Albion will spend Christmas in the League One relegation zone after going down 2-1 at Swindon today.

A first-half Nicky Forster header and a flurry of late pressure were not enough to give Gus Poyet's men any reward on the manager's return to his old club.

The Seagulls fell behind on 31 minutes when Jimmy McNulty, making his comeback as starting left-back, was adjudged to have pushed Billy Paynter as they contested a deep cross.

Paynter confidently stroked the spot kick past Peter Brezovan, the former Swindon keeper who had already made a couple of good saves.

The visitors had not threatened until then but were level on 38 minutes with a stunning goal, Forster heading home Elliott Bennett's terrific cross at the end of a flowing multi-pass move.

Alan Sheehan was inches from restoring the home lead before the break as his free-kick bounced down and away off the underside of the bar.

However Swindon were ahead ten minutes into the second period as Charlie Austin headed home at the far post.

Poyet's response was to make an attack-minded double switch for the last quarter of the game, sending on Dean Cox and Liam Dickinson.

It almost brought results with Glenn Murray being denied by a superb David Lucas save and Dickinson seeing his header from the resulting corner cleared off the line.

The lively Dickinson really should have salvaged a leveller in the last ten minutes after twice being sent clear but first he shot wide, then saw an effort saved by Lucas.

The action was watched by a shivering crowd of 7,068 including 686 away fans.

We apologise for the lack of our usual live commentary service from Swindon today.

This was due to technical problems which we hope will be fixed by the time Albion host Leyton Orient on Boxing Day.

Look out for four pages of coverage from the game in The Argus on Monday.