Three key Albion players from the Withdean era might find a few memories flooding back if they see Chris Hughton get a home flyer tomorrow.
Albion's still relatively new manager aims for a winning home start against Brentford after two away victories.
Such an introduction has been elusive to his predecessors over the last 13 years.
None of Albion's last NINE managers have enjoyed a win in their first home league fixture in charge.
Three of them - Mark McGhee, Micky Adams in his second stint and Gus Poyet - at least made the most of low-key home cup ties to record a victory before their home league bow.
Oscar Garcia wasn't even able to do that, suffering Capital One Cup defeat to Newport County on a sorry home debut.
But, for three home points at the first time of asking, you have to go back to a different age.
A time when Albion changed managers because they were doing well, not because they were struggling.
And when three key members of the current off-field staff were part of the playing squad.
Adams' success in his first stint with the Seagulls earned him a move to top-flight Leicester.
Peter Taylor replaced him in October 2001 and the transition was seamless as Oldham were brushed aside 3-0.
Paul Rogers, now Albion's business development manager, was brought back into the side by the new boss and settled nerves with the first goal under Taylor after just seven minutes.
Paul Watson, now part of the medical team, was at right-back that day and Hughton's current assistant Nathan Jones was among the subs.
Albion have had some good managers since then, of course.
But none have made that perfect league start at home.
We did not know at the time but a 0-0 draw with Coventry first time out would be Martin Hinshelwood's highlight at home in 2002.
His successor Steve Coppell admitted the home changing room was "like a morgue" after a 2-0 lead over Sheffield United turned into a controversial 4-2 defeat thanks to Carl Asaba's hat-trick and hotly disputed decisions made by referee Phil Prosser.
Gus Poyet famously masterminded a 3-1 win at Southampton in his first game in charge and also had FA Cup wins at home to Wycombe and Rushden early on.
But it is often forgotten that Albion managed just two points and two goals from his first seven league fixtures at Withdean.
Poyet's League One opener was a big anti-climax as Albion lost 3-0 to his old club Leeds.
The only other boss in recent years to suffer a heavy defeat in his home league opener was, ironically, the other promotion winner.
McGhee, after a win in what is now the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, watched his new charges crash 4-1 to Bristol City.
It was disconcerting at the time but, in the longer run, just made the play-off final win over the same opponents that season all the sweeter.
So the message is pretty clear. Don't be too disheartened if the home league debut does not go to plan when the Seagulls take on Brentford.
And savour the occasion if three points are gathered.
It will mean Hughton will have emulated another Spurs player turned Albion manager - and that is no mean feat.
How Howe denied Dean
Eddie Howe is setting the Championship pace as manager of Bournemouth these days.
But, as a player, he once denied a new Albion manager a winning start at home.
Dean Wilkins enjoyed a 1-0 win at Millwall in his first game in caretaker charge after Mark McGhee was sacked and his team then led the ten-man Cherries 2-1 at Withdean.
But Howe got forward from defence to head home a 74th-minute equaliser.
Wilkins also suffered home defeat - 2-1 to Chesterfield - in the first game after his interim role was made more permanent.
Wilkins is pictured above during a minute's silence for George Aitken ahead of the Bournemouth game.
Future England striker Rickie Lambert*converted the last-gasp penalty which gave Bristol Rovers a 1-1 draw at Withdean in the first home league game of Micky Adams' second stint as Albion boss in 2008.
Adams supervised a 1-0 'home' win over Shrewsbury at Gillingham in his first ever Albion match, back in 1999.
How Albion bosses started in the league at home
Manager************************ First game****************First win******************First five (W-D-L)
Martin Hinshelwood******* *Coventry 0-0**************** None************************* * 0-1-4
Steve Coppell**************** Sheff Utd 2-4***** Bradford 3-2 (2nd game)********* 2-1-2
Mark McGhee***************** Bristol C 1-4**** Wrexham 2-0 (2nd game)********* 2-2-1
Dean Wilkins*******************B'mouth 2-2****** * Orient 4-1 (2nd game)********** 1-2-2
Micky Adams ***************** Bristol R 1-1**** *Leicester 3-2 (7th game)********* 0-3-2
Russell Slade***************** Southend 1-3****** *Yeovil 5-0 (2nd game)********* * 2-1-2
Gus Poyet**************************Leeds 0-3********** Exeter 2-0 (8th game)********* 0-1-4
Oscar Garcia********************* Derby 1-2*********Burnley 2-0 (2nd game)***** *** 2-2-1
Sami Hyypia****************** Sheff Wed 0-1******* Bolton 2-1 (2nd game)********* 1-3-1
* - Adams' second stint in charge
The following managers took charge of home cup ties before their first home league games. With the exception of Wycombe, all opponents were from lower divisions than Albion.
Mark McGhee: Burton 3-1, Football League Trophy.
Micky Adams: Barnet 4-0, League Cup.
Gus Poyet: Wycombe 2-0, FA Cup replay.
Oscar Garcia: Newport 1-3 AET, League Cup.
Original article
Albion's still relatively new manager aims for a winning home start against Brentford after two away victories.
Such an introduction has been elusive to his predecessors over the last 13 years.
None of Albion's last NINE managers have enjoyed a win in their first home league fixture in charge.
Three of them - Mark McGhee, Micky Adams in his second stint and Gus Poyet - at least made the most of low-key home cup ties to record a victory before their home league bow.
Oscar Garcia wasn't even able to do that, suffering Capital One Cup defeat to Newport County on a sorry home debut.
But, for three home points at the first time of asking, you have to go back to a different age.
A time when Albion changed managers because they were doing well, not because they were struggling.
And when three key members of the current off-field staff were part of the playing squad.
Adams' success in his first stint with the Seagulls earned him a move to top-flight Leicester.
Peter Taylor replaced him in October 2001 and the transition was seamless as Oldham were brushed aside 3-0.
Paul Rogers, now Albion's business development manager, was brought back into the side by the new boss and settled nerves with the first goal under Taylor after just seven minutes.
Paul Watson, now part of the medical team, was at right-back that day and Hughton's current assistant Nathan Jones was among the subs.
Albion have had some good managers since then, of course.
But none have made that perfect league start at home.
We did not know at the time but a 0-0 draw with Coventry first time out would be Martin Hinshelwood's highlight at home in 2002.
His successor Steve Coppell admitted the home changing room was "like a morgue" after a 2-0 lead over Sheffield United turned into a controversial 4-2 defeat thanks to Carl Asaba's hat-trick and hotly disputed decisions made by referee Phil Prosser.
Gus Poyet famously masterminded a 3-1 win at Southampton in his first game in charge and also had FA Cup wins at home to Wycombe and Rushden early on.
But it is often forgotten that Albion managed just two points and two goals from his first seven league fixtures at Withdean.
Poyet's League One opener was a big anti-climax as Albion lost 3-0 to his old club Leeds.
The only other boss in recent years to suffer a heavy defeat in his home league opener was, ironically, the other promotion winner.
McGhee, after a win in what is now the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, watched his new charges crash 4-1 to Bristol City.
It was disconcerting at the time but, in the longer run, just made the play-off final win over the same opponents that season all the sweeter.
So the message is pretty clear. Don't be too disheartened if the home league debut does not go to plan when the Seagulls take on Brentford.
And savour the occasion if three points are gathered.
It will mean Hughton will have emulated another Spurs player turned Albion manager - and that is no mean feat.
How Howe denied Dean
Eddie Howe is setting the Championship pace as manager of Bournemouth these days.
But, as a player, he once denied a new Albion manager a winning start at home.
Dean Wilkins enjoyed a 1-0 win at Millwall in his first game in caretaker charge after Mark McGhee was sacked and his team then led the ten-man Cherries 2-1 at Withdean.
But Howe got forward from defence to head home a 74th-minute equaliser.
Wilkins also suffered home defeat - 2-1 to Chesterfield - in the first game after his interim role was made more permanent.
Wilkins is pictured above during a minute's silence for George Aitken ahead of the Bournemouth game.
Future England striker Rickie Lambert*converted the last-gasp penalty which gave Bristol Rovers a 1-1 draw at Withdean in the first home league game of Micky Adams' second stint as Albion boss in 2008.
Adams supervised a 1-0 'home' win over Shrewsbury at Gillingham in his first ever Albion match, back in 1999.
How Albion bosses started in the league at home
Manager************************ First game****************First win******************First five (W-D-L)
Martin Hinshelwood******* *Coventry 0-0**************** None************************* * 0-1-4
Steve Coppell**************** Sheff Utd 2-4***** Bradford 3-2 (2nd game)********* 2-1-2
Mark McGhee***************** Bristol C 1-4**** Wrexham 2-0 (2nd game)********* 2-2-1
Dean Wilkins*******************B'mouth 2-2****** * Orient 4-1 (2nd game)********** 1-2-2
Micky Adams ***************** Bristol R 1-1**** *Leicester 3-2 (7th game)********* 0-3-2
Russell Slade***************** Southend 1-3****** *Yeovil 5-0 (2nd game)********* * 2-1-2
Gus Poyet**************************Leeds 0-3********** Exeter 2-0 (8th game)********* 0-1-4
Oscar Garcia********************* Derby 1-2*********Burnley 2-0 (2nd game)***** *** 2-2-1
Sami Hyypia****************** Sheff Wed 0-1******* Bolton 2-1 (2nd game)********* 1-3-1
* - Adams' second stint in charge
The following managers took charge of home cup ties before their first home league games. With the exception of Wycombe, all opponents were from lower divisions than Albion.
Mark McGhee: Burton 3-1, Football League Trophy.
Micky Adams: Barnet 4-0, League Cup.
Gus Poyet: Wycombe 2-0, FA Cup replay.
Oscar Garcia: Newport 1-3 AET, League Cup.
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Original article
