Withdean's reputation as a fortress for Albion took another knock as Walsall condemned them to a comfortable third straight defeat.

Two goals in the space of a minute early on by the Saddlers' cosmopolitan front pair Steve Corica and Jorge Leitao knocked the stuffing out of Martin Hinshelwood's much-changed side.

The Seagulls have now gone four games without a win or a goal at their temporary home, including last season's stalemate against Swindon.

Not much is going right for Hinshelwood or his team at the moment. They have not scored since Bobby Zamora rounded off the opening day victory at Burnley.

That seems a long time ago as Albion struggle to adapt to the harsh realities of life back in the First Division and new signing Paul Kitson has now joined Zamora on the sidelines.

The only bright spots of yesterday' setback were encouraging contributions from the youngsters, notably Daniel Marney, and a sound debut in goal by the unfortunate Andy Petterson.

Hinshelwood responded to Saturday's limp performance against Wimbledon with four changes, two enforced and two by choice.

Petterson and Marney made their first League starts for the club, with Michel Kuipers ruled out by a groin injury and Gary Hart by ankle trouble.

Kerry Mayo paid the price for his poor display at Selhurst Park and Shaun Wilkinson was relegated to the bench.

The manager's nephew Adam, so impressive at centre half in the opening day win at Burnley, came in for his home debut in Mayo's leftback role.

Steve Melton also returned in midfield from the hamstring injury he sustained before scoring at Burnley.

Hinshelwood reverted back to the 4-3-3 formation which yielded Albion's only points to date, but the concession of two goals in quick concession early on proved too much of a handicap.

In the sixth minute Robbie Pethick headed a long throw from Darren Bazeley back to the Walsall defender.

His cross was headed against a post by Gary Birch and Corica, one of three Australians in the Walsall camp, knocked in his second goal in successive away games from close range.

The second body blow was also partly of Albion's own making, with the Saddlers' strike duo given too much time and space.

Corica fed Portugese powerhouse Leitao through the inside left channel.

Walsall's leading marksman for the last two seasons worked the ball back onto his right foot to open his account in the current campaign with an exquisite right-foot curler from just outside the area.

The Seagulls had plenty of possession for the rest of the first half without looking like penetrating. Walsall, neat and incisive, comfortably soaked up what they had to offer.

Marney, replacing Hart on the right wing, was Albion's brightest attacker. The youngster unsettled his Spanish marker Zigor Aranalde and had a left-foot curler from 25 yards clawed away for a corner by James Walker.

Danny Cullip was narrowly wide with a free header at the near post from a Paul Watson corner, but Albion had Petterson to thank for not being further adrift at the break.

He somehow kept out Leitao's point blank header from the overlapping Bazeley's cross.

Kitson, still short of match fitness and starved of service again on his home bow, was replaced by the fit-again Nathan Jones for the second half after feeling his hamstring early on.

Jones took up his customary position on the left flank, with Marney moving into the middle and Paul Brooker switching wings to the right.

Wilkinson came on for the labouring Melton just before the hour-mark, prompting a resumption of 4-4-2, but the damage had already been done.

Most of the second half entertainment was provided by referee Joe Ross.

A foul by Walsall stopper Danny Hay in a central position on the edge of his own area led to a laughable sequence of events.

Ross's red card blew out of his pocket as he prepared to punish Hay.

Fitzroy Simpson cheekily hid it behind his back before handing it back.

The crowd were hoping Hay would see red, but Ross booked him, Watson for moving the ball and Ian Roper for encroachment before the free-kick could even be taken.

When it finally was, Watson's effort dipped over the bar. Albion's dead ball specialist hasn't quite found his range so far this season.

Petterson foiled Leitao again, blocking his angled drive when he raced onto a long clearance from Walker.

Wilkinson almost ended Albion's famine in the closing stages with a carbon-copy of Marney's audacious first half attempt.

It forced Walker, Walsall's captain and diminutive keeper, into a similar clawing stop as the ball headed towards the top corner.

Hinshelwood said: "We gave away two poor goals and that isn't like us.

"We have got to be a bit brighter. Last season we probably could have got away with it, but it is a different level now."

It doesn't get any easier. Next up are Hinshelwood's old club Portsmouth, the current pacesetters.

"It's a great opportunity, an all-ticket game and a sell-out," he declared. "What better way to come back?"

Albion team: (4-3-3): Petterson (gk) 7, Watson (rb) 6, Cullip (cd) 7, Oatway (cm) 6, Brooker (lw) 6, Carpenter (cm) 6, Pethick (cd) 7, Marney (rw) 8, Melton (cm) 6, A. Hinshelwood (lb) 7, Kitson (f) 6. Subs: Rogers, Jones 6 for Kitson (injured 46), Wilkinson 6 for Melton (withdrawn 59), Packham, Hammond.

Bookings: Watson (65) unsporting behaviour.

Half-Time: Albion 0 Walsall 2
Attendance: 6,519
Fan's View: Paul Holloway (Patcham)

Things aren't happening! Two or three of these players are not up to the First Division. The side is weaker now than the team which won the championship.

The midfield is crying out for someone who is creative. We are desperate for a Junior Lewis-type player.

Walsall were big and strong but had no real class. They had three chances, scored from two of them and won at a canter.

They are one of the teams that we are supposed to beat to have any chance of staying in this league but we are not up to it at the moment. We need some new blood, and we need to get them in this week.

Wherever you were sitting in the ground we looked out of our depth.