Connolly hits hat-trick as Brighton warm up for play-offs

Premier League 2

Seagulls beat Wolves 5-0 to go eight Division 2 matches unbeaten ahead of their semi-final with Middlesbrough

Aaron Connolly hit a hat-trick as Brighton & Hove Albion warmed up for the play-offs with an emphatic 5-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux Stadium.

After breaking the deadlock in first-half stoppage time, Connolly completed his treble by the 59th minute to make it 3-0.

Viktor Gyokeres made it 4-0 before Daniel Mandroiu struck a 25-yard free-kick as the Seagulls scored five goals for a third successive match.

Brighton are unbeaten in eight matches and will host Middlesbrough in their semi-final after finishing one place and three points above them in the table.

Wolves finished the season in ninth place.

See: Wolves report | Brighton report

Premier League 2 semi-final draw

Aston Villa v Reading
Brighton & Hove Albion v Middlesbrough

Ties to be decided over one leg. Dates to be confirmed.