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Ashley Barnes scored twice as Brighton upset high-flying Leicester, who slipped to their second successive defeat in the Championship.

Barnes gave the Seagulls an early lead from close range, before Craig Conway made it 2-0 with a well-placed shot.

Andy King's header got the Foxes back in it, before Seagulls keeper Peter Brezovan pulled off two fine saves.

Barnes then rounded off the win with a penalty after he was fouled in the box by Wes Morgan.

The defeat leaves the Foxes third in the table, one point behind leaders Burnley, while Brighton move within three points of the play-off places.

The Seagulls took a ninth-minute lead when Barnes notched his fourth goal in five games - scoring easily after being set up by Spanish midfielder David Lopez.

Leicester went further behind on 28 minutes when on-loan winger Conway hit his first goal for Brighton. Lopez was again the supplier, crossing expertly before Conway chested the ball down and beat keeper Kasper Schmeichel.

The Seagulls maintained the pressure after the break with Liam Bridcutt firing an angled shot just wide, before an Andrew Crofts strike was turned around the post by Schmeichel.

Leicester got themselves back in the game on 64 minutes when Andy King rose unchallenged to head in a free-kick from Anthony Knockaert at the far post.

Brezovan then did well to tip over an effort from substitute Gary Taylor-Fletcher, before saving a goal-bound shot from King.

But Barnes restored Brighton's two-goal advantage from the penalty spot after skipper Morgan had nudged the striker in the back.

Brighton manager Oscar Garcia:

"I want to mention all the players, not just one.

"In this league you have to fight for every ball if you want to win a game.

"The atmosphere was very noisy. We wanted to start well and we wanted to be brave and we did it."

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson:

"We've been the architects of our own downfall and it's happened in the last two games.

"We're not firing on all cylinders but the disappointment is tempered with the way we have been setting some high standards this season."