Two goals inside five minutes late in the second half knocked the stuffing out of a disappointing Bristol Rovers side in their farewell match at the Memorial Stadium.
They are moving out for two years while it undergoes a £36million rebuild, but never looked like doing so with a win.
For the first hour they never troubled Michels Kuipers in Brighton's goal, but then after he had brought off an alert save from teenager Charlie Clough on his debut as a sub, the visitors shook themselves up to claim the points.
Their hopes of a play-off have been ended by Leedss win at Yeovil the night before and they had been content to contain an uninspired home side.
Now, as Rovers lost possession deep in the Brighton half they surged out for their opening goal.Ian Westlake hit the woodwork and 19-goal Nicky Forster, on his return from a knee injury, saw his follow-up cleared off the line. Only though as far as Westlake, who made no mistake with his second attempt, thumping it confidently past Steve Phillips.Glenn Murray's header minutes later, after Dean Cox had set up the chance for him completed Rovers' misery.
Their attack, with midfielder Craig Disley struggling to justify the decision to move him up alongside Rickie Lambert, had always looked lop-sided.
Lambert had a very good claim for a penalty early on turned down and battled alone in a bid to break through.
They had to wait though for the arrival of Clough to worry Brighton although David Pipe had missed a great chance to score from eight yards when he hit the ball straight at Kuipers.Byron Anthony then came up from the back to send a header over the bar in Rovers' brief spell on top, before Brighton took over completely.