Albion ground out a point in a non-event out west tonight.

But their 0-0 draw at Bristol City was marred by injury to Craig Mackail-Smith.

The striker, preferred in the starting line-up to a jaded Leo Ulloa, lost his footing as he turned past an opponent just before the break.

He was carried to the changing room and immediately replaced by Ulloa.

Albion failed to muster a shot at goal all night but the superb Matt Upson marshalled a solid defensive performance.

They had a scare in the 32nd minute when Tomasz Kuszczak had to be sharp to push Kelly’s 20-yard volley into the air.

Jon Stead followed up to bundle the ball into the net – but he sent Kuszczak in too and the gal was ruled out.

Arguably Albion’s biggest first-half fright, though, came when Adam El-Abd’s poor back pass looked to have sent Paul Anderson through on goal but Upson was across quickly to make a terrific tackle.

The Seagulls never looked like scoring but, while City pushed forward, Kuszczak was never really extended.

He back-pedalled to hold a Kelly shot which was looping under the bar via a deflection.