson as the Brighton defence struggled to cope with Hartlepool's movement up front.

Porter almost put the visitors ahead soon after he had equalised when Kuipers failed to hold a low free-kick by Richie Humphreys, but this time the Dutch keeper smothered his follow up from an acute angle.

Victory for Leeds at Millwall, coupled with a far superior goal difference, left Brighton's hopes of creeping into the top six in tatters until Cox came up trumps.