Albion manager Micky Adams believes Bobby Zamora's winning double will bring him back out of his shell.

The former Bristol Rovers teenager struck twice as the Seagulls opened their home campaign at Withdean with a 2-1 win against Rochdale.

Zamora's goals raised his tally to eight in as many matches following his prolific loan spell towards the end of last season.

Adams revealed: "I've been a little bit worried about him since he has come back to us. He has been a little bit quiet.

"I'm not sure whether the transfer has affected his confidence. That might seem a strange thing to say, but when you are 19 years old and somebody pays £100,000 for you that is a lot of money and with all the expectancy surrounding him he has been a little bit subdued.

"This will do him a world of good. What more can you ask from him?"

Zamora said: "The fee hasn't really come into my mind. I think it's because I've had to move after three or four years at Bristol. I am sure I will settle in really well. They are a great bunch of lads here, so I don't think there will be any worries on that score at all.

"The funny thing is I haven't been doing the best in shooting in training. It had got to me a little bit and I was almost hoping I didn't get any decent chances. I don't know why, but they always seem to go in in games. I am just happy to get on the scoreboard and on a roll.

"I'm not aiming for 20 or 30 goals or anything like that. I will be happy with ten or 15 in my first full season."

Both teams played most of the match with ten men. Albion's Andy Crosby and Rochdale's Tony Ellis were controversially sent-off for violent conduct by rookie referee Phil Prosser, taking charge of his second League game.

Wary Adams, wary of Albion's suspended £25,000 fine for their poor disciplinary record last season, said: "There were seven bookings as well and the game didn't warrant that. Once again Brighton have been punished severely.

"I was disappointed with the referee's performance. We get apprentice refs, but they don't take that into account when we got to the FA at the end of the season."

Prosser said: "That's his opinion and he is entitled to it. I just did what I had to, it's as simple as that.

"Both players were sent-off for violent conduct. That is an automatic red card, so I had no other option."

Adams has player of the season Danny Cullip and newcomer Nathan Jones available from suspension for tomorrow night's Worthington Cup test at home to Millwall.