Brighton and Hove Albion went joint top of the table with their biggest away win for 16 months, beating Colchester 4-1.

Three goals in the space of six minutes in the first half by Richard Carpenter, Wayne Gray on his debut and Paul Brooker kept Peter Taylor's Seagulls bang on course for automatic promotion.

They are now adrift of leaders Reading only by virtue of goal difference following a 3-3 draw for the Royals at Bristol City.

It looks like a three horse race for the two automatic spots after third placed Brentford beat fourth placed Stoke 1-0 at Griffin Park.

Brentford remain two points behind Albion from the same number of matches.

Huddersfield are still fifth after they were held to a 1-1 draw at relegation bound Wrexham.

Cardiff moved above Bristol City into a play-off place with a 2-0 win at Chesterfield.

A crowd of 4,881 at Layer Road, boosted by 1,200 jubilant Seagulls supporters, saw Albion effectively end the contest with a flurry of goals in the first half.

The rest of the match was a non-event, although Micky Stockwell pulled a goal back for Colchester two minutes from time.

Carpenter completed a marvellous afternoon for Albion by blasting another free-kick into the roof of the net from the edge of the six yard box three minutes into injury time.

Albion were able to conserve energy in preparation for Monday's visit of Bristol City (1pm).