Albion were denied a share of the spoils following a late goal from table-topping City.
An impressive first-half display from the Seagulls, at both ends of the pitch, was rewarded when Luca Barrington netted from the spot. However, City got on top after the break and were rewarded through Alex Robertson and a close-range effort from Carlos Borges six minutes from time.
Despite the scoreline, there will be positives Shannon Ruth will take from the performance; his side containing City’s lively forward line for much of the game, and goalkeeper Toby Bull pulling off a string of fine first-half saves.
In an encounter that was very easy on the eye, Albion took the lead in the eighth minute having broke at speed. Ex-City youngster Barrington was the spearhead, and having had his heels clipped inside the box, the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
The forward then dusted himself down before sending City keeper Mikki van Sas the wrong way.
Albion were clearly buoyed by the goal, with Cam Peupion flashing an effort across the face of goal, likewise Marcus Ifill from the opposite flank.
City were struggling to make their patient build-up play count in the final third, with the Albion rearguard growing in confidence as they played out through the press.
When the hosts did get between the lines, they were halted by Bull, who made two excellent saves in quick succession from Borges – both efforts being pushed away for corners.
The saves spurred Albion back into action, with Barrington volleying over following a good spell of possession, but it was City who came close to an equaliser before the break.
Adedire Mebude worked some space inside the box, only for Bull to make another superb close-range save, and he was called into action moments later to beat out a Lakyle Samuel effort.
The half ended with City in the ascendancy and they continued on the front foot after the break with Tomas Galvez hitting the side netting while Kian Breckin had a 20-yard effort comfortably saved by Bull.
There was an inevitability about the equaliser, and it duly arrived on 58 minutes when Alex Robertson stroked home a low, curling effort from the edge of the box.
It was now all hands to the pump for the Seagulls as City searched for the winner. Borges had the ball in the net from close range on 78 minutes, having latched onto a low cross from Mebude, only to be flagged for offside.
The forward was not to be denied though, and in a mirror-image move, he tucked home in the 84th minute – making it a long journey home for the hard-working Seagulls.
Albion: Bull, Nilsson, Offiah, Jackson, Samuels, Hishelwood, Chouchane, Peupion, Barrington (Everitt 67), Moran, Ifill (Wilson 62).
Subs not used: Talley, Baker-Boaitey, Kavanagh