Albion forced the pace in the early stages of this weekend's match against Chesterfield.

Some of the 2,400 Seagulls supporters were delayed by an accident on the M1, so referee Mike Ryan delayed the kick-off for 15 minutes.

Watson's corner inside the first minute, following a strong run down the right by Hart, was cleared by Reeves, back helping his defence.

Mayo's long throw a minute later was missed by former Rotherham keeper Pollitt, but Wicks' header was hacked away by Breckin.

There was a moment of uncharacteristic confusion from Albion at the back, Cullip clearing into touch when Kuipers could have collected comfortably.

A shot by Jones was blocked by Blatherwick before Rogers, following up, drove well wide.

Chesterfield threatened for the first time from a deep, diagonal cross by Breckin.

Reeves rose above Cullip at the far post but could only direct his header straight at Kuipers.

Another long throw by Mayo caused hesitancy in the home defence. Zamora almost capitalised with a left foot shot on the turn which flashed wide.

The 13th minute proved unlucky for Cullip. The linesman drew the referee's attention to an incident off the ball as Chesterfield prepared to take a free kick and Cullip collected a yellow card.

Albion put the pressure on once more after Tutill had been penalised for climbing all over Zamora 30 yards out.

Watson, rejecting the chance to shoot, played the free-kick square to Carpenter, who in turn found Jones on the left.

He passed back inside for Carpenter to strike a right foot shot from 20 yards which Pollitt pushed over the bar.

It was another example of Carpenter's shooting ability following his first goal for the club direct from a free kick in the Hartlepool match.

A cross from the left by Simpkins was caught with confidence by Kuipers as Albion continued to look the brighter side.

Parrish, who scored for Northampton against the Seagulls at Withdean last season, had his name taken midway through the half after Albion had been awarded a throw-in. So much for FIFA's Fair Play Day!

Albion had already earned four corners by the time Chesterfield won their first on 25 minutes, which was a fair reflection of the balance of play.

Williams' flag kick came to nothing, with Parrish penalised for pushing.

Wicks was looking flawless yet again at the heart of an Albion defence hardly troubled in the opening half-hour by a Chesterfield team which had plundered 32 goals in 13 League outings.

The swivelling Cullip fired straight at Pollitt from just outside the area in the 33rd minute, with Chesterfield still struggling to find some rhythm.

There was no lack of ambition from Albion. When they won their eighth corner of the contest in the 38th minute, Oatway and Jones were left two against two at the back.

The only disappointing aspect of their performance to this point was a failure to turn plenty of possession into goal scoring opportunities.

Pollitt, who had an off day for Rotherham against Albion last season, looked less than convincing when the Seagulls delivered the ball high into the box from wide positions.

The home fans in a bumper crowd were becoming increasingly agitated by Chesterfield's failure to make any headway as half time approached.

Oatway reacted to a challenge by Williams in stoppage time.

This prompted an ugly melee involving most of the players from both teams before Oatway was booked.

It was his fifth caution of the campaign, ruling him out of the home game against Carlisle in a fortnight.

The blank scoresheet in the first half extended Albion's clean sheet record away from home to more than five-and-a-half hours.

They continued to look the more composed side in the early stages of the second half but it all went horribly wrong for Oatway six minutes into the restart.

Parrish, breaking through the middle, was tripped from behind in the centre circle by Albion's combative midfielder.

A second yellow card was inevitable, reducing the Seagulls to ten men.

Adams made a substitution three minutes later, bringing on Melton for Jones in midfield.

Melton was cautioned within a minute of his introduction for a late challenge on Richardson ten yards inside the Chesterfield half.

The temperature had risen appreciably as a result of Oatway's red card and Chesterfield sensed they now had a real chance.

Williams, sliding in at the far post to meet a cross from Parrish, was foiled by Kuipers' smothering save.

Albion responded with an angled shot by Hart, after good approach work by Rogers, which Simpkins deflected behind for a corner.

Adams, sensing the mood swing, brought on central defender Crosby in place of Hart on 64 minutes.

Albion were now coming under sustained pressure for the first time in the match but they were still defending magnificently.

Then it all really went wrong. Chesterfield snatched an undeserved victory a minute into stoppage time, late substitute Jamie Ingledow heading home a Ryan Williams cross.

Chesterfield: Mike Pollitt, Steve Tutill, Steve Blatherwick, Ian Breckin, Jon Howard, David Reeves, Marcus Ebdon, Lee Richardson, Sean Parrish, Ryan Williams, Michael Simpkins. Subs: Armstrong, Beaumont, Ingledow, Willis, Payne.

Albion: Michel Kuipers, Paul Watson, Kerry Mayo, Danny Cullip, Paul Rogers, Gary Hart,Charlie Oatway, Richard Carpenter, Nathan Jones, Matthew Wicks, Bobby Zamora. Subs: Steele, Crosby, Thomas, Melton, Brooker.

Referee: Mr M. Ryan (Preston).