Andrew Crofts downs Wigan Athletic

Andrew Crofts has fired Brighton & Hove Albion to a 1-0 victory over Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium in the Championship.

The hosts started the brighter but, despite enjoying a wealth of possession, Owen Coyle's men struggled to forge the opportunities necessary to open the scoring.

Manchester United starlet Nick Powell found himself with the best chance of the half, only to be denied from close range by former Red Devils goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak.

Latics shot-stopper Lee Nicholls had to be alert to prevent the Seasiders from taking the lead moments after the interval.

Ashley Barnes's inch-perfect cross was met by the head of Jake Forster-Caskey, but the youngster failed to direct his header past the 21-year-old keeper.

Wigan responded well to the early scare and began forging clear-cut opportunities, with second-half substitute Grant Holt guilty of squandering one of them by shooting wide in a one-on-one with Kuszczak.

It would soon prove a costly miss, as Crofts gave the visitors the lead shortly after, with the 29-year-old's header looping over the head of Nicholls.

Coyle's charges tried, but failed in their quest to restore parity as Oscar Garcia's men held on for a valuable victory.