Albion are still searching for the points needed for their best-ever WSL points haul following a heavy defeat at in-form Manchester City.
Hope Powell’s side arrived at the Academy Stadium looking to build on their 25-point haul, and while they had a chance to level what had become an enthralling game early in the second half, the hosts then went into overdrive to run out emphatic winners.
Powell made two changes to the side that lost against Birmingham City the previous weekend, with Emma Koivisto and Danielle Carter coming into the side, as Danique Kerkdijk and Aileen Whelan dropped to the bench.
The aim was to contain the hosts in the opening stages, but the Albion rearguard was broken as early as the third minute when Khadija Shaw tucked the ball home following a penetrating run from Demi Stokes.
It was one-way traffic with Lauren Hemp then flashing an effort across the face of goal. TV replays showed Megan Walsh did superbly well to get her fingers to the ball, but she could do little to stop Shaw netting moments later with a close-range shot on the turn.
Two goals down with just 12 minutes on the clock, City were looking relentless and they made it three soon after through Caroline Weir, who tucked home after Shaw’s close-range header was beaten out by Walsh.
Albion were struggling to live with their opponents but were handed an unexpected lifeline when Geummin Lee was brought down inside the box by Keira Walsh. Referee Amy Fearns pointed to the spot and Inessa Kaagman made no mistake as she netted her fourth WSL goal of the season.
The goal was a welcome shot in the arm for the Seagulls and they took the game to their hosts for a spell. Lee saw a speculative effort deflected wide while Carter was causing problems with her pace in the wide positions.
City then had chances to restore their three-goal lead but it was Albion who netted a second on the stroke of half-time when Lee broke down the right after being released by Kaagman. Honing in on goal, she centred for Julia Zigiotti, who finished with a superb first-time effort from 12 yards out. Game on!
Albion then went close to drawing level in the 56th minute when Zigiotti latched onto Kaagman’s inswinging cross, but as she lifted the ball over Ellie Roebuck from close range, the keeper managed to tip the effort over the bar.
It proved to be a pivotal moment as in the very next City attack, Shaw latched onto a slide-rule pass from Keira Walsh before drilling home her hat-trick.
The Jamaica international hadn’t finished her day’s work either as she grabbed her fourth just four minutes later – despatching Hemp’s low centre from the left into the roof of Albion’s net.
City continued to show their ruthless streak and netted a sixth on 68 minutes when Alex Greenwood headed home unmarked from a corner. It was seven soon after as Hemp got the better of Maya Le Tissier down the left before scoring from an acute angle - the hosts' fourth goal in the space of 12 minutes.
Albion kept going but it was another chastening day against a City side who have scored 20 goals against them in their last three WSL meetings.
Albion: Walsh, Koivisto, Le Tissier, Williams (61 Kerkdijk), Kullberg, Connolly (87 Simpkins), Zigiotti, Kaagman, Green, Lee (87 Symonds), Carter (72 Whelan). Subs not used: Startup, Gibbons, Bowman, Bance.