A Peter Thorne penalty and a James Collins goal gave Cardiff a 2-0 victory that moved them seven points clear of the Coca-Cola Championship relegation zone.

Thorne dispatched the penalty on 14 minutes after Kerry Mayo fouled Richard Langley and three minutes later Collins doubled the lead with a header from close range.

Both sides had started brightly as Nathan Jones fired wide for Brighton soon after kick-off in what was one of the few chances for the Seagulls in the first half.

Cardiff midfielder Jobi McAnuff - who was a constant threat throughout - saw his shot from distance go over the bar but it was not long before they took the lead through Thorne's penalty.

After Alan Lee's header had hit the woodwork Mayo fouled Langley in the Brighton area and Thorne duly dispatched the resulting spot-kick.

And just three minutes later Collins extended the Bluebirds' lead.

Graham Kavanagh's free-kick found Collins in the Brighton area and the 21-year-old headed home from close range for his second goal of the season.

Cardiff continued on the offensive and were putting Brighton on the back foot as McAnuff and Kavanagh caused all sorts of problems for the Seagulls defence.

The two combined when a corner from Kavanagh was taken short and McAnuff's shot from outside the box rattled the woodwork and then Lee's overhead kick went over the bar.

Another corner from Kavanagh was punched clear by goalkeeper David Yelldell and then Brighton failed to capitalise on a rare attack in the Cardiff half as Adam Virgo's cross was cleared by Collins.

Cardiff started the second half from where they left off in the first as Kavanagh's corner was punched clear by Yelldell.

Brighton brought on Gary Hart and Dan Harding for Mayo and Paul Reid in attempt to get themselves back into the match but Cardiff continued to attack.

McAnuff's left-footed shot from the edge of the area went over the bar and then Jones' effort from 25 yards was saved by Cardiff goalkeeper Neil Alexander.

But Brighton slowly started to pressure the Cardiff goal as they looked to try and rescue something from the game and Leon Knight forced a save from Alexander after 66 minutes.

Alexis Nicolas fired over the bar a minute later and then Hart's low shot was blocked by Chris Barker in the 77th minute but Junichi Inamoto then fired wide for Cardiff as they looked to kill the game off with a third goal.

Brighton substitute Paul Watson crossed to Richard Carpenter deep into injury time but his shot was blocked by Collins and Cardiff held out to ensure an important victory.

Teams:

Cardiff: Alexander, Weston, Gabbidon, Collins, Barker, Langley, Kavanagh, Inamoto (Bullock 83), McAnuff, Thorne, Lee (Ledley 69).

Subs Not Used: Warner, Vidmar, Williams.

Booked: Langley.

Goals: Thorne 16 pen, Collins 19.

Brighton: Yelldell, Reid (Harding 51), Butters, Virgo, Hinshelwood, Mayo (Hart 51), Nicolas, Carpenter, Jones (Watson 68), Knight, McCammon.

Subs Not Used: Hammond, May.

Booked: Virgo.

Att: 11,435

Ref: M Russell (St Albans).