Albion recorded their first home win of the campaign with a 2-1 victory against ten-man Walsall, on a memorable afternoon for Marcos Painter.

The former Swansea full-back capped a superb personal performance with his first career goal - a back-post header from Elliott Bennett's cross - to put Albion 2-0 up with ten minutes left to play.

Ashley Barnes gave Albion the lead midway through the second half, and even though John Macken grabbed a late consolation, the win for Gus Poyet's men was never really in any doubt after Barnes had opened his goal account for the new season.

Chris Hutchings' side arrived at Withdean in fine form, and made the better start of the two sides. Paul Marshall had Casper Ankergren sprawling to his right with a ninth minute shot, while Reuben Reid twice came inches from putting the visitors in front.

A venomous snap-shot from Bennett, parried by Walsall stopper John Brain, seemed to wake Albion up midway through the first half, but Poyet would have been glad to get his side into the interval on level terms.

The Uruguayan introduced Jamie Smith shortly before the hour mark, and that gave the Seagulls added momentum as Smith provided an extra dimension going forward.

Painter almost gave Albion the lead when his rasping shot was deflected off Oliver Lancashire onto the crossbar - but Albion's pressure finally told when Glenn Murray crossed low into the area, and Barnes volleyed instinctively into the bottom corner to score his first goal since signing permanently during the close season.

By now the Seagulls were rampant, and Inigo Calderon's fierce drive forced Brain to parry at his near post. Painter then burst into the area with a brilliant run before finding Smith, who created a yard of space with some smart footwork, only to see his shot dribble the wrong side of the post.

Walsall were well under the cosh, and their cause wasn't helped when referee Graham Horwood sent off Alex Nicholls for kicking out at Tommy Elphick.

With ten minutes remaining Albion finally increased their advantage when Bennett picked out Painter lurking at the far post, and the defender nodded the ball back across Brain and into the net.

Murray almost made it 3-0 when he controlled Gary Dicker's shot before rounding the advancing Brain, only for Aaron Lescott to block his effort on the line; Smith also came close, but headed Murray's chipped cross narrowly over the bar.

Walsall sub Macken nicked an equaliser in injury time with a well-taken finish, but it was too late for the Saddlers; and while the late goal left Poyet fuming, he will be pleased to see Albion move up to seventh in League One.

TEAMS

Albion: (4-4-2) Ankergren; Calderon, Elphick, El-Abd, Painter; Bennett (Holroyd 90+1), Kishishev, Dicker, Battipiedi (Jamie Smith 59); Barnes, Murray. Subs not used: Walker (GK), Baz, Hart, Cook, Bridcutt.

Walsall: (4-4-2) Brain; Lescott, Lancashire, Taundry, McGivern; Richards; Richards, Emmanuele Smith, Gray (Macken 80), Marshall; Nicholls, Reid. Subs not used: Bevan (GK), Geddes, Paterson, McDonald, Grigg, Westlake.

Attendance: 6474 (261 Walsall).

Referee: Graham Horwood.

Yellow Cards: Lescott (Walsall).

Red Cards: Nicholls (Walsall, violent conduct).

Withdean Wager: 1st 2058 (£530), 2nd 2016 (signed ball).