The timing could not have been worse.

With the renewal notices still dropping through the letter boxes of season ticket holders, Albion produced arguably their worst home performance of the season.

That is an achievement in itself, because there have been plenty to choose from.

The 4-1 capitulation against Crewe, the 3-0 debacle against Blackpool, numbing 0-0 draws against Rotherham and Huddersfield ... I could go on and on.

You have got to either be loyal beyond belief or just plain daft to rush to sign up for more of the suffering the Seagulls have subjected their starving home supporters to since Leeds were beaten in the Championship 15 months ago, even with a five per cent price cut.

Neil Sullivan was in goal for Leeds that day. Now on loan to Doncaster, the experienced former Scottish international had a much easier time of it on his return to Withdean.

Season ticket holders would be better off watching Albion away. The atmosphere is livelier, so too are the performances and entertainment, not to mention the results.

The Seagulls are averaging only one point and one goal per game at home. The stats are frightening.

l Only five victories and nine defeats in 21 matches.

l Just one win in the last ten, against Nottingham Forest.

l No goals in six of the last eight.

Away from Withdean, or should that be Woedean, the average rises to 1.5 points per game, with more wins and goals and fewer defeats.

So what can be done? A perplexed Dean Wilkins will leave no stone unturned in search of a solution, including changing the midfield diamond formation. "We are certainly not making it work at home because we are not scoring enough goals," he said.

Too much can be made of systems, though. Albion were still inept in the final 20 minutes, by which stage Wilkins, in one last act of desperation, had switched to a back three and front four.

He said: "What we should be doing is bombarding the penalty area and we have worked on that and played that shape.

"What baffles me is that we had opportunities to cross when all we did was pass the ball into the middle of midfield. We made the job easy for them.

"You also have to show a real desire in the final third to make something happen, whether it be by taking somebody on to get a cross in or throwing your head in amongst a load of bodies. That is the way goals are scored."

It does not matter what system is used or what plans are made if the players do not perform or carry out instructions.

Take set-pieces, for example. Wilkins was at the Millennium Stadium to see Graeme Lee win the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for Doncaster against Bristol Rovers with an extra-time header from a corner.

What happened on Saturday? The unmarked Lee headed Rovers into a first-half lead from a corner routine.

"We have conceded from a really poor set play and they are one of the smallest sides we have faced in the last ten or 12 games," Wilkins said.

"We work on a trigger with our own set plays for when players move into the box and they were moving before the trigger. We are supposedly third in the table behind Scunthorpe and Nottingham Forest on goals scored from set plays. I am surprised by that and if that is the case we should be top."

Wilkins, rotating the squad for two matches in three days over Easter, gave a hat-trick of fringe players a chance. Tommy Elphick was promising on his full debut in the centre of defence but Doug Loft and Alex Frutos struggled to make an impact in the centre of the park.

Those of us who thought Doncaster, out of play-off contention after one point from the previous 12, would suffer a Cardiff hangover were sadly mistaken.

Bad as Albion were, the prolific Paul Heffernan and one-time Premiership prospect Danny Cadamarteri looked as good as any forward partnership they have faced this season with their movement and link-up play.

When Lee escaped from stand-in skipper Joel Lynch to head the visitors into a 28th-minute lead it was no more than they deserved.

Cadamarteri, on loan from Leicester, doubled the advantage two minutes into the restart with a classy finish from a delightful through ball by Heffernan.

It could have been worse, much worse. Scott Flinders, one of the few to emerge with any credit, made good saves at both the start and finish of the match to foil Cadamarteri twice, sub James Coppinger and Sean Thornton. The less said about Albion's attacking efforts the better.

Substitute Tommy Fraser's miscued volley onto the roof of the net late-on from a header down by Bas Savage - the only player to score in the last eight matches - summed them up.

Wilkins, fearing his players have already called time on the season, said: "I am absolutely devastated and I can understand people's frustrations. The emphasis has been particularly on the remaining home games and that is why it is even more disappointing after such a poor display."

No wonder the players not involved had a chirpy session on the pitch after the match. Their reputations were enhanced without kicking a ball.

Why do Albion perform so badly in front of their own fans at Withdean?