It has taken three matches and plenty of heartache, but Steve Coppell has now stamped his mark on Albion's uphill battle for First Division survival.

The subtle changes made by the manager renowned for thriving in adversity helped the Seagulls to their first League win since the opening day of the season and their first points for 81 agony-filled days.

Both of Coppell's signings played an important part in an eventful victory. Dean Blackwell performed solidly on his first appearance at Withdean.

Simon Rodger's stunning strike on his first start for the club he adores, which put Albion 2-0 up just before half time, was the stuff of fairytales.

A slight tactical adjustment by Coppell, with Graham Barrett dropping off into a more withdrawn role at times behind Bobby Zamora, also dumbfounded the Bradford defence.

Albion are, in horse racing parlance, still rank outsiders to avoid relegation. Coppell's thoroughbred acquisitions have at least shortened the odds slightly.

"There is no-one, apart from Paul Rogers, who has played at this level before," he said. "If you have half or two-thirds of a team without that experience then it is going to be a gamble.

"When it's the whole team then that gamble becomes a long shot, so you need a little bit more First Division and Premiership savy.

"I think Simon is a good player and Dean, in tandem with Danny Cullip, was an effective central defensive partnership. I thought that was really important for us.

"It's a unique situation here because of what has happened in the last two years. It's not just a question of bringing anybody in.

"You have got to bring players in who you think are going to be the right type to blend in. They don't suffer fools here.

"There are a lot of strong personalities in the dressing room, so you don't need any big time charlies who are going to bring baggage from elsewhere.

"Both lads are just real down to earth blokes. They have been accepted and have just fitted in."

Coppell is far too cute to be kidded by a small step on the long road to recovery.

Albion still managed to gift-wrap two second half goals. That would have been more expensive against a better team than Bradford, now contemplating a wretched run of their own of five straight away defeats.

At least though there is a glimmer of hope where none existed after that chastening experience at Crystal Palace a week earlier.

"We were very much second best against Palace," Coppell said. "I think it was an attitude change and the balance of another left-footer in midfield with Simon Rodger. It just gave us a little bit more.

"We were desperate to win. The attitude was the response I wanted. After last week it was humiliating. We had to suck on it for seven days and now we have come back and got a fitting result.

"I'm massively relieved. When you look at your own input on the situation you just want to think that you can make an impact.

"The impact I was making was not the one I wanted after two games. At least after three games we have got three points.

"If we start being more competitive on a regular basis it gives everyone hope, although we are still massively detached at the bottom."

For once Albion were in front early on instead of behind. Paul Brooker, like Paul Watson back to something approaching his best, was sent tumbling by Bradford's Dutch rightback Gus Uhlenbeek and Zamora scored convincingly from the spot.

Rodger's goal three minutes before the break was a gem. Zamora set him up 20 yards out and he side-footed the ball into the top corner with Beckhamesque precision.

It gave Albion a 2-0 cushion against Yorkshire opposition for the second match in succession at Withdean.

A fear of deja vu engulfed the rain-soaked audience as slack marking allowed Andy Gray to head Bradford back into contention from a Paul Evans free-kick four minutes into the restart.

The memory of Sheffield United's remarkable recovery was all too vivid, but within five minutes Bradford obligingly presented Albion with a second penalty.

Wayne Jacobs pushed over Graham Barrett and Zamora, showing commendable coolness, made no mistake once more from the spot.

Steve Banks had saved a penalty in each of Bradford's previous two matches. He had also foiled Zamora in the second minute in a one-on-one, but Albion's laid-back marksman refused to allow that or a missed header early on to shake his confidence.

"I actually said to him their goalkeeper in the previous two games had saved two penalties, both times to his right," Coppell said. "And yet Bobby put both of them to his right!"

If there is a hard way to do it then Albion, as we all know by now, will find it.

In the final minute Michel Kuipers brought down Stephen Warnock for the seventh, yes seventh, penalty of Coppell's three-game reign.

The re-signed Andy Petterson, sent on to replace Albion's sent-off No. 1 at the expense of Brooker, could do nothing about Gray's spot-kick.

Fortunately it came too late to deprive Albion of their first home win of the season.

Being thrown to the Wolves next Monday all of a sudden looks a little less daunting.

Albion: (4-4-1-1) Kuipers (gk) 7, Watson (rb) 7, Mayo (lb) 7, Cullip (cd) 7, Blackwell (cd) 7, Hart (rw) 7, Brooker (lw) 8, Carpenter (cm) 7, Rodger (cm) 7, Barrett (f) 8, Zamora (f) 7. Subs: Oatway for Rodger (injured 76), Petterson for Brooker (withdrawn 89), Rogers, Marney, Hinshelwood.

Scorers: Zamora (9, 54 pens), Rodger (42).

Sent Off: Kuipers (89, foul).

Bookings: barrett (56, unsporting behaviour).

Half-Time: Albion 2 Bradford 0.

Attendance: 6,319.

Fan's View: Amanda French (Ringmer).

My first Brighton match couldn't have been any better.

Nailbiting excitement from beginning to end. The added time at the end of the match seemed to go on forever, but the final score made up for the long wait.

I have only watched one other football game before and if Brighton continue to play like they did today I am sure I will come to more.

The supporters made the match for me as the atmosphere really made me feel part of the game.

A bonus for me was seeing Bobby Zamora scoring two penalties.

(Amanda paid £600 to The Argus Appeal to spend the day with BBC SCR at Saturday's game.)