Albion crashed to a comprehensive fifth straight defeat against classy Cardiff.

Kevin Nugent gave the promotion-chasing Welshmen a 16th minute lead, which was extended by central defender Scott Young on 31 minutes.

Albion tried hard to get back into the game in the second half, but Jon Hallworth was hardly troubled in the Cardiff goal and the impressive visitors' first win for six matches was never in doubt.

Albion were penned inside their own half as Cardiff completely controlled the early stages.

Despite dominating the possession the Welshmen failed to test Ormerod, the main threat came from the long throw-ins of Legg, a free transfer capture from Reading.

Legg was responsible for helping Cardiff into an early lead after capitalising on a mistake by Bennett.

He escaped from Albion's former Cardiff defender down the left before crossing for Bowen to strike a first time shot from eight yards.

Ormerod did well to parry it, but Nugent was on hand to slot home the rebound.

It was not the best of starts for Bennett, who only discovered shortly before the kick-off that a booking in the Seagulls' previous home game against Leyton Orient means he is banned from Saturday's visit by Darlington.

Nugent's 17th goal of the season was no more than Cardiff deserved. They were looking a class above an Albion side struggling to make any sort of impression on the match.

Nugent, widely regarded as the best target man in the Third Division, tried to double his tally when Hobson's header fell to him 25 yards out, but his effort was comfortable for Ormerod.

Cardiff had optimistic appeals for a penalty rejected when Legg went sprawling in an aerial duel with Storer.

Albion's chronic disciplinary record suffered another knock when Nicholls collected his third caution in as many matches since his loan move from Charlton for a foul from behind on Bowen.

Nicholls will now miss the home match against Barnet on March 27 and, to add insult to injury, the Seagulls' deficit doubled from the resulting free-kick.

Legg curled it goalwards, Culverhouse blocked the ball on the line but Young pounced on the rebound to convert his first goal of the season from close range.

Albion seemed to be suffering from an inferiority complex as Cardiff threatened to run riot.

Storer, back from a ban and injury, at last had a shot for Albion on 32 minutes which only just missed the target.

Shortly after Nicholls' drive from a left-wing cross by Sturgess was on target when Mitchell made an important block.

Cardiff almost put the game beyond Albion's reach with a lovely move five minutes before the break.

Fowler and Nugent combined to put Bowen clean through, but he was denied by Ormerod at the expense of a corner.

Arnott, who starts a two-match suspension on Saturday for his red card against Orient, was booked just before the interval for a foul on Carpenter.

The tenacious Hart tried hard to haul Albion back into the contest, but Cardiff nearly extended their lead on 55 minutes when Eckhardt headed just over from O'Sullivan's centre.

With the Seagulls showing no signs of a recovery manager Jeff Wood made a double substitution on 67 minutes.

Armstrong replaced Storer at right wingback and Welshman Davies came on for Barker upfront, a decision which was unpopular with both Barker and the crowd.

Adangerous cross by Armstrong with 14 minutes left appeared to be handled by Young as he went up in the middle of the penalty area. Referee Singh did not spot it to the obvious displeasure of Hobson. He was the Albion player closest to the incident and chased after the official to complain.

Cardiff made a change a minute later, introducing the prolific Williams into the attack in place of Bowen.

The visitors made a second substitution with 10 minutes remaining, Bonner replacing Hill.

The biggest cheer of the night from Albion fans came when the substituted Barker was named man-of-the-match by the sponsors.

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