Albion seemed in subdued mood in the opening stages and they might have fallen behind in the 13th minute.

Hardy's left-wing cross was headed weakly clear by Mayo for Brooker to fire over from 15 yards.

Most of the noise was coming not from another sell-out crowd but the whistle of referee Ross as both sides conceded a number of free-kicks.

Brooker had collected the first caution of the contest in the ninth minute for kicking the ball away when a free-kick was awarded against him midway inside Albion's half.

The crowd appealed for a foul when Carragher appeared to push Steele in a central position just outside the Vale area.

Referee Ross played the advantage and it almost paid off, Steele eventually being thwarted by a tackle from Burns.

On the evidence of the first half-hour it was easy to see why Horton's improving team had been beaten only once in their previous eight outings.

They were neat and well organised and Albion were finding it difficult to break them down.

The free-kick count against both teams was already much higher than usual, which contributed to a scrappy half.

Taylor was probably relieved to hear the half time whistle so he could galvanise his troops into more positive action.

Zamora had been kept quiet in the opening 45 minutes, but that all changed four minutes into the restart.

The unstoppable goal machine rose above his marker from Steele's penetrating left wing cross to head home his 13th of the season from eight yards.

Rowland had his name taken for Vale for upending Jones a few yards inside the Albion half.

The Seagulls were nearly pegged back immediately when Brooker sent a low left-footer inches wide from 20 yards.

It was a reminder that the match was far from over.

Vale made a substitution just after the hour mark, Armstrong replacing Hardy.

Albion were relieved to see an offside flag when McPhee's back header freed Brooker inside the area.

Killen was waiting in the middle for what would have been a simple chance to equalise.

Cullip and Burton both needed treatment from the physios after a clash of heads from a Watson corner.

The flow of the match continued to be interrupted by minor infringements.

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