By Tim Dudding, at Withdean

Albion's season is off to an inauspicious start after a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Walsall in the Withdean sunshine.

The first season-opener at home for 10 years, Russell Slade's new look side couldn't mark the occasion in style, and instead Andrew Whing's own goal gifted victory to the Saddlers.

After half-an-hour of to-ing and fro-ing, Withdean witnessed it's first goal of the new campaign. It fell to the visitors however, and in the most ignominious circumstances for Whing, who on the last outing here was celebrating his player of the season award.

Rhys Weston delivered a seemingly innocuous cross from the right, and Whing - perhaps distracted by the group of players in front of him - stooped to head the ball apologetically into the bottom corner.

The Seagulls almost responded soon after when Tommy Elphick headed just over the bar, but for most of the first half, Albion struggled to find any coherency.

Recognising this, Slade changed to a four man midfield at half-time, with Matt Thornhill making way for Nicky Forster.

And to an extent the change worked; Albion enjoyed much more of the ball, and with another man up alongside him now, Liam Dickinson started to impose himself.

The big forward shrugged off a challenge on the corner of the penalty area before crossing for Forster, but the striker was always stretching and his header glanced wide.

Dickinson then tried to catch Clayton Ince off-guard with a speculative 25-yard effort that only narrowly missed the post.

But frustratingly that was about all Albion could muster. Ince wasn't seriously tested in the Walsall goal, and it appears it might take a few games for Slade's new side to start firing on all cylinders.

Albion: (4-5-1) Kuipers; Whing, Virgo, Elphick, J Wright; M Wright, Thornhill (Forster 46), Navarro, Crofts, Cox (McLeod 78); Dickinson (Murray 82). Subs not used: G Smith (GK), Dicker, El-Abd, Tunnicliffe.

Walsall: (4-4-2) Ince; Weston, Hughes, Smith, Vincent; Till (Bradley 88), Mattis, Richards, Jones (Taundry 65); Parkin, Deeney (Nicholls 75). Subs not used: Roberts, Bradley,Gilmartin (GK).

Attendance: 6504 (381 Walsall)

Referee: Jarnail Singh.

Yellow Cards: Navarro (Albion); Richards, Parkin (Walsall).