More misery for Frank Lampard. More gloom. More concern.

Coventry's pointless – and goalless – start to the season extended to four Premier League games and left them rock bottom.

This was a stuffing by a free-scoring Brighton side who had five different players on the scoresheet and ran out easy winners.

Lampard's men showed fight and created some decent first-half opportunities and that should not be overlooked.

Yet classy strikes from Charalampos Kostoulas, Malick Yalcouye, Lewis Dunk and Yasin Ayari, and a Pascal Gross penalty, underlined the Seagulls' superiority.

Coventry had Taiwo Awoniyi deservedly sent off early in the second half and Brighton, already 2-0 up, took them to the cleaners.

When Lampard guided Coventry to promotion as Championship title winners last term, romance in the game breathed.

Here was one of the greatest players of his generation returning one of English football's traditional old clubs back to the big time after a traumatic 25-year absence.

Lampard rates the success as the finest achievement of a managerial career which has not always reached the heights he hit as a player.

The greater challenge, of course, will be keeping the Midlands outfit in the big time.

The 48-year-old spent £130million in the summer but the effects of that lavish spree have yet to be felt.

On this evidence, Coventry's survival chances are slipping and wealthy owner Doug King watched on from the stands here.

That Hull and Ipswich already have two wins apiece will merely add to his concerns.

But Sky Blues fans sang their hearts out until the death here and Lampard will need that support if he is to turn the situation around.

Brighton, typically, popped the ball around with a swagger early on but Coventry gradually steadied themselves and fashioned some decent opportunities.

Jay Dasilva was a threat on the left flank and his dangerous cross was met by Jack Rudoni, whose right-foot volley drew the best of Bart Verbruggen's saves.

Brighton's goalkeeper earned the player of the match honours and his side hit Coventry with a vicious sucker-punch in the 39th minute.

Kostoulas showed delightful skill to create the space to drive a low, right-foot shot past Carl Rushworth.

Lampard said: 'We created chances but didn't take them and then we're one-nil down from a moment of quality – welcome to the Premier League.

'Their second goal was the most disappointing because it was a mistake from us and then the red card, at 2-0, makes it very difficult.

'We need to be more clinical to give ourselves a chance in this league and we need to be honest about that. This wasn't a nice feeling.'

Six minutes into the second half, Yalcouye raced behind a leaden-footed defence to coolly slot home the Seagulls' second.

Awoniyi, a £9million summer signing from Nottingham Forest, then saw red for elbowing Maxim De Cuyper and Lampard had no issues with the decision.

The game was already up for his men but Gross added a third from the spot after Bobby Thomas felled Kostoulas.

Remarkably, centre-half and captain Dunk scored with a stupendous 35-yard shot which flew into Rushworth's top corner before Ayari's neat curling effort late on.

Having thrashed Aston Villa 4-0 on the opening day, this latest crushing victory maintained Brighton's impressive start to the season.

It remains early days, but Hurzeler's side appear set fair for another year of progress.

It was all too easy in the end but 13 goals from their opening four games makes them the Premier League's current top goalscorers.

Hurzeler said: 'I wouldn't say it was a complete performance, but our goalkeeper was great and we were ruthless in front of goal.

'If you have that desire to score then you can do it from different positions.

'I wasn't surprised by Lewis' goal because he has a great right foot and shows that technique on a daily basis in training.'

Brighton finished eighth last season to qualify for the Europa Conference League and next up is a trip to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup and a home clash with Arsenal.

Hurzeler added: 'We should stay very humble but also have a belief that we can go anywhere and compete.'