Bobby Zamora came off the bench to earn three points for Brighton & Hove Albion for the second time in two games as his side saw off Bristol City 2-1 this evening.
The league leaders thought that they had taken the lead in the second minute when Sam Baldock raced clear of the Bristol defence and put the ball away, only to be denied by the linesman's flag.
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Baldock had another shooting opportunity inside the box in the 10th minute, but Korey Smith produced a block and the danger was averted.
The visitors took a surprise lead in the 17th minute through Derrick Williams, who struck a clean volley into the bottom corner from Jonathan Kodjia's cross.
Chances were at a premium in the run-up to half time, but Brighton almost drew level moments before the whistle when Tomer Hemed fired a low effort towards goal, forcing Frank Fielding into an instinctive save.
The table-topping Seagulls were back on terms in the 53rd minute when Bruno's cross was turned in from close range by an opportunistic Baldock.
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City should have been awarded a penalty in the 59th minute when Luke Freeman was clipped in the area by Uwe Hunemeier, but the referee made the wrong call and booked the Bristol man for alleged simulation.
The visitors almost reclaimed the lead in the 66th minute as Aaron Wilbraham's flick-on was volleyed goalwards by Kodjia, whose effort was only just kept out by David Stockdale.
Brighton's winner came eight minutes from time through substitute Zamora, who came off the bench to do to Bristol what he did to Leeds United last weekend.
The former Queens Park Rangers striker volleyed home Brighton's second to turn the match on its head and leave them four points clear at the top of the table.
Mark Langshaw
