A Bury own goal gave the Seagulls an early advantage and Bobby Zamora put himself into the club record books again at soggy Withdean.

A combination of bright play by Brooker and Lewis and bad luck for Kenny gave Albion their breakthrough on 21 minutes.

Brooker ended an elusive run with a slide rule pass for the advancing Lewis inside the area.

His low right footer, precisely struck, hit the base of a post and rebounded in off the diving Kenny.

Lewis will want to claim the goal and Kenny would no doubt be pleased to let him have it, but the fact is the shot was going away from the net via the woodwork until it hit the visitors' unfortunate keeper.

Bury, desperate for points to climb clear of relegation trouble, could count themselves a little unlucky to be behind both in terms of the balance of play and the manner of the goal.

Taylor was frustrated when Zamora was harshly penalised for an infringement on Stuart in front of the Albion dugout and the fourth official had words with the Seagulls' chief.

Albion doubled their lead in explosive circumstances just before the break.

Mayo sent Zamora away down the left and he decided to try to outpace Swailes.

The Bury defender caught him from behind inside the box for what referee Ross regarded as a clear penalty.

Swailes did not see it that way. He was convinced Zamora had made a meal of it and reacted, leaving Zamora clutching his head.

The Albion hotshot was quickly back on his feet as a number of players from both sides entered the fray.

Referee Ross consulted his linesman before showing Swailes a straight red card.

Zamora added insult to injury for the visitors by sending Kenny the wrong way from the spot.

It was a record-breaking strike, making Zamora the first Albion player to score 30 goals in consecutive seasons.

Reid collected the first yellow card of the afternoon in the second half for a foul on Hart midway inside Albion territory.

Bury pulled a goal back on 68 minutes when Kuipers was unable to hold a low cross at his near post.

Newby tried to force the ball in before Preece eventually slotted it into the vacant net from close range.

Steele tried to restore the Seagulls' two-goal cushion with a diving header from a Carpenter cross which Kenny saved moving to his right.

It was Steele's final contribution as Pethick replaced him and Hart joined Zamora upfront.

Preece simultaneously pulled himself off and brought on Seddon.

Forrest was booked for a foul on the outstanding Brooker before Bury made a further substitution, O'Shaughnessy coming on for Reid.