FORGET the red noses Albion's players were wearing in the programme. Red faces more like.

There was nothing comic about their heaviest home League defeat for nine years, apart from Peter Smith's own goal.

The only relief was provided by the referee's final whistle.

What a match for Albion to hand out more than 500 free tickets to kids. Not many will be trading in their replica Man United and Arsenal shirts after such a shambles.

Manager Jeff Wood pointed an accusing finger at some of his senior players.

Both he and they must take part of the blame for the worst run of results since 1988.

But isn't it about time the Board accepted their share of responsibility as well? Wood is the third manager in a row to be dealing in the transfer market with one hand tied behind his back.

Enough money should have been made available to bring in quality replacements for the injured Jeff Minton and Rod Thomas.

Instead Wood, hampered further by a crop of suspensions, has to fall back on players synonymous with the club's grim recent past.

Little kit man Jock Riddell had a tighter grip on Darlington's hat-trick hero Marco Gabbiadini than any of the defenders when he tried to pinch the match ball.

The experienced striker, whose brother Ricardo had a spell on loan with the Seagulls during the Barry Lloyd era, is a bit of a lump nowadays.

He still though possessed too much pace and power for an Albion rearguard which made him look like a world beater.

Gabbiadini's fine solo effort midway through the first half rewarded Darlington's domination. Things might have been different if Paul Armstrong's indecisive penalty just before the break had not been superbly stopped by David Preece.

But once Gabbiadini doubled the deficit with his 16th goal of the season at the start of the second half Albion folded.

The transfer-listed Smith, an enigmatic mix of good and bad in the centre of defence, marred his first appearance for five months by getting in a muddle from Craig Liddle's cross.

Gabbiadini completed his hat-trick from the spot three minutes from time. Now it's the Albion Board which has a spot of explaining to do.

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