Albion 1, Tranmere 0: Gary Hart's fourth goal of the season kept Albion on course for automatic promotion.

The right-winger celebrated his return from a one-match suspension with a spectacular left-foot strike in the 61st minute.

It secured a fourth win out of five for Peter Taylor's tenacious Seagulls and brought an end to Tranmere's 12-match unbeaten run.

Hart's clincher followed a double substitution by Taylor at half time, when he brought on Paul Brooker and Daniel Webb in place of Nathan Jones and Charlie Oatway.

Tranmere had been the better side up to that point on a Withdean mud bath, but Albion's resolve shone through again in a repeat of the 1-0 home win against Cardiff five days earlier.

Morgan, Watson and Hart, all banned for last Thursday's battling 1-0 home win against Cardiff, returned to the starting-line-up.

Pethick retained his place, so Mayo dropped to the bench with Webb while teenager Virgo missed out altogether.

Tranmere named the side held to a goalless draw at home to Chesterfield on Saturday.

Torrential rain left the Withdean pitch in a treacherous state, although it was perfectly playable.

A minute's silence was observed before kick-off in memory of Albion's long-serving former club doctor Herzl Sless, who died yesterday after an illness.

Albion looked angrily towards the linesman when the experienced Rideout retreated from an offside position to have the first shot of the contest.

The veteran striker's 20 yard drive was parried to safety by Kuipers.

Albion's big Dutch keeper, fresh from his clean sheet comeback against Cardiff, did well moments later to hold a low cross by Yates which took a slight deflection off the head of Jones.

The Seagulls should have fallen behind in the eighth minute when Morgan failed to cut out a long ball through the middle.

It left Price clear but he was caught in two minds as Kuipers back-pedalled and his tame shot gave the relieved custodian the simplest of takes.

Tranmere's domination continued with a low shot by Flynn from outside the area which Oatway blocked.

Kuipers, outstanding when the teams drew 0-0 at Prenton Park in August, had to be brave and sharp when diving to smother at the feet of Price.

The response from Albion was a penetrating right wing centre from Pethick which Rogers glanced well wide of the target when he was in a position to at least test Achterberg.

Watson, reverting from right to leftback to accommodate Pethick, drifted one of his trademark free-kicks wide of Achterberg's far post as the Seagulls fought to establish a foothold in the match.

The Merseysiders were still enjoying plenty of possession without looking as threatening as they had in the opening exchanges.

Albion had to wait until the 34th minute to warm Achterberg's fingers. Jones found Watson through the inside left channel and his crisply struck angled shot was grabbed at the second attempt by the Tranmere keeper.

It was an encouraging moment for the Seagulls after spending much of the half if not exactly under the cosh then on the back foot.

A worry for Albion as half time approached was Kuipers' obvious discomfort in kicking with his right foot. He pulled a thigh muscle against Chesterfield before Christmas and it was interesting to note that Packham was among the replacements.

The introduction of Brooker and Webb at half time meant a return to a 4-4-2 formation. Webb joined Zamora upfront to provide the young hotshot with the support he was lacking in the first half.

Pethick was now taking the goal kicks instead of the hampered Kuipers.

The keeper's injury did not prevent him tipping over a rasping shot from Price after two Albion players collided to leave the Rovers forward with freedom 12 yards out.

Rogers glanced another header from a Watson free-kick narrowly wide on 56 minutes.

The Seagulls fashioned the lead five minutes later with a superb individual effort by Hart. He cut in from the right flank to strike a left foot shot from outside the box which found the net via the angle of post and crossbar.

Hart's second goal in three games at Withdean was also the first conceded by Rovers for six matches in the League.

The Seagulls rode their luck within three minutes of forging ahead when Navarro curved a free-kick against the bar from 25 yards. Navarro, recently signed from Liverpool, showed his frustration soon after by collecting the first booking of the match for a foul on substitute Webb.

Another free-kick, this time by Koumas, on 79 minutes appeared to rebound off the base of a post although Kuipers may have got a crucial hand to it.