Bobby Zamora took Albion up to second place last night with the cheekiest goal of the season so far.

Zamora knocked the ball out of the hands of Chesterfield keeper Nathan Abbey to put the Seagulls ahead at Saltergate.

A superb second goal from Zamora, his 24th of the season, clinched a 2-1 victory to lift Peter Taylor's team to within three points of leaders Reading with a game in hand.

Taylor applauded the quick thinking of his star striker, but Chesterfield were furious and their fans branded Zamora a "cheat."

Zamora's controversial opener came in the 49th minute. He robbed Abbey as the keeper was about to release the ball.

Abbey charged up field to protest, but referee Matt Messias allowed the goal to stand.

Taylor said: "I didn't see it clearly, but the way the lads are talking he let it out of his hands and Bobby took advantage. It was a nice one to accept."

Robbie Pethick, an early replacement for the injured Simon Morgan, said: "I was told the keeper had it in one hand and Bobby took a bit of a gamble.

I don't think the ref saw it and his linesman didn't flag."

Chesterfiled boss Dave Rushbury claimed: "I've seen the video. Nathan was on his knees with his arm up asking the linesman for offside and as he brought his hand back down the ball was kicked out of his hands."

And Abbey rapped: "I'm disgusted that a fellow player would do that.

"It was so blatant I didn't even try to retrieve the ball. The ref and the linesman have a job to do and they didn't do it."

Zamora's second goal left no room for argument. He outpaced two defenders before cracking in his fifth goal in three days following his weekend hat-trick against Cambridge United.

Taylor added: "He showed pace and fantastic technique to hit the ball on the run. He has scored some very good goals since I have been here, but that was one of the best."

Pethick was equally impressed.

He said: "Bobby is a great finisher, I saw that when I was with him at Bristol Rovers. His second goal was good enough for the Premiership."

Morgan, doubtful before the match with Achilles and calf injuries, was forced off with a head injury. Zamora went off late on with as calf problem and so too did Gary Hart with a groin injury.

All three now face a race to be fit for Thursday's visit to promotion rivals Brentford.

Tonight, leaders Reading go to Wigan while Stoke visit Cardiff and QPR entertain Bournemouth.