[Albion](https://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/) suffered WSL defeat at Manchester City after Fran Kirby gave them a dream start.
The Seagulls let slip a half-time lead to go down 2-1 at the Joie Stadium.
Head coach Dario Vidosic felt they lacked maturity to manage the game having taken the advantage.
Kirby angled home a precise low finish from close range on 14 minutes to give them the lead.
Michelle Agyemang’s shot was parried by Kiara Keating but Rachel McLauchlan kept the ball alive and teed up the chance for Kirby.
Albion were generally comfortable and played some good football in possession.
Chiamaka Nnodozie turned an effort behind just before the break to keep the lead intact.
But City levelled on 58 minutes when the dangerous Bunny Shaw met a far-post cross with a header back across Nnadozie.
That looked like setting up a big finish from City but instead Albion threatened.
Kiko Seike, who had gone on as substitute, saw an effort parried by Keating.
Then Nadine Noordam failed to make proper contact on a shot in front of goal.
City conjured their winner ahead on 74 minutes as short, sharp passing around the edge of the box worked space for Yui Hasegawa to confidently guide a shot past Nnadozie.
Kirby only played the first half and Albion lost left-back McLauchlan to what looked a muscular injury in the second half.
Vidosic told [brightonandhovealbion.com](http://brightonandhovealbion.com): “I think for the first 45 minutes it was really, really good.
“We created enough but we were not deadly when we created these opportunities. We made the incorrect decision on a pass a few times.
“But in the second half we were nowhere near it, unfortunately.
“Maybe the scoreline spooked us. We were 1-0 up and it’s just the mentality. At times, it looked like an immature performance.”
Pluses for the evening included a brief but very bright and confident debut as sub by Rosa Kafaji, a loan signing from Arsenal.
Albion: Nnadozie, McLauchlan (Auee 62) Rule, Minami, Olislagers; Symonds (Camacho 88) Cankovic; Kirby (Noordam 46) Rayner (Seike 63) Agyemang; Haley (Kafaji 81).