By Tim Dudding, at Withdean

Albion slumped to a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Oldham after once again failing to capitalise on goalmouth opportunities.

Andrew Crofts, Tommy Elphick and Nicky Forster all had chances to find the net, while at the other end, Albion's defence will be far from satisfied with the nature of Oldham's strikes.

Russell Slade recalled Liam Dickinson and Nicky Forster to spearhead the attack, and they were having a right old ding dong with Reuben Hazel and veteran centre-half Sean Gregan.

And, although the visitors had the first sight of goal after 26 minutes, when Joe Colbeck tested Michel Kuipers with a powerful low drive, Albion had the better of the first half.

Dickinson looked really up for the battle, and with the big centre-forward as a focal point, Albion played some really nice stuff in and around the Oldham penalty area.

But despite the approach play, the only real chance Albion created in the first period came from Elliott Bennett's fantastic corner, which Crofts powered onto the top of the bar.

Albion looked comfortable again after the break, but in the 57th minute the visitors stunned the Seagulls when Pawel Abbott's deflected shot from 20 yards somehow found a way past Kuipers.

Slade's men almost produced an immediate response when Forster skipped around Dean Brill, but after controlling a difficult bounce, he could only guide his effort over the bar.

Forster had another chance a few minutes later after running onto Dickinson's flick, but the striker couldn't find any power with his left foot and the ball span across the face of goal.

Normally so clinical in front of goal, Forster saw another good chance go begging when he met Bennett's cross, but his header deflected wide of the mark.

From the following corner Tommy Elphick had a half-chance, but headed straight at Brill.

As at Tranmere last weekend, Albion would rue their missed opportunities, because with nine minutes remaining Reuben Hazell strolled into the Seagulls area unmarked to steer Alan Sheehan's free-kick past Kuipers and put the game beyond Slade's men.

Crofts could have made the final stages interesting but his header hit the woodwork for a second time, and Albion are left once again contemplating a place in the bottom four.

Albion: (4-3-3) Kuipers; Hoyte, Virgo, Elphick, El-Abd; Crofts, Dicker, Navarro (Cox 60); Bennett, Forster, Dickinson (Hart 77). Subs not used: Smith (GK), Livermore, A Davies, Thornhill, Tunnicliffe.

Oldham: (4-4-2) Brill; Lomax, Hazell, Gregan, Sheehan; Colbeck (Holdsworth 92), Marrow, Furman, Whitaker (Taylor 71); Parker (Blackman 84), Abbott. Subs not used: Holdsworth, Lee, Black, Brooke , Ollerenshaw (GK).

Attendence: 6205 (133 Oldham).

Referee: Dean Whitestone.

Yellow Cards: Gregan, Furman, Abbott (Oldham).