Albion eased themselves off the bottom of the Coca-Cola championship with their first win of the season today.

A first half own goal by Marlon Broomes swept away the Seagulls' early worries and increased the pressure on Preston boss Craig Brown.

Broomes, replacing the injured Graham Alexander, was standing on his own line at the far post when he headed in an inswinging corner from Darren Currie in the 30th minute.

The result rewarded an imaginative team selection by Albion manager Mark McGhee.

He played powerful defender Adam Virgo as an emergency centre forward and gave central midfielder Dean Hammond his first start for nearly two years.

Virgo's bustling style ruffled the Preston defence and he had two first half headers saved by Andy Lonergan.

Hammond produced a vital sliding tackle inside his own area in the closing stages to foil David Healy and Adam Hinshelwood thwarted Preston's Northern Ireland international striker in similar manner in a frantic finish.

The only downside of Albion's first victory and first clean sheet of the campaign was the attendance. Less than 6,000 were at Withdean to see it.