Brighton dealt 10-man Coventry a crushing 5-0 defeat to condemn them to a fourth straight Premier League loss.

The Sky Blues have lost those games without scoring a goal and remain the only side in the league still to pick up a point.

Both teams took it in turns to have their share of chances in an entertaining first period which featured 21 shots -- the most in any first half of a Premier League game this season.

But it was Charalampos Kostoulas who made his effort count when he put the away side in front with his first league goal since January to give Brighton a half-time lead.

Coventry's afternoon went from bad to worse within nine minutes of the second period as Malick Yalcouyé doubled Brighton's lead before Taiwo Awoniyi saw red for an elbow on Maxim De Cuyper.

Brighton flexed their muscles as Pascal Gross' penalty made it three, Lewis Dunk thumped home an effort from 25 yards and Yasin Ayari capped off a five-star Seagulls performance.

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The visitors started on the front foot and shoot on sight seemed to be the message inside the first 15 minutes, encapsulated by Olivier Boscagli trying his luck from his own half. Carl Rushworth did not need to worry about the speculative effort.

Brighton were showing their confidence, Yalcouyé and Kostoulas both failing to work Rushworth.

The hosts tried to show what they had at the top end of the pitch themselves and got their first effort on goal when Ephron Mason-Clark scuffed a shot into the hands of Bart Verbruggen before Jack Rudoni saw a header skim the crossbar.

Coventry grew into the contest and Brighton needed Verbruggen to stop a couple of volleys from Rudoni and Frank Onyeka.

Just as it looked like Coventry had established a foothold in the game, Brighton broke the deadlock in the 35th minute when Kostoulas latched on to a header from Gross and took a couple of neat touches before firing low and hard into the bottom left corner.

Brighton doubled their advantage six minutes after the break when Yalcouyé beat two defenders before racing through on goal and slotting past Rushworth.

Coventry were forced to play the majority of the second half with a man less after Awoniyi caught De Cuyper with a flailing elbow, which referee Tony Harrington deemed dangerous enough for a red card.

The home side's afternoon got worse when Bobby Thomas brought down Kostoulas inside the area and Gross slotted away the resulting penalty.

Brighton's outstanding day, in contrast, got better and better as Dunk decided to let fly from 25 yards with a strike which flew into the top left corner.

There was still time for the away side to get a fifth, Ayari trying his luck from range with a lovely curling effort which once again beat Rushworth.