Albion ended their run of four successive away games in dismal style by going down 2-0 at Watford today.

Ikechi Anya’s early goal restored self-belief for a home side who had won just once in their previous 15 outings.

Fernando Forestieri added a second on the hour before Leo Ulloa had a goal ruled out for what looked a tight offside call.

Dale Stephens made his debut for the Seagulls and David Rodriguez looked to have plenty of pace after being sent on as substitute.

But it was a desperately disappointing afternoon for the Seagulls and their 1,998 fans in a crowd of 16,096.

Watford went ahead in the 13th minute when they worked an overlap down their left, Anya steamed forward from left wing-back and got in a low shot which went past Bruno, across Tomasz Kuszczak and crept inside the far post.

The Seagulls were alarmingly uneasy at the back in the first quarter of the game and would have been in more trouble had Forestieri done better than volley straight at Kuszczak when well placed.

But the Seagulls ended the half brightly and sub Kazenga LuaLua, on for the hobbling Jake Forster-Caskey, flashed a cross past Manuel Almunia and against the bar.

Watford extended their lead on the hour against the run of play when Gordon Greer was closed down just outside his own box and Forestieri ran clear to round Kuszczak and score.

Albion, who sent on new striker Rodriguez after the second goal, thought they had a lifeline on 69 minutes but Ulloa’s header from David’s free-kick was ruled out for offside.