Albion's miserable start to the season continued against fellow strugglers Stoke.

They gave away two more soft goals to gift the visitors their second win of the season.

Tommy Mooney put Stoke ahead with a 17th minute penalty, awarded for hand ball against Shaun Wilkinson.

A disastrous mix-up between captain Danny Cullip and fellow central defender Guy Butters was punished by Andy Cooke on 76 minutes.

Richard Carpenter pulled a goal back for the Seagulls three minutes later with a tremendous right-foot shot from long range, his second goal in as many games.

The contributions of Hart and Marney as second half substitutes in Albion's 4-2 home defeat by Gillingham last Saturday earned both places in the starting line-up.

Jones was relegated to the bench and Paul Kitson ruled out by his persistent back problem.

Stoke were unchanged after completing an unwanted hat-trick of away League defeats at Burnley.

Hart reverted to his former role as a central striker alongside Marney in a 4-4-2 formation, with Wilkinson on the left side of midfield and Melton on the right against one of his old clubs.

Albion had fallen behind early on in each of their last three home matches and the same thing almost happened again.

In the fifth minute Gunnarsson released Cooke down the right and his low cross was put over the bar by the stretching Mooney.

It was a good opportunity for Mooney, on loan from Birmingham for three months, to make amends for a late red card on his debut at Burnley.

Albion's first chance to put real pressure on the Stoke defence came when Thomas was penalised for a challenge on Marney. Carpenter's ensuing free-kick from the tightest of angles was punched clear by keeper Cutler at the expense of a corner.

The Seagulls found themselves having to come from behind at Withdean again as Stoke went ahead with a penalty.

Referee Grant Hegley ruled that a cross from Gudjonsson was handled by Wilkinson.

Mooney put the resulting spot kick beyond the diving Petterson's left hand and in off the post.

The Seagulls had shot themselves in the foot once more by gifting their opponents a soft advantage. It did not look the most obvious of penalties, although significantly perhaps there were no vehement protests from the Albion players.

Wilkinson and Watson were having their work cut out to cope with Thomas and Gudjonsson. The Stoke pair combined again down their right flank, culminating with Thomas flashing a cross across the face of goal.

Albion were enjoying a decent share of possession in a rather tense contest reflecting the lowly League positions of both teams.

Wilkinson, having swapped positions with Marney, produced Albion's first attempt on target on 31 minutes. The Portsmouth-born youngster turned to try a shot from 20 yards which was held by Cutler.

The effort from Wilkinson lifted a sell-out crowd who had otherwise seen little in the way of goalmouth action to get excited about.

Marney should have equalised for Albion with five minutes of the half remaining. Watson tapped a free-kick to Carpenter in a central position 30 yards out. His low drive was not held by Cutler, but Marney miscued the loose ball wide from close range.

Albion made a change for the second half, Jones replacing Pethick who starts a three-match suspension on Saturday.

The Welsh substitute went to leftback, with Watson reverting to rightback.

Hart collected the first caution of the contest six minutes into the restart for dissent. Albion had penalty appeals of their own for handball rejected moments later when Wilkinson had a shot charged down.

Albion were pressing forward with more conviction in the second half and the fans were getting behind them.

They should have been awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area when Belarus international Shtaniuk climbed all over an Albion player. The referee played a dubious advantage which culminated in Wilkinson's low angled drive being saved by Cutler.

Vandeurzen nearly doubled Albion's deficit with a ferocious drive from 25 yards which flashed narrowly wide.

Jones was booked for a foul on Gudjonsson just before another change by Albion, McPhee coming on for Melton.

Another disastrous defensive mistake gifted Stoke their second with 14 minutes left. Cullip and Butters went for the same ball in the air and it fell for Cooke to crash in left-footed from 12 yards.

Albion desperately needed a quick response and Carpenter provided it with an unstoppable right-foot shot from 25 yards.

The Seagulls introduced youngster Hammond for Oatway in midfield as they tried to complete an unlikely comeback.

Marney almost pulled it off with a low left-footer just wide from 25 yards on 85 minutes.

Hammond could have made himself a hero, but he headed over from Watson's 87th minute corner.

The match ended in controversy when Hart seemed to be brought down in the area by Shtaniuk five minutes into stoppage time. Referee Hegley waved away Albion's penalty appeals, then booked Watson and Cullip for protesting.