Zamora scores again, but limps off

Bristol sought an early breakthrough with an intricate free-kick involving their central midfield pair of Doherty and Tinnion, but the latter's cross was too far ahead of Brown at the far post for him to direct his effort on target.

Tinnion then put the home side in trouble with a crossfield pass which Hart intercepted. It led to Albion's first corner, taken by Watson and collected confidently by former Wolves keeper Stowell.

Hart had optimistic appeals for a penalty for handball by Bell. But the linesman was unmoved and so too was Premiership ref David Elleray.

Moments later Jones pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring problem as he chased a pass down the left and was replaced upfront by former Man City marksman Lee Peacock.

Tinnion had the first shot of the match, but his rasping 20 yarder was hit straight at Kuipers.

Zamora almost scored for the fourth away League match running in the 11th minute. His strike partner Lee Steele set him up with an intelligent pass through the inside left channel and his low angled drive was stopped by Stowell with his left boot at the expense of a corner.

Albion threatened again a minute later when Carey failed to cut out a pass by Jones.

Steele latched on to it and eventually got in a shot straight at Stowell from ten yards after Carey had recovered his ground.

Thorpe missed a sitter for City, lifting the ball over the bar from point blank range when Bell escaped down the left to cross.

It would not have counted in any case as the linesman was flagging for offside.

There was a vibrancy about Albion going forward, with Steele, Jones and Zamora particularly prominent.

The trio combined effectively again to create another opening which Zamora spurned when he failed to connect properly from Jones' probing cross.

Both sides were trying to play a passing game, but Albion certainly looked the more adept in the opening half hour.

The Seagulls were proving solid at the back, although Cullip had to be at his best when Thorpe's turn from a free-kick by Bell left Oatway for dead.

The fit-again stopper produced a superb covering tackle at the expense of a corner.

Kuipers, in such good form of late, had to be at his sharpest minutes later when Murray attempted an audacious chip from 25 yards.

It was heading for the top corner of the net when the back-pedalling Dutchman clawed it away for another corner.

Albion went in front eight minutes from the break and it was that man Zamora again.

He peeled away from his marker Hill beyond the far post to control Jones' diagonal centre on his chest.

The Seagulls' unstoppable young striker then checked inside to calmly slot his 12th of the season past Stowell from eight yards.

It was due reward for Albion's attacking invention and Zamora celebrated by cupping a hand to his ear to mock the silenced City supporters.

Bristol tried to respond with a free-kick by Tinnion from 20 yards, but Kuipers had his angles right and saved comfortably by his post.

Albion's in-form keeper then somehow kept out a shot on the turn from close range by Peacock, although it again would not have counted due to an offside decision.

Half-time: Bristol City 0, Albion 1 Albion were good value for their half time advantage. Zamora and Steele had been a persistent menace to the home defence, while Jones justified the faith shown by his new boss.

Albion maintained the theme of the first half with some controlled possession play at the start of the second.

When City foraged forward, Cullip and Morgan were rock-like at the heart of the rearguard.

Cullip headed clear a dangerous cross to the near post from Brown, then Morgan marshalled Peacock as he tried to turn on to Tinnion's cross deep inside the area.

Steele should have doubled the Seagulls' cushion five minutes into the restart. Hart put him through, but his shot was saved by Stowell.

The keeper also stopped Zamora's follow-up effort from another Hart pass at the expense of a corner.

Albion suffered a blow nine minutes into the second half when Zamora was forced to leave the game with a leg injury.

He was replaced by Pethick, who took up a position on the right side of midfield, while Hart was pushed forward to partner Steele upfront.

It was Pethick's first League appearance since the defeat at Northampton at the end of August.

Bristol made a change just before the hour mark, bringing on Amankwaah at the back in place of Carey.

Hart ran a risk when he got involved in a tussle with Brown in front of the Albion fans.

He escaped with a ticking off rather than a booking which would have meant an automatic one-match ban.

Bristol, attacking the end occupied by their own supporters, were enjoying more possession in the second half without looking especially dangerous.

Bristol's growing frustration was epitomised by the first caution of the contest for Tinnion for upending Jones on the left wing.

Jones tried to double Albion's lead shortly afterwards when Hart released him into space. The angle was unkind though and Stowell held the shot close to his righthand post.

Elleray then allowed play to continue with Carpenter down injured just outside the centre circle.

Doherty ran past the prostrate midfielder to set up an opportunity for Tinnion, but his low drive was hit straight at Kuipers.

Carpenter was quickly back in the action as Bristol pressed unconvincingly for an equaliser they scarcely warranted.

Pethick had his name taken with 15 minutes left for a mistimed tackle on Hill a couple of yards inside the Bristol half.

The break in play allowed the home side to make a second substitution, Coles coming on for Brown.

A cross from Tinnion eluded the head of Peacock by inches and Bell was narrowly too high with a shot from 20 yards which took a slight deflection for a corner.

The Seagulls still looked dangerous on the break as a clever dummy by Hart released Pethick down the right wing.

His low cross was just behind Steele, who could not find a colleague.

Bristol's desperate attempt to salvage a point were finally thwarted with two minutes left when the dangerman Tinnion was sent off after picking up his second booking of the match.