Albion secured a much-needed home win as they beat Bristol City 2-0 at The Amex tonight.

Dean Hammond and Andrea Orlandi both scored in the first 26 minutes to secure a routine victory.

The Seagulls needed just six minutes to go ahead as Hammond headed home Liam Bridcutt’s cross after Orlandi had played a free-kick short.

Another Orlandi free-kick – again after Will Buckley was fouled down the right – brought an even simpler second goal 20 minutes later.

This time the former Swansea midfielder saw his intended cross swirl straight in from long range as defender Matthew Bates and keeper Tom Heaton got in a mix-up trying to deal with it.

Orlandi then curled just past the top corner.

City had plenty of possession and twice went close to halving the arrears.

Stephen Pearson shot against the top of the bar and Gordon Greer slid in to block a goalbound Neil Danns shot.

Orlandi fired over and Will Hoskins was denied by Heaton when clean through, both straight after the break.

But the near things did not matter this time as Albion cruised through an unremarkable second half.