Albion take Hart

The Albion striker has been through a wide range of emotions, from the desolation of a red card against Wimbledon last Tuesday to the exhilaration of clinching an astonishing victory on Saturday.

Now there is anticipation as Hart awaits his fate. The Seagulls have sent video evidence to the FA in the hope ref Joe Ross will change his mind over that dismissal against the Dons.

It could be one of the most important results of the season for Albion because Hart, who broke a leg ten months ago, was back to his ebullient best against Wolves and gave Bobby Zamora the support he has been lacking.

"That's the way I used to play," Hart said. "I think I've only just got my fitness back, because I felt good over the 90 minutes and felt I could run and run. It felt good to be like that again.

"I just need to clam down a bit, stop reacting to bad tackles, let them kick me if they want to and just get on with the game."

Hart was given just the tonic he needed when boss Steve Coppell revealed to The Argus on Friday that, having studied a replay of his clash with Wimbledon's Trond Andersen, he was guilty of nothing more than accidental contact.

"I said after the game when I spoke to the gaffer that as far as I was concerned I never touched him.

"I was just praying I hadn't flicked my hands up or anything and clipped him in the face and it didn't show anything, so I was right all along.

"It was a big weight off my mind for this match, because I didn't know what the gaffer would have done if I had caught him (Andersen).

"The ref took a lot of stick on the night, so I don't know if he is still wallowing in it. I'm hoping he looks at it.

"Even if he reduces it to a yellow card, which I still don't deserve, then a one-match ban (for five bookings) is better than a three-match.

"I've been on the bench for a little while and I've only just come back. To get a red card destroyed me."

Albion, with Hart and Zamora in tandem, destroyed a defence boasting the meanest record in the First Division of just 13 goals conceded in 14 games.

Coppell said: "Gary Hart gives an awful lot of energy up front and he felt as if he had a little bit of a debt to pay.

"In the last ten to 15 minutes we were doing a lot of defending, but you still look to your forwards to cover ground and his energy levels are huge.

"They really helped us out and his goal was what he is capable of. I saw him many years ago down at Gillingham for a couple of seasons as a centre forward and I thought he would have gone on in that position.

"I know as a right winger who used to love playing centre forward it's a nice diversion."

Zamora should have some interesting banter in Italy today with Jo Lescott.

He tormented his England under 21 team-mate, just like he did when also on target in the 1-1 draw at Molineux in November.

Zamora volleyed Albion ahead from Paul Brooker's cross after Lescott fatally assumed the ball was running out for a goalkick.

Dejected Wolves manager Dave Jones did not name names when referring to players not doing their job, but Paul Ince must have fallen into that category.

The Wanderers captain gave away the free-kick which the returning Richard Carpenter swung over for fit-again Dean Blackwell to head in his first goal for the club on the stroke of half time, with his marker Ince nowhere to be seen.

Albion's third at the start of the second half was captivating. Kerry Mayo, switching to left wingback to accomodate Blackwell's first start since November, initiated a move spanning virtually the length of the pitch. It continued via Hart and Zamora, whose precise low cross was swept in at the far post by Brooker.

Kenny Miller's diving header from a Mark Kennedy cross gave Coppell sweaty palms, no doubt reviving memories of the capitulation against Sheffield United from a winning position in his first match in charge.

Hart eased the perspiration by holding off Lee Naylor and rounding Matt Murray two minutes later to vanquish Wolves from the play-off places and complete a potentially crucial improvement to Albion's goal difference, given how tight things are at the bottom.

Coppell admitted: "Even at 4-1. I hate to say it but I didn't feel comfortable. I said to the players we have got to learn to enjoy the good times because we've had enough where we held our heads in our hands and wondered what happened.

"When you are at the bottom confidence is fragile. You want that extra cushion. Ben Roberts made one magnificent save and a couple of good ones, so they had the opportunity to come back into it."

The part played by Roberts, back from illness in place of Dave Beasant, was more significant than the scoreline suggests.

Early saves from Adam Proudlock and Kennedy laid the foundations for a victory which was assured when, in stoppage time, he somehow turned Paul Butler's bullet header onto the bar.