Half-time: Brighton 2 Fulham 0

Fulham’s three-match winning run looked to be coming to an end after they conceded twice in five minutes to the promotion contenders.

The Whites had been the better side in the first 25 minutes, keeping the ball well on a slippery surface and having the game’s first effort on goal when Ross McCormack’s low drive was claimed low down by former Fulham keeper David Stockdale.

Brighton, in third, had not got going until they were given a penalty on 28 minutes.

Manchester United loanee James Wilson got goal side of Richard Stearman in the left-hand channel and went down fairly easily as the Fulham defender’s arms met his shoulders.

Tomer Hemed put the visitors’ protests out of his mind to coolly convert the penalty.

And the Israeli was on target again shortly afterwards, stretching his neck muscles to enable him to meet Anthony Knockaert’s free-kick and guide it beyond Fulham keeper Marcus Bettinelli.

Only last-ditch defending prevented Brighton from stretching their lead, on one such occasion Connor Goldson headed at Bettinelli after Fulham had failed to properly clear.

Brighton: Stockdale; Bruno, Dunk, Goldson, Rosenior; Knockaert, Stephens, Kayal, Skalak; Hemed, Wilson.
Subs: Maenpaa, Greer, Bong, Sidwell, LuaLua, Murphy, Baldock.

Fulham: Bettinelli; Fredericks, Stearman, Amorebieta, Ream; Parker; Tunnicliffe, O’Hara; Hyndman; McCormack, Dembele.
Subs: Lonergan, Richards, Garbutt, Baird, Christensen, Woodrow, Smith.