Albion lost top spot when they dropped points at Cardiff – but earned their boss the manager of the month prize by avoiding defeat.

Their 1-1 draw in a hostile atmosphere at Ninian Park also contributed to a second successive title.

A Seagulls striker who was prolific at home but had struggled to hit the target away scored the point-earning goal as they got off to a solid start to the 2001-02 third-tier campaign.

And, like today, there was a face in the technical area who was familiar to both camps.

Albion assistant Paul Trollope will go up against the club he used to manage this afternoon.

The Argus:

Back in September 2001, Alan Cork was doing things the other way around – by managing Cardiff after a stint as No.2 at Withdean.

That added another ingredient to what was always going to be a spicy tussle at Cardiff’s bear-pit of a home ground.

Bobby Zamora was starting to add away goals to his plentiful supply at Withdean.

His eighth of the season came early on when Rhys Weston somehow missed a harmless looking ball into the box from Danny Cullip.

Our picture above shows a youthful Zamora guiding the ball home as Weston desperately tries to make up for his error.

From then on, Cullip and defensive sidekick Simon Morgan were outstanding at the back while recalled Charlie Oatway shackled playmaker Graham Kavanagh in midfield (pictured below).

The Argus:

Pressure was mounting on Cork, whose expensively assembled side were under-performing. But fans’ boos were silenced ten minutes from time when Paul Burgess converted the rebound after Jason Bowen’s unchallenged header hit the post.

“I’m just disappointed someone had a free header,” said Albion boss Micky Adams, who would be named third tier manager of the month for September a few days later.

“We were defending but I can’t remember them creating any chances in the second half.

“But I’m pleased with a draw. Neither team did enough to win the game.”

His old mate Cork saw things differently. He said: “We dominated the game and deserved more.”

The two clubs had been arch rivals the previous season when both were promoted from the fourth tier, Albion as champions.

That contributed to a hostile atmosphere with several Seagulls fans telling The Argus they had feared for their safety.

The result allowed Oldham to leapfrog Albion into top spot.

“Let’s see how they cope with the pressure,” Adams said of the team managed by Andy Ritchie.

The answer was the Latics ended up ninth, with Albion going up as champions, Reading finishing one place behind them and Cardiff, in fourth spot, missing out in the play-offs.

Cardiff City: Alexander; Weston, Prior, Gabbidon, Simpkins (Legg 61); Low (Jeanne 59), Kavanagh (Bowen 67), Boland, Hamilton; Brayson, Thorne. Subs not used: Hughes, Fortune-West.

Albion: Kuipers; Watson, Cullip, Morgan, Mayo; Hart (Pitcher 90), Carpenter, Oatway (Steele 81), Rogers; Jones (Brooker 66); Zamora. Subs not used: Wicks, Pethick.