Michel Kuipers made his home debut for Albion at a rain-soaked Withdean.

The former Dutch marine kept his place in goal as first choice Mark Cartwright has still not fully recovered from strained stomach muscles.

Kuipers, signed in the summer from Bristol Rovers, made his second appearance for the Seagulls in the 2-0 win at Hull eight days ago.

That result gave Micky Adams' men a club record fifth straight League victory without conceding a goal.

Matthew Wicks opened the scoring and the young central defender was back for his first match as a permanent Albion player.

The formalities of his move from Peterborough were completed yesterday morning following his successful month on loan.

Boss Adams not surprisingly decided no changes were necessary to either the starting line-up or the bench after an eight match unbeaten run.

Scunthorpe, by contrast, made four changes to the team which Adams saw beat lowly Halifax 1-0 at home last Saturday.

In came the fit-again Lee Hodges, Darryn Stamp, Wayne Graves and Spaniard Alex Calvo-Garcia, available again from a three match ban.

Out went injured striker Brian Quailey, Paul Harsley, Gareth Sheldon and Peter Morrison, the last named pair dropping to the bench.

An accident close to the junction of the A23 and A27 meant the kick-off had to be delayed for 15 minutes.

The pitch looked in reasonable condition considering large parts of it were under water on Thursday, when the game was in doubt.

Albion put together a fluent move in the second minute, initiated by Wicks.

Jones' cross from the left was headed narrowly over by Zamora from the edge of the six yard box.

Watson received a stern lecture from referee Dowd for a challenge on Hodges near the touchline midway inside the Scunthorpe half.

Hodges was off the field briefly for treatment, but he looked spritely enough minutes later.

The diminutive former West Ham midfielder intercepted Oatway's pass before finding Ipoua and Cullip had to be vigilant to block the Cameroon forward's shot.

Hart also had to fleetingly leave the action in the early exchanges for treatment to a knock on the left knee.

One tangle involving Cullip and Ipoua, which ended with a free-kick for Albion, suggested quite a tussle was in store between Scunthorpe's in-form marksman and the Seagulls' dependable central defender.

Ipoua, fresh from three goals in two games, was a bit fortunate to escape with a deliberate handball near the halfway line.

Many referees regard such an offence as a mandatory caution nowadays.

Scunthorpe keeper Evans dealt uncomfortably with a cross by Hart towards the near post, which Rogers tried to reach.

Evans looked a little uncertain again moments later when he failed to catch a cross from Mayo which was too far ahead of his Albion team mates.

Albion were once more passing the ball with plenty of confidence.

Another flowing build-up in the 20th minute finished with Watson drilling over a cross from the right which the plunging Mayo headed too high.

A minute later Hart got the better of Scunthorpe skipper Stanton, flicking the ball over the visiting defender's head.

It suddenly left Hart in space inside the area to fire a low angled drive which Evans managed to block.

The pressure was mounting on Scunthorpe, although Kuipers was then brought into meaningful action for the first time. Stamp met Dawson's free-kick from deep with a header at the far post which Albion's deputy No. 1 claimed with confidence.

Albion almost conceded their first goal for six games in the 25th minute.

The lanky Stamp's flicked header at the near post from Dawson's corner went just wide of the far post, with Kuipers stranded.

Kuipers punched clear another corner from Dawson as the visitors enjoyed a spell of possession.

Albion's first corner of the contest was preceded by a talking to from the ref for Wilcox, Scunthorpe's veteran stopper. Watson's flag kick came to nothing, Wicks being penalised for an aerial challenge on Evans.

Several injury interruptions were disrupting the flow of the game. Jones was next in the wars, sustaining an accidental wack in the face from Graves.

Albion nearly broke the deadlock nine minutes from the break. Rogers' flick prompted confusion between Wilcox and Evans. Zamora nipped in but could only force the ball narrowly wide.

Scunthorpe's time-wasting tactics were causing frustration among the bedraggled fans.

The delays were not helped by Woodward taking goal kicks for the visitors rather than Evans.

Mayo's chipped pass found Zamora with room inside the box, but the top scorer's effort rolled tamely wide.

The rain was relentless, but the pitch was holding up remarkably well.

A trademark trick by Jones down the left flank was followed by a deep cross which Evans caught cleanly.

Hart's fine approach work in the closing stages of the half released Watson down the right. His cross-shot was heading for the far post when the stretching Wilcox deflected it just wide of the target for a corner.

Rogers fired wide from eight yards in stoppage time after Evans failed to cope with Watson's inswinging corner.

During the half time interval members of Albion's 1958 promotion winning team were presented with named and numbered home shirts by chairman Dick Knight.

They included stars from the club's past such as Eric Gill and former Goldstone groundsman Frankie Howard.

The modern day Seagulls, hoping to emulate their exploits, came close to taking the lead two minutes into the restart.

A glancing header by Hart from Mayo's centre drifted just wide of the far post. Dawson was hurt in the process, but the Scunthorpe leftback limped back into the fray moments later.

Carpenter was too high with a well struck volley from outside the area for Albion.

A free-kick from long range by Larusson, Scunthorpe's former Walsall Icelander, also flew a couple of yards over the crossbar.

Scunthorpe almost went ahead on 55 minutes, Hodges thumping an angled left foot drive against the crossbar following a weaving run.

It had developed into an untidy match, with Scunthorpe stifling Albion's attempts to maintain their recent momentum.

Albion introduced Steele for Hart on 61 minutes. Brooker was also brought on at the expense of Jones and Melton replaced Oatway in the latter stages.