Albion were handed their first defeat of the season – and had Sam Baldock sent-off for the first time in his career.
The striker saw yellow for the second tie after a collision with home goalkeeper Matz Sels as the Seagulls lost 2-0 at Newcastle.
Albion were 1-0 down but enjoying their best spell of the game, in which Anthony Knockaert hit the bar, when Baldock closed down Sels on 55 minutes.
Sels cleared and there was contact as the keeper followed through with his left foot. Referee Keith Stroud deemed it was of Baldock’s making and showed him a second yellow.
It was Baldock's first dismissal in a career spanning more than 300 games Newcastle, who led through a Jamaal Lascelles header, doubled their lead minutes later as Jonjo Shelvey curled home a super free-kick.
Albion got lots of high balls into the home box but failed to make anything of them.
By contrast, Toon took the lead on the quarter-hour when Lascelles lost his marker at a free-kick to send home a header to which Stockdale got a hand.
Yoann Gouffran hit the bar and half-volleyed over as the hosts made all the running.
But Albion were brighter in the second period and Knockaert had seen a shot flick the bar and go over just before Baldock departed.
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