Albion moved off the foot of the First Division by completing their only double of the campaign.

Bobby Zamora's 10th of the season and third against Bradford after 27 minutes earned Steve Coppell's Seagulls three more precious points in their battle to beat the drop.

The goal was tinged with controversy, a linesman signalling that Bradford keeper Aidan Davison had failed to prevent Zamora's far post header from a Gary Hart centre from crossing the line.

It was a case of deja vu for Zamora, who made his full debut for the England Under 21s in Italy on Tuesday.

He scored in similar vein against Wolves at Withdean last Saturday, when a linesman ruled his volley from a Paul Brooker centre had also just crossed the line.

A crowd of 11,520 at Valley Parade saw Ivar Ingimarsson make an accomplished debut on loan from Wolves in the centre of defence, with Robbie Pethick ruled out by a back injury.

Keeper Ben Roberts, making the final appearance of his month on loan from Charlton, was rarely troubled, but he made one crucial contribution.

Roberts made a fantastic stop from Ashley Ward's close range header after only nine minutes.

The only time Bradford went close apart from that was after 70 minutes when 17-year-old Simon Francis, a late call-up after Robert Molenaar hurt himself in the warm-up, hit the top of the crossbar with a fierce shot from an acute angle.

Albion always looked dangerous on the break, but the match ended on a sour note for them.

Zamora collected his fifth caution of the campaign two minutes from time and will now be suspended for the next away match at Gillingham in a fortnight.

So too will Gary Hart, irrespective of the result of Albion's appeal against his controversial red card in the recent home defeat by Wimbledon.

He also picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in the dying stages.

Albion are now two places off the bottom for the first time since September. They are a point above Stoke, who play Chelsea in the F.A. Cup tomorrow, and Sheffield Wednesday. The Owls drew 2-2 at ten-man Derby.

Albion are now also only two points behind Grimsby after their 3-0 defeat at Gillingham.