THE SADDLERS gave the perfect response to Saturday's heavy defeat by running out convincing winners against Brighton & Hove Albion.

A slip in defence within the opening minute gave Troy Deeney an early opening but he snatched at the opportunity.

With five minutes on the clock, Alex Nicholls seized on a loose ball to break down the right but he couldn't find Deeney in the middle as Mikkel Andersen gathered. There was a nervy moment for Clayton Ince at the other end as he came from a high ball into the box but couldn't claim as the loose ball was cleared.

Al Bangura showed pace to break from the midfield but Ince was alert to clear the danger well outside his area.

The opening goal arrived on 14 minutes when some good work out wide on the right by Nicholls saw him deliver an inviting low ball into the path of Mark Bradley, who was starting in place of Stephen Hughes in the only change from Saturday's team, and he found the net from close range.

Some more good work by Nicholls saw him show persistence to charge the ball down before getting in another low cross that this time found Deeney who made no mistake to double the advantage.

Shortly afterwards Rhys Weston tried his luck from distance but was well wide as The Saddlers looked a totally different side from the one that was so comprehensively beaten at the weekend.

There was still time for a third goal before the break as a 37th minute corner was not properly cleared and as the ball came back out off the crossbar, skipper Anthony Gerrard was on hand from close range to get his name on the scoresheet.

The half ended with a header from Brighton's leading goalscorer, Nicky Forster land just wide of the target.

An early effort from Ibehre stung the hands of the 'keeper who then gathered Zaaboub's free-kick that lacked the necessary power to caused too many problems.

The tackles were coming in thick and fast as Gerrard was required to defend well on two occasions in quick succession on the hour-mark. It left the skipper hobbling quite badly and he was soon replaced by Chris Palmer.

Palmer's first involvement in the action saw him deliever a ball to the far post where Seb Carole's attempted clearance struck Andy Whing and landed just wide of his own goal.

The next attack saw Ibehre drive forward to find Nicholls who managed to dig out a shot that was deflected for a corner. The resulting flag-kick was only half-cleared as Nicholls did well to win the loose ball and try jis luck with a rasping drive that took a deflection on its way for another corner.

This time Brighton were able to clear their lines and relieve the pressure.

Robin Shroot replaced Zaaboub in the 76th minute before some solid defending from Manny Smith saw him deny Owusu as Bangura blazed over from the resulting flag-kick.

Some sloppy play in a dangerous position by Jason Jarrett allowed Bradley to get his foot in to feed Ibehre but he lifted the ball over the crossbar.

At the other end, Ince was down well to save from Dean Cox as the visitors took advantage of some hesitant defending from The Saddlers.

The closing stages saw Richard Taundry replace Ibehre before Bradley looked to set Shroot through only for Andersen to gather at his feet.

But it mattered not as Chris Hutchings' men got back on track with a convincing victory.

PHOTOS: David Linney Photography