The weather was gorgeously glorious again but there the similarities ended.

Can it really be only seven weeks ago that Albion pulverised Plymouth at Withdean with a performance full of forward flair and adventure?

The same diminutive front four were reunited by Mark McGhee on Saturday. Jake Robinson, fresh from signing a contract extension, took over from Colin Kazim-Richards alongside Leon Knight, with Seb Carole and Albert Jarrett on the wings.

Yet apart from a promising opening before Cardiff scored, the Seagulls were a shadow of the side which tormented Argyle at the end of August.

That late summer promise, continued by an enthralling draw at Leeds, has given way to autumn alarm bells. More worrying than the drop to the foot of the table at this embryonic stage is that Albion seem to have lost their way. The dash has gone and the chances are drying up.

McGhee said: "The front players did not play well enough, didn't cause them enough problems, didn't put them under enough concerted pressure.

"I was a little bit disappointed with Jake. I didn't think he looked aggressive enough in his running and in his determination to get behind them and down the sides of them.

"Sometimes he did it quite well but a couple of times, when he got in, that lack of real determination resulted in him not quite getting it under control."

One incident, at the start of the second half, encapsulated for McGhee the absence of conviction and sharpness. Robinson, released in behind the Cardiff defence by a delightful ball over the top from Knight, allowed Cardiff keeper Neil Alexander to smother comfortably at his feet.

"I'd expect him to get it down and get a shot away," McGhee said. "If the keeper saved it then fine but he didn't get a shot away. That reflected not just Jake but the general performance of the forwards.

"They were the ones that made the difference against Plymouth. The rest are what they are and will hold their own at this level but in order to win games we need the front players, the creative players, playing well and in the last couple of games they haven't."

The forwards are not the only ones to blame. Albion do not have the strength in depth to have too many players off colour at the same time.

Paul Reid, switched from rightback to leftback to accommodate Gary Hart's return at the expense of Kerry Mayo, admitted: "I can put my hand up, I'm not playing the way I have been for the last year or so. I'm giving the ball away at stupid times.

"We want to get the ball down and into the feet of the forwards but it's just not happening. It's very frustrating.

"I guess we've got to look back to the Plymouth game, where we beat them 2-0 and were very comfortable, and think what we did right to create so many chances."

Cardiff, with Cameron Jerome causing all sorts of problems with his pace and power and Jason Koumas pulling the strings from the left side of midfield, were incisive by comparison.

Koumas, on loan from West Brom, dented Albion's early ascendency with a precise right-foot finish into the roof of the net from just inside the area after Jerome got away from Hart and Paul McShane to square invitingly.

The Welshmen could have been out of sight by the break, the talented Koumas, Jerome and Kevin Cooper all going close.

Albion, to their credit, at least kept plugging away to grab an untidy equaliser which, frankly, did not look like coming.

A clever pass by Dean Hammond found Robinson in space inside the box. His shot was parried by Alexander for McShane slot his second goal in four games.

Any result was possible at that stage but Alan Lee won it for Cardiff 16 minutes from time with his first touch after replacing Michael Ricketts.

The injury-plagued Lee, who scored a controversial winner for Rotherham against Albion three seasons ago, converted the 50th League goal of his career and first since January from Joe Ledley's pass as the defence dozed.

The Seagulls' record at Withdean so far is cause for concern. Away draws at Derby, Preston, Leeds, Burnley and Leicester are all very well but they need to be accompanied by a sprinkling of home victories.

Four defeats, two draws and only one win in front of your own fans is relegation form.

Useful away points for Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday, at Norwich and Plymouth respectively, combined with a surprise win for Crewe at home to Luton, have left Albion looking up at the rest.

It is hardly the ideal preparation for facing the old enemy, especially as Palace put four past Micky Adams' Coventry, but the trip to Selhurst Park is an opportunity to restore faith and confidence.

Just three points divide the bottom seven and it is far too early to be too pessimistic about what lies ahead.

Only a handful of the squad have experienced a Palace derby but the players appreciate what is at stake.

Reid said: "People have told us how hostile it is there. I've never experienced the derby, so it will be very interesting.

"The lads are going to be up for it. They know how important it is for us and the coaching staff but also for the fans."

McGhee is likely to make changes up front tomorrow with Colin Kazim-Richards and Alexandre Frutos both in contention to start.

  • Matchfacts
  • - Shots on goal: Albion 1, Cardiff 8.

- Shots off goal: Albion 8, Cardiff 2.

- Corners: Albion 9, Cardiff 5.

- Offside: Albion 7, Cardiff 2.

- Free-kicks: Albion 7, Cardiff 15.

  • Albion bookings: McShane (66) unsporting behaviour, Reid (82) foul.
  • Cardiff bookings: Barker (60) foul, Ricketts (66) unsporting behaviour.
  • Albion scorer: McShane (61).
  • Cardiff scorers: Koumas (12), Lee (74).