Bobby Zamora was involved in another diving controversy last night as Albion fell to their first defeat of the season.

Boss Micky Adams was angry that his goal ace received a yellow card from ref Roger Furnandiz rather than a penalty in the surprise 2-0 defeat at Northampton.

Adams claimed Zamora was impeded by home defender Daryl Burgess as he tried to head in Paul Watson's quickly taken free-kick in the 53rd minute.

Zamora was booked in similarly harsh circumstances against Wimbledon in the Worthington Cup.

"It was definitely tugging on Bobby and yet he was booked," said Adams.

"He had a free header six yards out, so why would he want to dive?"

Adams also felt Albion should have been awarded a spot kick in the closing stages when Paul Brooker appeared to be brought down by Richard Hope.

"I think we should have had two penalties," he said. "Paul Brooker's legs were rotated from under him. I was disappointed with the referee."

Marco Gabbiadini put Northampton ahead in bizarre fashion with 16 minutes left with a header which bounced in off Michel Kuipers after the big Dutch goalkeeper had initially pushed it onto the crossbar.

Derek Asamoah, who supplied the cross, made sure Northampton moved off the bottom of the table by scoring a second in injury time.

Adams said: "The first goal was freakish and it should have avoided.

"Looking over the course of the 90 minutes we didn't deserve to lose, but in football as in life you don't always get what you deserve.

"It was a harsh scoreline. Northampton gave their all, they were fighting for their lives and good luck to them, but our work rate, commitment and some of the football we played was very good at times.

"We just lacked a cutting edge."

Albion, who would have gone top if they had won, stay fifth with eight points from five games.

"It's a long season and I think we've had a good start to life in the second division," Adams added.

"We are in the second round of the Worthington Cup as well, so overall it has been a good month for us."

The players have been given the weekend off before preparations begin for two big home games, against QPR in the league next Saturday and Southampton three days later in the Worthington Cup.