Richard Carpenter and Mark McCammon fired 10-man Brighton to an impressive victory to deal a huge blow to Sunderland's automatic promotion hopes.

But Brighton boss Mark McGhee had new signing Rami Shaaban to thank for earning his side the points as he made a string of second-half saves to keep the Black Cats at bay.

Carpenter broke the deadlock with a deflected shot just past the midway point, but Adam Virgo received his marching orders for a second bookable offence after half an hour.

Former Millwall striker McCammon sealed the points with a header from a corner just before the break, although Julio Arca scored for Sunderland to set up a grandstand finish 10 minutes from time.

The Black Cats, unchanged from the side that beat Watford 4-2, carved open the first chance of the match in the second minute when Arca sidefooted wide after good work by Marcus Stewart.

Albion broke the deadlock in the 26th minute following a corner which fell to Carpenter on the edge of the area. The midfielder's shot took a deflection off Wright on its way past wrong-footed keeper Thomas Myhre to put the Seagulls in front.

Two minutes later Shaaban, making his debut after joining the Seagulls on a non-contract terms, made his first save to deny Stephen Elliott.

The game turned on its head in the 30th minute when Virgo, booked early on for raising an elbow to Stephen Caldwell, was sent off by referee Dermot Gallagher for a two-footed tackle on Jeff Whitley.

But Brighton went further ahead in the 43rd minute when Carpenter's inswinging corner was nodded home by McCammon for his third goal in as many games.

Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy made two changes at the break, bringing on Sean Thornton and Chris Brown for Dean Whitehead and Jeff Whitley in a 4-3-3 formation.

Thornton nearly made an immediate impact as he latched on to Elliott's cut-back only to side-foot the ball over the crossbar.

But Brighton were not content to sit back despite being a man down and nearly extended their lead in the 50th minute as Alex Nicolas volleyed just over the bar.

The home side had former Arsenal keeper Shabaan to thank later on as he kept out a stinging drive from Thornton and then made a brilliant point-blank save to deny Arca.

McCarthy made his final throw of the dice in the 65th minute, replacing Elliott for Michael Bridges, but the change makes little difference to Sunderland's luck in front of goal.

Arca's shot deflected perfectly into the path of substitute Thornton, who miscontrolled the ball with the goal gaping as Brighton cleared the danger.

But the Black Cats were finally rewarded for their dominance as Arca fired into the top corner with a superb left-footed drive to reduce the deficit in the 80th minute.

Shabaan then pulled off a fine save to keep out a diving header from Wright at the far post, but the visitors went even closer moments later as Thornton struck the post from outside the area.

Wright had a header cleared in the dying stages and Bridges went close, but Brighton hung on for the points.

Teams

Brighton Shaaban, Reid, Hinshelwood, Butters, Harding, Hart, Carpenter, Nicolas, Knight, McCammon (Hammond 84), Virgo.

Subs Not Used: Watson, Jones, Yelldell, Cox.

Sent Off: Virgo (30).

Booked: Virgo, Knight.

Goals: Carpenter 26, McCammon 43.

Sunderland Myhre, Wright, Breen, Caldwell, McCartney, Whitehead (Brown 45), Robinson, Whitley (Thornton 45), Arca, Elliott (Bridges 65), Stewart.

Subs Not Used: Alnwick, Danny Collins.

Booked: Wright, McCartney, Thornton.

Goals: Arca 80.

Att: 6,647

Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).