Albion’s new season is off to a sorry start after they lost at home – and had Andrew Crofts sent-off.

The Seagulls were beaten 1-0 by Sheffield Wednesday, for whom Giles Coke curled into the top corner on 40 minutes.

Crofts was shown a straight red in the 50th minute for his foul on Sam Hutchinson, which was deemed dangerous by ref James Linington.

Albion only threatened to get back into game in a flurry of activity around the 70th minute. Chris O’Grady saw his shot on the turn brilliantly finger-tipped wide by debut-making Owls keeper Keiren Westwood.

The resulting corner led to Inigo Calderon flashing in a low cross which flew just wide off a defender.

But that was the sum total of the Seagulls’ second-half threat.

Kazenga LuaLua had a first-half effort saved by Westwood.

And the same player rolled a shot just wide of the far post in first-half stoppage time.

But by then Wednesday led through Coke's first time left-foot effort from just outside the box on a somewhat concerning afternoon for home fans.