Barnes brace boosts Seagulls

Ashley Barnes scored another brace as Brighton stretched their unbeaten run to 12 games with a 3-0 home win over Exeter.

Defender Adam El-Abd gave the Seagulls the perfect start after only seven minutes of Tuesday night's League One clash at the Withdean Stadium, heading in a corner from Elliott Bennett. Barnes doubled the advantage from the penalty spot on the half-hour after Troy Archibald-Henville bundled over Glenn Murray in the area. Barnes put the seal on Brighton's fourth straight win by blasting his seventh of the season from a pass by Bennett with 13 minutes remaining. Keeper Artur Krysiak produced fine saves from substitute Augustin Battipiedi, Barnes and Kazenga LuaLua in stoppage time to spare Exeter a heavier defeat. Exeter, forced to make six changes after sickness swept through their camp, rarely threatened and James Norwood blazed their best opportunity wide.