Glenn Murray celebrated his return to the starting line-up with four goals as Albion beat fellow strugglers Wycombe Wanderers 5-2 to move out of the relegation zone in League One.

Murray was only back in the side as a result of Liam Dickinson's late booking on Saturday which earned him a one-match ban.

But the striker took his chance in style, scoring three in the second half as the Seagulls fought back from 2-1 down at the interval.

With Leyton Orient losing 2-1 at Southend, Albion have moved above them on goals scored.

The first half was best forgotten with the deadlock being broken in the 27th minute, perhaps against the run of play. The goal was bizzarre as Adam El-Abd made a super block on Kevin Betsy's shot but his follow-up clearance hit Gavin Hoyte, cannoned off Peter Brezovan and fell nicely for Jon-Paul Pittman to squeeze home a low shot.

Nine minutes later Albion were level with a piece of opportunism from Murray who met Elliott Bennett's right-wing cross with an overhead kick which dropped into the far corner.

However, a horrible mistake from Brezovan ensured parity lasted just three minutes. Tommy Doherty's free-kick on the edge of the box spun off the top of the wall and provided a simple catch for Brezovan but the Albion keeper dropped it and John Mousinho forced the ball home from a yard out.

Gus Poyet looked stony-faced as he went in at half-time and whatever he said made an impact as Albion turned the game on its head with two goals within 11 minutes of the restart.

Forster made it 2-2 on 49 minutes, steering home Gary Dicker's teasing cross for his 13th goal of the season and then seven minutes later Forster hooked the ball over from the right and Murray headed home from close range.

Murray completed his hat-trick with another smart finish 20 minutes from time. Nicky Forster did the spade work with a fine run in the inside right channel, his cross was held up but Murray seized on it and took a touch to make space for himself before firing low into the far corner.

It was certainly Murray's day and he headed his fourth ten minutes from time from Dean Cox's cross which keeper Scott Shearer missed.