Steve Sidwell struck a stoppage-time winner away at Nottingham Forest this evening to keep Brighton & Hove Albion in contention for automatic promotion to the Premier League.

It seemed that the Seagulls were destined for a frustrating night after Forest striker Dexter Blackstock had cancelled out Lewis Dunk's opener at the City Ground.

However, in the first minute of time added on, Sidwell maintained his composure to fire Brighton to within a point of second-placed Middlesbrough.

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In an opening 45 minutes of very few clear-cut chances, Henri Lansbury went closest for Forest with a curling effort from distance that flew just wide.

In contrast, with what was the only real opening of note that they were able to carve out before the break, the visitors went in front. There were 27 minutes on the clock when Jiri Skalak swung a dangerous free kick into the box, which an unchallenged Dunk planted inside the far post.

Yet, rather than build upon that lead, Brighton were pegged back five minutes into the second half as substitute Blackstock made the most of some slack defending to glance home a header.

Both teams had decent openings to steal the three points in the closing stages, but neither Forest's Lansbury nor Brighton's Tomer Hemed could keep their efforts on target as it appeared that the game was going to end all square.

Then, with time running out, Anthony Knockaert weaved his way into the Forest box and when the ball fell for Sidwell, he drilled his shot into the bottom corner, much to the delight of those that had made the trip from the south coast.