Albion Liveblogs: Chris Hughton's first league game as boss

But it WAS a significant occasion in Albion's more recent history.

The trip to Charlton in January, 2015, was the first league fixture under recently arrived boss Chris Hughton.

His debut in charge came in the 2-0 win at Brentford in the FA Cup.

You might remember this success at the Valley.

What you might not recall is how close Albion were to it all going wrong before Rohan Ince headed the winner.

Here's how we reported it live...

----------------------

It's new era part two for Albion today - against a side desperate for a win.

Seven days ago the Seagulls enjoyed an FA Cup win over Brentford in Chris Hughton's first game in charge.

Now comes Hughton's league debut, away to a Charlton side who have slipped to 13th place in recent weeks after their very bright start under Bob Peeters. Bennett and Forster-Caskey replace Chicksen and Teixeira in the Albion starting line-up.

3pm: And here we go. Albion defending the away end.

3.05pm: Looks like Forster-Caskey pushing forward in central midfield in a 4-2-3-1 set-up. CMS obviously up top. Baldock left, March right, Holla and Ince deeper. Albion making confident start.

3.08pm: Early skirmish in the home box as Etheridge failed to catch a cross and Calderon drilled a low ball into the goalmouth. But they cleared it.

3.12pm: Tucudean had a shot blocked on the edge of the box by Dunk and Etheridge held a Baldock header so it has been quite a lively start. Baldock's effort, straight at the keeper, came after a deep corner was nodded back into the heart of the area by Forster-Caskey.

Warren Aspinall on BBC Radio Sussex: “Just watched Greer and Dunk squeeze up an extra ten yards. That's Hughton, a former defender, drumming it into them.”

3.20pm: Charlton LOOK devoid of confidence so far. Their fans SOUND devoid of confidence. But are Albion good enough to take advantage?

3.25pm: Charlton won and then made a mess of a corner. But Albion's last two attempts to launch attacks have been ended by first a poor touch from March, then handball by Baldock. After the aforementioned bright start, the first 20 minutes became pretty ordinary to be honest.

3.29pm: Albion made great inroads midway through the half and did not make the most of it. Forster-Caskey and March combined beautifully to get deep into the box but the former then tried to tee up Mackail-Smith right in front of goal instead of shooting and the move was snuffed out.

3.35pm: Charlton fans were irate as their team were gifted a chance to attack by Joe Bennett's poor crossfield pass which put Greer in trouble in his own half - only for the home side to end up playing their way all the way back into their own territory. They were happier with a free-kick which fell to Bikey at the far post but his shot was not truly struck and Stockdale grabbed the ball, which might have been going wide anyway.

3.40pm: Charlton have had a decent spell. Left-back Wiggins went past Calderon easily and his cutback bobbled around the area before being forced off target by Jackson.

3.45pm: Jackson loves to get forward from midfield. He did so at a corner and his far-post header was instinctively blocked by Stockdale at close range. We haven't seen much from Albion of late. Forster-Caskey sent a 25-yarder straight at Etheridge, who held, at the end of a counter-attack which lost momentum.

3.50pm - HALF-TIME: Goalless at the break. I reckon there was a major let-off for Albion in the 45th minute. It looked very much like Bennett controlled a cross with his left arm but the ref did not see it. Nor, more surprisingly, did the assistant who was on that side of the pitch and play was waved on. Maybe they were right and we up here were wrong. But it looked like a penalty.

4.06pm: Second half is underway with Joe Gomez on for the injured Johnnie Jackson for the hosts. Looks like Gomez is at right-back with Solly now in central midfield.

4.09pm: Albion now attacking their packed away end and they should be in front. Baldock slid a lovely pass into the path of Forster-Caskey, getting him behind the defence. Forster-Caskey tried to clip the ball over the dive of the advancing Etheridge but the keeper blocked (pictured above). Then Stockdale held a stinging long-range drive by Ben Haim at the second attempt.

4.16pm: So nearly the dream start for Charlton debutant Watt, on for Tucudean, as he got behind the defence to the left of goal but saw his effort from a tight angle blocked by Stockdale, who was a formidable barrier. Watt has certainly livened up the home team and fans. But then Albion sprung forward and Calderon crossed deep for Bennett, who headed straight at Etheridge.

4.23pm - GOAL: Ince heads in to cap a hectic sequence! Great trickery tight to the touchline by Bennett earned Albion a corner, from which Dunk's header looped gently on to the roof the net. But then Albion had a big let-off as Solly crashed a shot against the underside of the bar with Stockdale beaten. Albion countered, Mackail-Smith was flattened by Bikey, March swung over a great free-kick and INCE rose at the far post to head home in the 62nd minute.

4.27pm: Charlton have sent on striker Church for Wilson. Early indications are that they will have a right go at clawing back this deficit.

4.30pm: Albion fans in great voice although one suspects a lot of the action could be a long way from them from here on in. Stockdale punched away a corner and then held Vetokele's header when the ball was lifted back in. O'Grady and Bruno are now on for Mackail-Smith and Ince.

4.33pm: Some fans thought Watt had opened his account for Charlton - but he poked a chance wide after Vetokele and Ben Haim won headers in the goalmouth. He should have scored. Bruno is already in the book for a foul.

4.39pm: O'Grady has, of course, received a rapturous welcome from Albion's fans. Charlton have Church as their main striker, Vetokele playing off him and Watt a bit deeper. Greer produced a great defensive header facing his own goal to concede a corner which fell to the right foot of Gomez, whose mis-hit went gently to Stockdale.

4.47pm: Halford is on now for Forster-Caskey. March, who has had a good game, skewed a shot well wide but Charlton will come again.

4.54pm - FULL-TIME: Albion survived a late corner before the celebratory, scarf-twirling chorus belted out from their jubilant fans.

Charlton: Etheridge; Solly, Ben Haim, Bikey, Wiggins; Wilson (Church 66), Cousins, Jackson (Gomez 46), Gudmundsson; Vetokele, Tucudean (Watt 51). Unused subs: Dmitrovic, Muldoon, Onyewu, Fox.

Albion: Stockdale; Calderon, Greer, Dunk, J.Bennett; Holla, Ince (Bruno 71); March, Forster-Caskey (Halford 88), Baldock; Mackail-Smith (O'Grady 71). Unused subs: Walton, Hughes, Teixeira, Colunga.