Andrew Crofts struck his fifth goal of the season as Albion wrecked Wigan’s unbeaten home record.

The midfielder scored on 72 minutes as the Seagulls deservedly won 1-0 at the DW Stadium.

Crofts angled a header back over Lee Nicholls after the young keeper had produced a superb reflex stop to keep out Jake Forster-Caskey’s diving header.

The goal came seconds after a major escape for the Seagulls at the other end when sub Grant Holt nicked the ball off Gordon Greer but shot wide.

Holt was denied by Tomasz Kuszczak as the game entered added time.

The Pole got down to his left to push away a downward header.

But Albion also had their chances – and some terrific grafting individual performances from, among others, lone striker Ashley Barnes and Craig Conway.

Bruno had the best chance of the first half but sent his well struck volley too close to Nicholls, who parried, after a defender had unwittingly headed Forster-Caskey’s cross down to the Albion right-back.

Bruno was later booked for tugging back Nick Powell, his fifth caution of the season meaning he will miss next week’s game at Bournemouth.

Powell, the teen sensation on loan from Manchester United, came closest to a first-half breakthrough for the Latics.

He saw his low drive saved by Kuszczak and later hooked a shot wastefully side after a superb one-two with Marc-Antoine Fortune.

Forster-Caskey should have done better than head straight at Nicholls from Barnes’ pinpoint cross seconds after half-time.

But a similar attack, with David Lopez this time crossing, was to lead to their precious winner.