Albion picked up three more precious promotion points against one of their nearest pursuers.

Bobby Zamora was the hero yet again for the Seagulls with their 37th minute winner, his 12th of the season.

It was the perfect way for the prolific young marksman to celebrate his return to Bristol after joining Albion from Rovers.

A leg injury forced Zamora off after 54 minutes, but Peter Taylor's team were good value for a win which stretches their unbeaten away run to seven games.

Bristol's misery was compounded by an 88th minute red card for Brian Tinnion for a second bookable offence.

A crowd of 13,955 at Ashton Gate saw Zamora on target for his fourth away appearance running.

His customary calm finish from a Nathan Jones cross raised his overall tally for Albion to an extraordinary 49 goals in 73 games.

It was no more than the Seagulls deserved for a vibrant first half display in a pulsating encounter.

The lively Lee Steele had a chance to kill City off early in the second half, but his shot was saved by Mike Stowell.

Albion, with Danny Cullip and Simon Morgan re-united at the back, were rarely threatened even after Zamora limped off to be replaced by Robbie Pethick.

The closest Danny Wilson's men came to scoring was a first half chip from Scott Murray, which was clawed away for a corner by the retreating Michel Kuipers.

They finished with ten men when Tinnion, already booked in the second half for a foul on the influential Jones, collected a second caution for a challenge on Gary Hart.

Albion have now taken ten points out of 12 since Taylor took charge and are undefeated in seven matches since Micky Adams left for Leicester - a stunning response.

The Seagulls have been drawn away to Cambridge United in the Southern Section Quarter Finals of the LDV Vans Trophy on December 4.