Leicester City are breathing down the necks of Nationwide First Division leaders Portsmouth after Micky Adams enjoyed a profitable return to the South Coast.
Adams, who kick-started Brighton's revival before heading to the Midlands 14 months ago received a standing ovation before kick-off from a sell-out crowd.
And he was smiling again at the end after Brian Deane's trademark second-half header stretched City's unbeaten league run to 11 games.
Brighton, meanwhile, remain next to bottom and will need to find more of a cutting edge if they are to avoid a quick return to the second division.
The Seagulls only shot on target came on the hour when Ian Walker diverted a free-kick from Graham Barrett over the bar at full stretch.
Defensively Brighton looked solid enough and they needed to have their wits about them, particularly in a one-sided first half.
Paul Dickov hit the post in the 21st minute and when the rebound fell to Deane he was denied by Danny Cullip's goal-line clearance. Deane missed the target with two other headers while Muzzy Izzet and James Scowcroft also went close.
In contrast Bobby Zamora, a player Adams would like to sign if Leicester return to the Premiership, got little change out of the commanding Matt Elliott.
Ironically Brighton were enjoying their best spell of the game when Leicester broke through in the 72nd minute.
Alan Rogers floated in a free-kick and Deane rose in the six-yard box to divert his header inside the left-hand post for this eighth goal of the season.