A first-half penalty from David Lopez has given Brighton & Hove Albion a 1-0 lead over Millwall at half time in their Championship clash.

Millwall were the first to threaten when Edward Upson unleashed a right-footed shot from outside the box, which narrowly evaded the top corner of Tomasz Kuszczak's goal.

The relegation strugglers came close again not long after when Shaun Williams saw his right-footed shot kept out of the bottom corner, as Polish keeper Kuszczak got across to make the save.

Brighton looked to respond through Dale Stephens, who saw his effort from distance fly just past the post, before Leonardo Ulloa had his header saved by David Forde at the bottom left corner of the Millwall goal.

The visitors took the lead just before the break when Jesse Lingard was upended inside the box, allowing Lopez to step up and convert neatly with his right from the spot.