Albion crashed to a crazy defeat against injury-hit Cheltenham this weekend.

The Seagulls never recovered after conceding two goals in the opening 11 minutes.

The recalled Danny Cullip pulled a goal back almost immediately and Cheltenham had Lee Howells sent off after only 20 minutes.

Former Albion keeper Steve Book then kept Micky Adams' promotion-chasers at bay before substitute Bob Bloomer ended Cheltenham's horror run of five straight losses.

Albion's problems began before a ball had been kicked, a punctured tyre on the team coach disrupting their preparations.

Adams surprisingly changed the system, bringing Cullip into a five-man defence following his suspension.

The move backfired badly as loan signing Grant McCann from West Ham drove Cheltenham into an eight-minute lead from 30 yards.

The 1,300 Seagulls supporters in a crowd of 4,533 at Whaddon Road were further stunned three minutes later, when the giant Julian Alsop headed the home side 2-0 up from a corner.

Cullip headed Albion back into contention on 14 minutes with his second goal of the season from a Paul Watson free kick.

Cheltenham were reduced to ten men six minutes later.

Howells had already been cautioned in a midfield skirmish when he clattered into Watson to receive a red card from referee Richard Beeby.

Adams brought on all three substitutes during a second half in which Matthew Wicks went off injured.

But Albion could not find a way past Book before Bloomer rifled Cheltenham's clincher past Mark Cartwright on 70 minutes.

It is the first time Albion have let in three goals this season.

The second-placed Seagulls will be without the banned Kerry Mayo for their next away match at Leyton Orient in a fortnight. He was among six other players to be booked.