Sheffield Wednesday secured their Coca-Cola Championship status as Gary Hart's own-goal and Burton O'Brien's breakaway strike condemned Brighton, Crewe and Millwall to relegation.

Wednesday headed south knowing a win would settle the only remaining issue in the division and Hart's early blunder left Brighton with a mountain to climb at the Withdean.

They went close to levelling on a number of occasions but were hit with a sucker-punch when O'Brien burst through in the 68th minute and played out the closing moments with 10 men after Dean Hammond saw red.

The Seagulls have punched above their weight for two seasons by surviving on crowds of less than 7,000 seated in temporary stands borrowed from the Open golf championship and playing on a pitch covered in more sand than Brighton beach.

Last year's final-day escape rom the drop could not be repeated, however, with Owls manager Paul Sturrock celebrating a successful climax to a tough first season back in the Championship while Brighton, Crewe and Millwall check the route to Carlisle.

The hosts were unchanged from the team which kept their slim survival hopes alive by beating Ipswich on Saturday, while Wednesday brought Leon Best and Glenn Whelan into the line-up that kept their rivals at arms length with victory over Norwich.

The game started at a high tempo with Hammond shooting straight at Scott Carson after just 10 seconds.

But disaster struck for Brighton in the eighth minute when Owls striker Deon Burton reached the byline and hit a low cross which was deflected in off the shins of Hart with Leon Best in close attendance.

Wednesday survived a scare when Hammond's header from Richard Carpenter's corner was hacked clear from under the crossbar by Hills, while Colin Kazim-Richards fizzed a low drive across the face of goal with no-one available to supply the finish.

Paul Reid was then fed by Gifton Noel-Williams but his shot was well saved by Carson and Hammond was unable to tuck away the rebound amid some desperate defending from the visitors.

Brighton boss Mark McGhee threw on winger Alex Frutos at the break, and his side started the second-half brightly with Hammond wriggling clear and shooting too close to Carson.

Fellow Frenchman Seb Carole was pitched in shortly afterwards as McGhee went for broke.

With gaps appearing at the back, Best and Burton were offered shooting opportunities but failed to take advantage while at the other end Hammond shot wastefully over and Kazim-Richards fired wide.

And O'Brien put the issue beyond doubt midway through the second half when he embarked on a mazy run through the heart of the Brighton defence.

He left Hart and Paul McShane training in his wake and although Wayne Henderson partially blocked his shot, the midfielder followed the ball in for his second goal of the season.

And Brighton's misery was complete nine minutes from time when Hammond, who was booked for a foul on Whelan in the first half, was dismissed for a late challenge on the same player.

Teams

Brighton: Henderson, Hart, McShane, Butters (Hinshelwood 74),Lynch, Reid (Carole 56), Hammond, Carpenter, Mayo (Frutos 45),Noel-Williams, Kazim-Richards.

Subs Not Used: Martin, El-Abd.

Sent Off: Hammond (81).

Booked: Hammond, Lynch, Hart, Carpenter.

Sheff Wed: Carson, Bullen, Coughlan, Simek, Hills,Best (Brunt 72), Whelan, O'Brien, Adams, Tudgay, Burton.

Subs Not Used: McGovern, MacLean, Spurr, McAllister.

Booked: Hills.

Goals: Hart 8 og, O'Brien 69.

Brighton are relegated

Att: 7,573

Ref: P Taylor (Hertfordshire).