It is impossible to imagine a more satisfying way to move off the bottom of the table.

Albion provided the perfect riposte to consecutive home defeats with their first victory over Palace for 17 years.

Beating their biggest foes in their own backyard was no fluke either.

After a couple of below-par performances, Mark McGhee's side rediscovered the verve and passion they have showed in the Championship on several occasions this season, particularly away from the depressing atmosphere at Withdean.

They rose to the challenge magnificently last night and there could be no quarrels about the justice of their victory, clinched by Paul McShane's third goal in five games.

That is an impressive burst of scoring for a centre half and the on-loan Manchester United youngster stood out once more, not just because of his goal but also his composure at the back.

The Seagulls had heroes all over the pitch as Palace, flying after a hat-trick of wins, were made to look distinctly ordinary.

Albion sensibly set out to make life as difficult as possible for Palace, the solid attributes of Charlie Oatway given preference to the enigmatic Albert Jarrett, who was excluded from the squad altogether.

Oatway was reunited in the central midfield battle-ground with Richard Carpenter, passed fit following a recurrence of foot trouble, with Dean Hammond moving out to the left.

Palace manager Iain Dowie, beaten to the Albion job by McGhee two years ago, was similarly minded, the experienced Michael Hughes replacing the promise of Ben Watson in the centre of the park.

The Seagulls must have been relieved to see Andrew Johnson's name missing from the team sheet after the England striker made his comeback from knee trouble as a substitute in Palace's 4-1 victory at Coventry on Saturday.

There was no evidence of the 19 places which divided the teams in the opening stages. The Seagulls made a composed, confident start and did not look overawed by the occasion as they had been when they were hammered 5-0 on their previous visit three years ago.

Carpenter needed treatment for a blood wound after an aerial challenge with Tom Soares. He returned to the fray with his head swathed in a bandage.

Carpenter's emergency repairs coincided with the first chance of the contest for Palace in the 18th minute. Clinton Morrison, finding space through the inside right channel, squared for Hughes, who had a clear sight of goal, but Wayne Henderson made an important smothering stop.

Leon Knight spurned a great chance to put Albion ahead a minute later, lifting the ball over the advancing Gabor Kiraly and over the bar from Sebastien Carole's pinpoint pass which split the Palace defence.

The Seagulls had to cope with a setback midway through the first half, Alexandre Frutos coming on for the injured Carpenter.

Henderson held a header from Darren Ward from a corner as Palace showed signs of finding their stride.

Carole, continuing to impress with his inventive streak, created another opportunity with a pass to Jake Robinson inside the area. He set up Frutos for an angled drive which was palmed away one-handed by Kiraly, the Hungarian No. 1.

A fine piece of individual play by Knight nearly broke the deadlock approaching the break. The Seagulls' top scorer dispossessed Hughes on halfway, advanced towards the Palace area and skipped past Ward to unleash a fierce shot which the diving Kiraly parried for a corner.

The lead Albion's enterprise warranted should have arrived just before half time but Robinson fired over from 15 yards after Knight had tricked his way past Danny Butterfield to set his partner up.

Albion had half-hearted appeals for a penalty waved away early in the second half when Frutos went down under a challenge by Butterfield.

Very little had been seen up to this point of Palace's wide men but Jobi McAnuff burst into life with a jinking run and left foot shot just wide from 20 yards.

Albion's defensive diligence for once deserted them on the hour when Marco Reich was left unmarked from Butterfield's corner. The German winger wasted the chance by heading over from ten yards.

Chances had been much more scarce in the second half but another one fell Albion's way with 15 minutes remaining.

McShane's free-kick from deep reached Knight in space 12 yards out but his low drive was deflected wide for a corner.

The Seagulls deserved a goal and McShane provided it 12 minutes from time.

His header from Carole's corner looped over the stranded Kiraly to send more than 3,000 Albion fans into raptures.

McShane capped a wonderful night for him and Albion with a goal-saving tackle to deny Jon Macken from fellow substitute Watson's pass, although hearts were in mouths two minutes into stoppage time.

Morrison thought he had equalised when he tucked in the rebound after Henderson could not hold Macken's low shot but the Palace striker was offside.

Palace manager Dowie said: "We prepared to play Brighton like we prepare to play anyone else, I didn't under-estimate them and if my players did then more fool them.

"There was not enough passion on the pitch. It didn't look like it was a derby from our point of view at times."

Local bragging rights are now assured at least for the next month until the teams do it all again at Withdean.