Brighton moved up to second in the Sky Bet Championship table after recording a 1-0 victory over Reading on Tuesday evening.
On-loan Manchester United striker James Wilson scored the game's only goal with a cool left-footed finish inside the keeper's left-hand post in the 25th minute to secure the three points, and with Hull failing to beat Nottingham Forest, the Seagulls climbed into the automatic promotions spots.
Albion, who now boast five successive clean sheets for the first time since 2004, survived a late rally from the Royals to record their first league win over the Berkshire side in 12 attempts.
Hull slipped to fourth in the table after they were held to a 1-1 draw against Forest.
The visitors earned new manager Paul Williams a point in his first game in charge since being appointed to replace Dougie Freedman for the remainder of the season.
Forest took a first-half lead through Gary Gardner's rising shot from distance before Sone Aluko slid home a second-half equaliser for Hull, whose winless run in the league extended to four games.
Meanwhile, Ipswich moved to within one point of the play-off places after a Daryl Murphy brace inspired the Tractor Boys to a 2-0 victory over Blackburn.
Out of nothing, the home side took the lead from the penalty spot in the 67th minute.
Luke Chambers was bundled over by Hope Akpan as he attempted to meet Freddie Sears' corner and Murphy, celebrating his 33rd birthday, clinically found the bottom corner from the resulting spot-kick.
The goal did little to lift the general nature of the match with Blackburn substitute Tony Watt firing a rare chance wide of the near post in the 81st minute.
But Ipswich made the points safe three minutes before the end when Luke Varney out-muscled Adam Henley before playing a perfect pass for Murphy to run onto and find the bottom corner for his 10th of the season.
Source: PA
