A stunning performance saw Albion looking like winners with a vengeance as they went ahead on the half-hour and then kept piling up the goals.

First Zamora made the most of a defensive error by Lescott to make it 1-0 on 31 minutes.

Then Blackwell doubled the lead in the final minute of the first half with his first goal for the Seagulls.

Two minutes into the restart it was Brooker who gave Albion a three-goal lead.

For a moment it looked like Wolves were coming back when Miller put one in the Albion net, but even that joy was fleeting. Hart put in Brighton's fourth just two minutes later.

Albion had looked confident even before Wolverhampton's defensive disaster began.

An early surge down the right by Watson as Naylor shepherded the ball behind suggested the wingbacks had been instructed to get forward as much as possible.

The onus was on Albion to take the game to Wanderers.

A 25-yard volley by visiting skipper Ince finished closer to the corner flag than the net after Republic of Ireland winger Kennedy had exchanged passes with Proudlock to cross.

Wolves broke dangerously when Newton released Cameron through the centre of the park.

He fed Proudlock inside the area for an angled left foot drive which Roberts blocked before Carpenter completed the clearance.

The Seagulls threatened a couple of minutes later as the ball broke off Lescott for Zamora to get in a shot which Butler deflected wide.

Rodger's resulting corner towards the near post was claimed by keeper Murray as Mayo threatened to get ahead of him.

Clever approach play by Miller gave Kennedy an opportunity through the inside left channel as Albion defenders tried desperately to get across to cover.

His fiercely struck drive was fisted away by Roberts, who was again perfectly positioned to make the stop.

Carpenter must have held his breath when ref Walton beckoned him following a trip on Ince five yards inside Albion territory.

Carpenter, on four cautions, escaped with a lecture rather than a ban-inducing booking.

The lively looking Kennedy latched on to a loose ball to flash a low 25-yarder wide of Roberts' right hand post.

Albion responded with a header at the far post by Blackwell from a Watson free-kick which was held by Murray.

Naylor was inches wide with a rasping effort from long range as Wolves continued to look the likelier to break the deadlock.

Miller almost did just that midway through the half, courtesy of a mistake by Pethick.

He did not get enough power on a backpass and Miller nipped in to lob over the stranded Roberts but also narrowly wide of the goal.

Wolves boast the best defensive away record in the First Division but Ince put his team in trouble when he tried to muscle away from Rodger and then Blackwell inside the Albion half.

His stab back into his own half inadvertently released Zamora, who in turn found Hart to his left.

Hart's ensuing cross, aimed at Zamora, was taken off his head by the covering Naylor at the expense of a corner.

The Seagulls were entitled to be reasonably satisfied with the opening half-hour.

Satisfaction turned to elation as Zamora capitalised on Lescott's mistake to give Albion the lead.

Lescott thought the ball was rolling behind for a goal kick but Brooker, chasing an apparent lost cause, managed to deliver a penetrating cross.

The airborne Zamora's right-foot volley at the far post was grabbed by Murray but referee Walton looked to his linesman for confirmation that the ball had already crossed the line and a goal was given.

Zamora's third goal in as many home games was a real boost for the Seagulls and he was giving the Wanderers' rearguard plenty to think about once more.

Hart, returning from treatment for a knock, combined with Zamora to put Wolves under further pressure.

Zamora got away down the right from a quickly taken free-kick and his low cross towards Hart had to be cleared by Butler.

Wolves suddenly seemed unsettled as Albion sought to add to their advantage.

The visitors were asleep at the back when Watson's attempted shot on the turn fell to Mayo, unmarked at the far post.

The long-serving defender blazed over a good chance to double the lead from the edge of the six-yard box.

Wolves' early attacking initiative had by now evaporated. A low shot by Miller after Proudlock and Newton had combined went wide, although the diving Roberts appeared to have it covered in any case.

Albion punished slack play at the back again by Wanderers in the final minute of the half with Blackwell's first goal for the club.

Carpenter swung over a free-kick from the left wing and the unguarded Blackwell plunged forward to head it in from six yards.

There was still time for Zamora to almost add further to the stunning scoreline.

His pace took him away from Lescott on a long run towards goal but, as Murray advanced of his line, Lescott recovered his ground and then used his strength to rob Brooker from Zamora's back heel.

The first yellow card of the contest for Miller, moments before the interval for a wild challenge on Rodger, was indicative of the visitors' frustration at the way Albion had taken such a firm grip on proceedings.

The next goal was going to be vital and, incredibly, it was Albion who got it in quite breathtaking fashion two minutes into the restart.

They turned defence into attack when Mayo's pass up the line was flicked inside by Zamora to Hart.

Zamora continued his run down the left, taking Hart's return pass in his stride before delivering a perfect low cross to the far post, where Brooker swept in his second goal in as many games.

Albion, now in rampant mood, almost went even further in front as the irrepressible Zamora met Brooker's deep cross with a downward header at the back post which Murray blocked away.

Another full house at Withdean created a carnival atmosphere by cheering every Albion pass for a period The players were brimming with confidence and still carving out opportunities to add to the scoreline.

The Seagulls were cutting through almost at will, Brooker and Zamora linking up for Mayo to have a shot from close range smothered by Murray.

It would not have counted, since a linesman was already flagging for offside, but seeing Mayo so far forward again emphasised Albion's domination.

Wanderers made a change, Rae replacing Edworthy in an effort to salvage something from a match which had gone horribly wrong for them.

Moments later Watson's 20 yarder from Hart's pass whistled just over the bar.

Miller through Wolves a lifeline with a diving header from Kennedy's left-wing cross on 65 minutes.

It was a short-lived glimpse of salvation, however. Two minutes later Hart held off Naylor and rounded Miller to put the Seagulls 4-1 up.