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Second-half goals from Adrian Colunga and Solly March gave Brighton their first win in eight games to lift them out of the Championship drop zone.

It was also a first victory under caretaker manager Nathan Jones in his second game in charge as Fulham lost for the second time in four days.

Colunga put Brighton ahead with a 60th-minute penalty after Elliott Bennett was fouled by Kostas Stafylidis.

Substitute March then sealed the points late on with his first league goal.

The Seagulls, looking for a new boss following Sami Hyypia's departure a week ago, picked up only their second win in 20 league matches and it was only their second away victory of the campaign.

Fulham, who have improved after a terrible start to the season since they gave caretaker Kit Symons the permanent manager's job, showed little of their recent spark with the visitors running out deserved winners.

The Londoners did not trouble their former goalkeeper David Stockdale in the first half, while Brighton went close through Danny Holla and Lewis Dunk.

They did break the deadlock after Bennett - one of four Albion players whose loan spells ended after the game - was brought down in the area by Stafylidis. Colunga stepped up to calmly to convert for his fourth goal of the season.

Stockdale brilliantly kept out Sean Kavanagh's curler before substitute March latched on to Joao Teixeira's through-ball and clipped it into the net.

Fulham manager Kit Symons:

"It was very disappointing, we never really got going. It took them to score to spur us into life but we just weren't good enough.

"The quality wasn't there. There are no excuses really and not too many positives to take."

Brighton caretaker manager Nathan Jones:

"I have a taste for football. I love my job, I love working for this club. I have confidence in what I do.

"I'm proud to have the opportunity to prepare the team for two games, having played for the club I never would have dreamt of doing that and I'm very proud.

"But I don't know if I will be in charge next weekend. Tomorrow will be another day, things may have developed by then."