Albion 1 - Colchester 2

Albion suffered an eighth defeat in 11 home games tonight but were clapped off by their fans.

The Seagulls went down 2-1 to Colchester, who now go third, despite creating plenty of chances.

Gus Poyet's men eventually paid a high price for an awful start to the game.

They were in disarray as they slipped two down inside the quarter-hour.

Phil Ifil flashed in a fabulous finish from the edge of the box after just nine minutes as Albion backed off.

The visitors' razor sharp start to the game was further rewarded five minutes later by an Anthony Wordsworth header after Albion's left side was ripped open while Adam El-Abd was receiving treatment to a head wound.

Kevin Lisbie's overhead kick smacked against the bar as Colchester went close to killing off the contest.

However the introduction of Jimmy McNulty for unlucky El-Abd immediately gave the hosts extra balance going forward.

Elliott Bennett lobbed just wide and saw a free-kick brilliantly saved by Ben Williams, Glenn Murray and Andrew Crofts shot wastefully over from close in, Murray had a great finish ruled out for a marginal offside and Tommy Elphick saw his header cleared from just in front of goal before the lifeline came on 42 minutes.

Nicky Forster was the creator by chasing a Colchester clearance and crossing from deep for Gary Dicker to arrive late and guide a diving header across Williams' dive.

That set up the prospect of a thrilling second half but Albion, despite some attacking substitutions, could not drag themselves level.

Murray somehow hit the post from close range from Forster's low cross, then Williams produced a great block from Forster, but there was no way through to a deserved point for the Seagulls.