Joao Teixeira and Inigo Calderon both scored twice as Albion won a breathless seven-goal thriller against Birmingham City at the Amex.

The Seagulls looked to be cruising when they went 3-1 up just after half-time but the visitors pegged them back to 3-2 with 14 minutes to go.

Calderon restored Albion’s two-goal cushion only for Lee Novak to make it 4-3 in injury-time and ensure a nervous finale for the home fans.

David Stockdale also made a crucial penalty save from Paul Caddis on the stroke of half-time with the game still in the balance at 1-1.

It was only Albion’s second home win since early November and saw them climb a place to 20th in the Championship table, three points above the dropzone.

Albion made just the kind of start the home fans wanted as they took the game to Birmingham straight from the kick-off.

Inigo Calderon should have done better when he completely mis-kicked from eight yards inside the first two minutes and then Sam Baldock wasted an even better opportunity as he dragged his effort wide after being played in by a lovely ball from Beram Kayal.

Birmingham did not heed the warning as Albion did get their noses in front in the seventh minute. Teixeira’s low shot from the angle should have been dealt with by Darren Randolph but he somehow allowed it to slip through his grap at the near post and over the line.

Albion’s joy was shortlived, however, as six minutes later Birmingham were on level terms. Stephen Gleeson’s lone-range effort looked a straight-forward one for David Stockdale to deal with but he was completely wrong-footed by Donaldson’s deft flick which diverted the ball inside a post.

The Seagulls were enjoying plenty of joy down the right flank and should have restored their lead from one raid in the 22nd minute. Gordon Greer threaded a ball through for Rohan Ince who found Leon Best on the edge of the area but his first-time shot was pulled off target.

While the home side were looking good in possession they also looked vulnerable on the rare occasions Birmingham put came forward. Andrew Shinnie was presented with a glorious chance when Stockdale pushed out a shot from Paul Caddis straight to him but wastefully blazed over from ten yards.

Albion responded with a snapshot from Calderon from the edge of the area which bounced narrowly wide while Lewis Dunk’s header from a Beram Kayal corner was blocked on the line by Shinnie.

The chances kept coming thick and fast with Birmingham winning a penalty right on the stroke of half-time. Bruno clumsily brought down Shinnie as he cut in from the left but Stockdale threw himself to his left to push away Caddis’s spot-kick.

That would have given the Seagulls a massive boost going into the break and they took that momentum into the second half as they got their noses in front again in the 50th minute.

Baldock’s low cross found Calderon eight yards out and he neatly sidefooted the ball past Randolph with Birmingham appealing in vain for offside.

Albion gave themselves some breathing space when Teixeira grabbed his second of the game eight minutes later. Bruno’s low cross came out to the Portuguese as Baldock slid in on Randolph and he coolly fired past the covering defender on the line.

Birmingham got themselves back into the game with 14 minutes to go as substitute Thomas punished some poor defending by Dunk. The Seagulls centre-back allowed the former Crawley striker to turn inside the area and fire a shot inside the far post.

Calderon eased the Amex nerves with five minutes to go with a poacher’s finish after Birmingham failed to clear a free kick from the right. Dunk’s header hit a defender 12 yards out and Calderon reacted quickest to turn and fire home the loose ball.

Novak ensured there was another twist in injury-time when he found space inside the area to fire a shot inside the far post but the Seagulls were able to hold on for a precious three points.

Albion (4-2-3-1): Stockdale; Bruno, Greer, Dunk, Bennett; Ince, Kayal (Stephens, 73); Calderon, Teixeira (LuaLua, 83), Baldock; Best (Mackail-Smith, 60). Subs: Walton, Hughes, O’Grady, Ledesma.

Birmingham (4-2-3-1): Randolph; Caddis, Robinson, Spector, Grounds; Gleeson, Kiernan (Reilly, 78); Gray, Shinnie (Thomas, 63), Dyer (Novak, 63); Donaldson. Subs: Doyle, Cotterill, Zigic, Arthur.