It was not particularly pretty and not what you would call a vintage performance but Albion got the job done at Yeovil last night.

We are getting to the stage of the season when the result is all that really matters, rather than the style in which it is achieved.

Elliott Bennett’s first-half strike, his sixth goal of the season, provided the Seagulls with a valuable first victory in Somerset since 1952.

They are back on Gus Poyet’s two points per game promotion target and four points clear once more at the top of the table.

The most satisfying aspect of a hard-fought win was only their second clean sheet away from home in the League since November.

Poyet plans to make use of his squad to cope with a congested schedule in March and wearing pitches but changes were put on hold last night.

He gave the same side an opportunity to make amends for Saturday’s lack lustre 1-0 defeat at MK Dons. It was the fifth League game in succession that the Uruguayan has named an unchanged team.

He also had an option denied him on the bench on Saturday, Craig Noone returning to contention from a leg injury.

The Yeovil squad included four former Seagulls. The fit-again Dean Bowditch and Sam Williams were in the starting line-up, Richard Martin and father-to-be Adam Virgo among the substitutes. The squad also contained six loanees. One of them, QPR centre-half Max Ehmer, has been keeping Virgo out of the side.

There was no problem with the pitch at Huish Park. It was well grassed and well suited to Albion’s passing style, much more so than at Watford last month in the FA Cup where they produced by far the best of a few ordinary away performances.

They started a little tentatively against a Yeovil side clearly not content to let them settle and dictate matters.

Elliott Bennett was targeted for a couple of robust early tackles but, as the Seagulls gradually got into their stride, he made his mark.

Good work by Chris Wood through the inside left channel led to Bennett breaking the deadlock in the 25th minute with a crisp shot from 20 yards.

It is difficult for teams to come back against Albion once they get their noses in front. Only Huddersfield have managed that so far this season.

Yeovil’s deficit almost rapidly doubled, a lapse in defence allowing Inigo Calderon the opportunity of a low drive inside the area which keeper Stephen Henderson shovelled behind.

Henderson, borrowed from Bristol City, also had to grab Wood’s header from Bennett’s corner as Albion asserted their authority.

Yeovil had offered little by this stage as an attacking threat. Oli Johnson, on loan from Norwich, had an angled shot blocked after outmuscling Liam Bridcutt and Casper Ankergren had to gather a 20-yard free-kick from the experienced Paul Wotton.

Yeovil were full of aggressive intent in the middle of the park, some of it misplaced. Referee Scott Mathieson played an advantage before eventually booking Ed Upson for another crude challenge on Bennett.

Wotton also opted for agricultural retribution on Bridcutt which went unpunished to the annoyance of Poyet.

It was not pretty from the home side, although it was not unexpected considering they are fighting for their lives towards the wrong end of the table.

It was easy to see why Yeovil had failed to score in three of their previous four home games. Luke Ayling managed to clear the roof of the stand behind Ankergren’s goal when a free-kick was pulled back to him on the edge of the box.

Albion showed far more accuracy in their attacking efforts. Wood tested Henderson again with an angled shot after escaping from Ehmer before Albion almost doubled their advantage twice in quick succession from an indirect free-kick awarded inside the penalty area for Henderson picking up a back pass.

Glenn Murray’s initial effort was blocked close to the line and Henderson saved Adam El-Abd’s follow-up.

They went even closer in the 61st minute, Bennett’s deflected shot from 20 yards looping over Henderson and against the post.

El-Abd collected an expensive caution three minutes later, his tenth of the campaign, for tugging back substitute Ashley Williams, which means he now misses Saturday’s home game against Carlisle and the visit to Brentford three days later.

Although the lead was not exactly precarious, Albion, with Bridcutt outstanding again in the middle of the park, could have done with the comfort of a second goal.

Johnson headed wide a rare chance for Yeovil, then provided a cross which Williams did not realise would reach him and consequently made a mess of.

Henderson was by far the busier of the two keepers. He parried a snapshsot from Murray with 12 minutes remaining to keep Yeovil’s hopes alive.

Albion survived one or two uncomfortable moments in a late spell of pressure but they are entitled to be satisfied with their night's work.

Albion (4-2-1-3): Ankergren; Calderon, Greer, El-Abd, Painter; Bridcutt, Dicker; Bennett (Elphick, 90); Wood (Sparrow, 83), Murray, Barnes (Noone 66).

Subs not used: Brezovan, Sparrow, Holroyd, Sandaza, Taricco.

Scorer: Bennett (25).

Yellow cards: El-Abd (64, foul), Bridcutt (80, foul).

Yeovil: (4-1-3-2): Henderson; Ayling, Huntington, Ehmer, Smith; Wotton; Tutte; Upson (Russell, 46), S Williams (A Williams, 62); Bowditch (German 79), Johnson.

Subs not used: Martin, Calver, Virgo, Fitzsimons.

Yellow cards: Upson (38) foul, Ehmer (43) foul.

Referee: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire).

Entertainment: 3 out of 5