Zamora (second right) - netted the equaliser.
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Bobby Zamora's equaliser consigned Sheffield Wednesday to relegation from
Division One - but Brighton seem certain to follow them into Division Two.
Stoke's win at Coventry ensured the Owls will be playing Second Division
football next season, but with Brighton six points adrift with just two games
remaining, Steve Coppell's men remain strong favourites to join them.
A visibly nervous Seagulls side went behind to Grant Holt's well-taken strike
in the 16th minute, but Zamora's second-half penalty proved enough to save their
skins for at least another week.
Home boss Steve Coppell threw injury-prone striker Paul Kitson into the fray
in place of Gary Hart, while Chris Turner made three changes to the side that
drew at Grimsby with Holt, Steve Haslam and Ashley Westwood all handed starts.
Wednesday made the early inroads and Paul McClaren saw a close-range header
saved by Dave Beasant before they took the lead.
Westwood found space on the left and his cross was turned by Michael Reddy
into the path of Holt, the striker plucked from non-league Barrow coolly
drilling the ball past Beasant.
The goal stung Brighton into action, but with Danny Maddix and Leigh Bromby
standing firm in the centre of Wednesday's rearguard, the hosts were restricted
to a weak Kitson header which was comfortably dealt with by Kevin Pressman.
The hosts began the second half far brighter, and gained their reward when
Holt handled a Kerry Mayo cross in the area on 57 minutes. Zamora kept his nerve
to send Kevin Pressman the wrong way.
Brighton should have taken the lead five minutes later but Pressman pulled off
a stunning save from Kitson's firm header.
With a draw of little use to either side, the game became scrappy with
Westwood and Seagulls defender Danny Cullip booked in quick succession for
unsporting behaviour.
Turner threw on striker Shefki Kuqi with eight minutes remaining, but the Owls
could not find the goal that would have at least temporarily staved off
relegation.
But a draw means they are likely to have another trip to Brighton to look
forward to next season.
Teams
Brighton Beasant, Ingimarsson, Cullip, Blackwell,
Watson (Barrett 87), Carpenter, Brooker (Hart 58), Rodger,
Mayo, Zamora, Kitson.
Subs Not Used: Oatway, Jones, Packham.
Booked: Cullip.
Goals: Zamora 57 pen.
Sheff Wed Pressman, Westwood (Wood 84), Maddix, Bromby, Smith,
Barry-Murphy, McLaren, Haslam, Quinn, Holt (Kuqi 83),
Reddy (Owusu 30).
Subs Not Used: Stringer, Richard Evans.
Booked: Owusu, Quinn, Westwood.
Goals: Holt 16.
Att: 6,928
Ref: K Hill (Hertfordshire).
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