SLOW out of the traps yet again, Albion were punished by a veteran goal poacher.
Their lacklustre performance at Yeovil simply ached for someone with the same class and finishing ability as Marcus Stewart.
It was a touch ironic too that the game was put beyond Albion's reach by a striker who once wore the stripes, albeit briefly.
The season will be full of what-might-have-been moments unless we can land that elusive target man.
In short, although the Albion had large amounts of possession during the game, they had no cutting edge in the final third - an oh-so-familiar story.
At times, as we huffed and puffed and passed it sideways and back, it was difficult to appreciate we could so easily have managed to salvage a point at least.
After Stewart's cracking early goal - when he was given time and space on the edge of the penalty area to control a neat ball in from Nathan Jones and rifle it past Henderson - Yeovil actually had very few chances to score.
It was only a classic breakaway late in the game, after an Albion free kick shambles, that led to Wayne Gray's winner.
Let's return to that free kick. In a game when Albion struggled to get themselves into good goalscoring positions, whatever possessed them to squander the opportunity to belt in a direct shot from the edge of the penalty area?
When Hammond was upended on the edge of the area, instead of a direct hit from the likes of Chippy, Coxy or Mayo, there was a disastrous tippy-tappy session that came to nothing.
Yeovil cleared their lines, and, with our centre backs committed forwards for that free kick, a gaping hole appeared at the back which Gray exploited.
There was a tired look about the Albion which could be put down to expecting too much from this largely young side playing their sixth game in 18 days.
What of individual performances? The returning Henderson in goal had very little to do. He didn't stand much chance with the goals and pulled off a couple of saves. It was telling, perhaps, that he seemed nervous in the moments before kick off about taking up his position in goal in front of the impressive ranks of Albion supporters; choosing to loiter on the edge of the area until the game kicked off.
Prior to the game, the impression was given that, if he'd been well enough, Guy Butters might have started instead of Georges Santos. I fully expect that to happen on Saturday.
I know Santos used to drive QPR supporters to distraction, and he's shown us why. To be fair, his passing improved in the second half, and his most effective moments were reserved for the do-or-die final five minutes when he was thrust up front. But even then he failed to capitalise on a slip by his marker, and a half-chance went begging.
Tommy Elphick got a place on the bench at Huish Park, and I wonder if he might be given an opportunity against Chesterfield.
It was good to see Richard Carpenter back in central midfield, but he didn't stamp his authority on the game in the way we know he can.
Dean Hammond looked our most energetic and effective player and was unlucky when he thumped a loose ball in the penalty area straight at Milldenhall, who double-punched it away. Dean Cox, playing in the excluded Alex Frutos role wide left, was less influential than he has been in recent games.
Tommy Fraser got himself into some good positions and could consider himself unfortunate to be substituted. His replacement, Joe Gatting, looked short of fitness - or perhaps he simply isn't going to convert his youthful goalscoring prowess to the League?
Alex Revell again put in a workmanlike performance that once or twice threatened to produce something, but Yeovil were well marshalled at the back by Terrell Forbes, who managed to keep most attacks at bay.
Gary Hart failed to get the better of his old Albion team-mate Jones, who looked comfortable at left back for the home side.
Brighton, though, should at least be getting a point from teams like Yeovil.
The Celtic lookalikes in their green and white hoops passed the ball neatly and, in the unpronounceable-named lad who scored for Grimsby against Spurs last season, had easily the best player on the pitch. He ran the show.
The Deans' honeymoon is well and truly over with this third defeat in a row and I fully expect to see a managerial appointment from outside the club before very long.
If we are to get in on loan the two or three players we need to strengthen what is a flimsy squad, there surely needs to be a permanent boss in place before any player is going to commit to join us.
Nick Turrell Labels: League One, Nick Turrell, Yeovil
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