In this era of mega-rich clubs and obscene wage demands it is refreshing to realise money does not always mean everything.

It can buy you better quality players, but that does not guarantee a greater will to win. Albion's starting line-up for this promotion showdown has been assembled by Micky Adams for £180,000.

The Cardiff team in the charge of his old chum Alan Cork cost well over £1 million. The Welshmen also had a further £1 million worth of signings on the bench in the shape of David Hughes and Gavin Gordon.

But the Seagulls' insatiable desire bridged the financial chasm and enabled them to increase the gap between the sides to five points.

As Adams pointed out: "It doesn't matter what money you spend. There are a few of my players Alan Cork would like. He knows what I have got in the dressing room, a steely determination to do well.

"In the last two games we have been focused and motivated and we have done the business."

That was never more apparent than in the final 20 minutes, when Albion resisted frenetic Cardiff pressure. Goalkeeper Mark Cartwright, one of many heroes, admitted: "They certainly came at us, but the lads in front of me were absolutely magnificent.

"Even the midfielders Paul Rogers, Charlie Oatway and Chippy (Richard Carpenter) were all throwing themselves into challenges and making some great tackles in the box.

"It was all about passion and commitment and we had more of that. We wanted to win the game more."

Talking of money, Cardiff were of course the club which bid £1.2 million for Bobby Zamora before Christmas.

The £100,000 Albion paid to snatch the 20-year-old from Bristol Rovers at the start of the season is surely the best bit of business Adams will ever do in his managerial career.

Zamora showed what Cardiff are missing with the early strike which gives him a goal tally to match his age.

Matthew Brazier's misplaced pass from inside the centre circle back into his own half allowed Zamora to race clear before calmly side-footing past former Albion No.1 Mark Walton.

Adams acknowledged the finishing finesse of his young find. "He is clinical and he can achieve anything he wants to.

"He had one chance and he stuck it away."

Zamora, unable to run off a knock to his right ankle, departed to a standing ovation from a record Withdean crowd after 70 minutes.

Albion had to defend for their lives from that point and Andy Crosby in particular was colossal. He shackled Leo Fortune-West so effectively that the ex-Gillingham giant was substituted after an hour.

Crosby and Matt Wicks have made it difficult for Adams to bring Danny Cullip straight back into the side now that his three-match suspension has finished.

The brave Cartwright was not far behind. His handling was faultless in conditions treacherously greasey for goalkeepers, although the repaired Withdean pitch stood up remarkably well to persistent rain.

Cartwright sustained a perforated left eardrum in one late melee and was involved in another five minutes from the end which left Cork fuming at the officials.

Gordon, Fortune-West's replacement, was sent-off by referee Paul Armstrong on the advice of his assistant after colliding with Cartwright from a cross then allegedly head-butting Paul Watson.

"We both had to go for the ball," Cartwright said. "I won it and he just went straight through me.

"I didn't see what happened to Watto after that, but speaking in the dressing room afterwards by all accounts he was head-butted. You have to go for that I'm afraid."

Cork, under the impression Gordon had been dismissed for the clash with Cartwright, was furious.

"The fourth official told me that was a great challenge," he said. "Then all of a sudden the linesman, who couldn't possibly have seen it from where he was, got involved.

"We were still getting beat, but that's not the point."

It was as far as Albion are concerned. There is still a long way to go and I still expect Cardiff to be promoted.

But Cartwright was spot-on when he said: "This is a massive result for us.

"Cardiff have been flying up the League and they'd caught us up. To beat them with the amount of money they have spent might have sent a few shock waves through the League."