Championship wrap: Brighton go top, Palace sink Charlton

Craig Mackail-Smith continued his hot streak to lead Brighton to the top of the Championship table on Friday night.

Mackail-Smith was on target for the fifth time in three matches as Brighton crushed Sheffield Wednesday 3-0.

Wayne Bridge gave the home side the advantage after 24 minutes, before they completed the rout with ease in the second half.

Mackail-Smith, who had scored twice each against Barnsley and Burnley, knocked in an easy finish on his left foot after a great pass from Spanish full-back Bruno Saltor.

Gus Poyet’s side then put their stamp on the contest when Will Buckley added a third just four minutes later.

The win was Brighton’s third for the season and puts them a point clear of Blackpool ahead of their clash away to Barnsley on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Kagisho Dikgacoi’s lone goal gave Crystal Palace a 1-0 victory over south London derby rivals Charlton.

The South African unleashed a strike from 12 yards out five minutes after half-time to smash the ball past Charlton keeper Ben Hamer.

The home side were unlucky not to be awarded a goal of their own during the first half when Bradley Wright-Phillips found the back of the net, only to see the linesman’s flag raised when Johnnie Jackson was called for off-side.