The turkey will taste that much more succulent for Albion manager Mark McGhee and his players now.

They go into the festive period boosted by a first win for ten games, thanks to a Christmas Carole and a collector's item from captain Charlie Oatway.

Stunning first-half strikes by the Seagulls' impish French winger Seb Carole and their loyal lieutenant Oatway made sure that Leon Knight was not missed.

The top scorer's future at the club must be in doubt after McGhee left him out for the third time in seven games, questioning his commitment to the cause in the process.

Instead he played the ever-willing and versatile Gary Hart up front, while restoring Hart's good friend Kerry Mayo to the defence for the first time since October 1.

Carole was the star of the show, changing the complexion of the contest during a dazzling spell after Stuart Elliott had given Hull a prompt lead.

The Seagulls may, depending on other results, drop back into the relegation zone today, but this crucial victory means they are looking up rather than down and still have a group of clubs, including Hull, within their sights.

It was not all Christmas cheer on the field. Albion conceded a soft first goal in their 5-1 defeat at leaders Reading last Saturday.

McGhee must have been just as disappointed by the manner in which Hull seized the initiative with a setpiece goal after four minutes.

Andy Dawson's corner was met towards the far post by Leon Cort with a firm header which Elliott flicked into the roof of the net with a left-foot volley from close range.

Hull boss Peter Taylor, back at Withdean for the first time since guiding Albion to promotion in 2001-2002, had recalled Elliott to the starting line-up.

The Northern Ireland striker, who spearheaded the visitors' promotion last season with 29 goals, vindicated his manager's judgement with his third in the Championship.

Falling behind so early stunned Albion for a while. They were launching long balls from the back, rather than bringing French wingers Alex Frutos and Carole into the game.

That all changed in the 16th minute with Carole's first home goal for the club. It was a fine one too, the former Monaco man cutting inside on to his left foot to beat Hull keeper Boaz Myhill with a sweet strike into the top corner of the net from 20 yards.

Even before Hull had scored, a couple of long kicks upfield had caused the Albion defence some discomfort.

The Seagulls continued to look less than assured at the back, Nick Barmby almost restoring Hull's lead with a twisting header from a cross by Craig Fagan which Alan Blayney, diving to his right, parried for a corner.

Blayney's wish to end his second loan spell from Southampton with a shutout had already been undone by fellow countryman Elliott but that did not diminish the quality of the save from the Northern Irish custodian.

There was more entertainment in the opening half-hour last night than in the whole of Albion's previous Withdean outing, a 0-0 draw with Derby.

The French connection almost produced a thrilling counter-punch, Frutos running half the length of the field on a break from a Hull corner before finding the supporting Carole with a crossfield pass.

He advanced into the Hull area and pulled the ball back invitingly for Dean Hammond, who shot over from 12 yards.

Blayney, desperate for a permanent move to the Seagulls during the January transfer window, was evidently intent on leaving a lasting impression.

He made another diving stop at the expense of a corner in the 36th minute when a free kick by Dawson from the right flank eluded everybody and threatened to find its way into the net.

An exhilarating 45 minutes climaxed with another wonderful goal for Albion on the stroke of half time, this time from Oatway. The captain, who has more ability than he is given credit for, looked up from Paul Reid's pass to place a right foot effort from 20 yards beyond the groping Myhill.

Oatway's first goal since March more than made up for the one he scored at the wrong end at Reading, but it was almost cancelled out ten minutes into the restart.

A header by Damien Delaney from a corner looped over Blayney and was dropping in when Reid, stationed on the far post, nodded it off the line.

Hull might have been awarded a penalty moments later but referee Keith Stroud saw nothing wrong with Oatway's challenge on Fagan.

Colin Kazim-Richards' eye for the spectacular surfaced again after the break. He almost followed his long-range consolation at Reading, his fourth goal as a substitute, with his first as a starter when he exploded an angled drive narrowly over the Hull bar.

Kazim-Richards was joined upfront by Mark McCammon midway through the second half, the former Millwall targetman coming on in place of Frutos for his first appearance since August following ankle surgery.

Albion's failure to hold on to leads this season almost haunted them again with six minutes remaining when Dawson's thunderous drive from 15 yards struck the bar.

McCammon's comeback only lasted 21 minutes. The unfortunate substitute was replaced by Jake Robinson in the closing stages after injuring himself in an aerial duel with keeper Myhill and Cort.

The Seagulls were hanging on at the death as the long wait for another win at Withdean to add to the one against Plymouth at the end of August finally came to an end.

It sends McGhee's side into the congested Christmas programme with renewed hope of survival.

  • Albion (4-4-2): Blayney 7; Reid 7, El-Abd 7, Butters 7, Mayo 7; Carole 9, Oatway 8, Hammond 7, Frutos 7; Hart 7, Kazim-Richards 7. Subs: Nicolas, McCammon for Frutos (withdrawn 68), Robinson for McCammon (injured 89), T. Elphick, Chaigneau.
  • Hull: (4-4-2): Myhill; France, Cort, Collins, Dawson; Price, Welsh, Delaney, Barmby; Fagan, Elliott. Subs: Lynch, Duke, Green for Welsh (withdrawn 46), Andrews for Price (withdrawn 78), Paynter for Barmby (withdrawn 46).
  • Matchfacts
  • - Shots on goal: Albion 2, Hull 4.

- Shots off goal: Albion 7, Hull 3.

- Corners: Albion 1, Hull 7.

- Offside: Albion 3, Hull 2.

- Free-kicks: Albion 8, Hull 11.

  • Albion bookings: El-Abd (52) foul; Kazim-Richards (62) foul.
  • Hull bookings: None.
  • Albion scorers: Carole (16), Oatway (45).
  • Hull scorer: Elliott (4).