Brighton & Hove Albion moved level on points with Newcastle United at the top of the EFL Championship after easing to a 3-0 victory over Derby County on Saturday (AEDT).

Anthony Knockaert put the Seagulls in front after just five minutes, finding the corner of the net with a low drive from 20 yards out.

Sam Baldock made it 2-0 just before the break and Glenn Murray scored his 18th of the season to seal the victory with 12 minutes left on the clock.

For Derby, it was another miserable outing. Darren Bent went close to equalising for the Rams but fluffed his header in the seventh minute. Matej Vydra went even closer in the second half, putting his header against the outside of the postjust after the hour.

Brighton's win was its 14th of the season, and moved it second on the table by goal difference from Newcastle, both sides holding a nine-point lead on Huddersfield Town in third.

While the Terriers have two games in hand, Brighton will play eight matches against sides in the bottom half of the table from the nine games it has remaining, meaning a first return to the top flight since 1982-1983 looks a very likely prospect.