Huddersfield took full advantage after Brighton had their goalkeeper sent off.
Antony Kay headed Huddersfield ahead but Liam Dickinson's shot levelled, only for Peter Clarke's close-range finish to restore the home side's lead.
Lee Novak scored from the spot after he was fouled by Michel Kuipers, who was sent off, then substitute keeper Graeme Smith saved Jordan Rhodes' penalty.
Rhodes set up Gary Roberts, Daniel Drinkwater hit home and Theo Robinson's late double completed the rout.
Huddersfield Town manager Lee Clark told BBC Radio Leeds:
"In the summer period I felt there were a lot of times last season when we created numerous opportunities but didn't have the strikers who have that natural instinct of being in the penalty area to score goals, but we've got that in abundance now.
"He (Danny Drinkwater) is class isn't he - that's why he's at Manchester United.
"When I went to watch him for the first time with Terry McDermott, after ten minutes we both turned to each other and said 'We've got to get him'".
Brighton manager Russell Slade told BBC Sussex:
"It was a horrendous night for me as a manager, for the team and for the club.
"I didn't see that coming and can only apologise. By far the worst night I've had in football. I was disappointed with most of the goals we conceded.
"But you've got to give them some credit. What a class act they are."
Live text and stats
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
League One
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Huddersfield
7-1
Brighton
FT
(HT 3-1)
Kay 21
P Clarke 35
Novak (pen) 43
Roberts 64
Drinkwater 69
Robinson 73
Robinson 90+1
Dickinson 34
Huddersfield
01 Smithies
02 Peltier
03 Skarz
05 P Clarke
12 T Clarke
18 Butler yellow card
07 Roberts
08 Kay (Drinkwater 64)
19 Pilkington
17 Rhodes (Simpson 73)
21 Novak (Robinson 58)
Substitutes
27 Glennon,
06 N Clarke,
16 Williams,
25 Drinkwater,
28 Ainsworth,
09 Robinson,
10 Simpson
Brighton
01 Kuipers red card
02 Whing
04 Elphick
06 El-Abd
23 Virgo
07 Cox
08 Navarro (Thornhill 74)
11 McLeod
20 Crofts
24 Smith (Smith 41 yellow card)
10 Dickinson (Forster 71 yellow card)
Substitutes
22 Smith,
12 Tunnicliffe,
18 Dicker,
19 Wright,
21 Thornhill,
09 Forster,
25 Davies
Ref: SwarbrickAtt: 11,269
HUDDERSFIELD
BRIGHTON
Possession
Huddersfield57%
Brighton43%
Attempts on target
Huddersfield8
Brighton4
Attempts off target
Huddersfield7
Brighton4
Corners
Huddersfield8
Brighton5
Fouls
Huddersfield8
Brighton16
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:35 The final whistle goes and the game is over.
90:00+4:01 Alex Smithies restarts play with the free kick.
90:00+4:01 Booking Nicky Forster goes into the book.
90:00+3:27 Foul by Nicky Forster on Andy Butler, free kick awarded.
90:00+2:24 The assistant referee flags for offside against Robbie Simpson. Graeme Smith takes the free kick.
90:00+0:36 GOAL - Theo Robinson:Huddersfield 7 - 1 Brighton Theo Robinson scores a goal from inside the box high into the middle of the goal. Huddersfield 7-1 Brighton.
88:48 Corner taken left-footed by Gary Roberts from the right by-line to the near post, Adam Virgo manages to make a clearance.
88:01 Short corner taken by Gary Roberts from the right by-line.
86:58 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Robbie Simpson by Adam Virgo. Anthony Pilkington restarts play with the free kick.
83:53 Shot from just outside the box by Theo Robinson goes over the bar.
82:17 Kevin McLeod produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the goal.
79:20 Strike on goal comes in from Adam Virgo from the free kick.
79:20 Booking Andy Butler is shown a yellow card.
78:50 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andrew Crofts by Andy Butler.
77:11 The ball is crossed by Anthony Pilkington, Header by Robbie Simpson from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.
75:56 Anthony Pilkington takes the inswinging corner, Tom Clarke has a headed effort from close in and clears the bar.
75:17 Foul by Andrew Crofts on Robbie Simpson, free kick awarded. Gary Roberts takes the direct free kick.
74:15 The referee blows for offside against Nicky Forster. Peter Clarke restarts play with the free kick.
73:36 Substitution Matt Thornhill replaces Alan Navarro.
72:51 The assist for the goal came from Daniel Drinkwater.
72:51 GOAL - Theo Robinson:Huddersfield 6 - 1 Brighton Theo Robinson grabs a goal from inside the area to the top right corner of the goal. Huddersfield 6-1 Brighton.
72:11 Substitution Robbie Simpson is brought on as a substitute for Jordan Rhodes.
71:51 Daniel Drinkwater takes a shot from outside the penalty box and hits the post.
70:24 The official flags Kevin McLeod offside. Indirect free kick taken by Andy Butler.
70:09 Substitution Nicky Forster joins the action as a substitute, replacing Liam Dickinson.
68:21 GOAL - Daniel Drinkwater:Huddersfield 5 - 1 Brighton Goal scored by Daniel Drinkwater from just outside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Huddersfield 5-1 Brighton.
65:32 Liam Dickinson concedes a free kick for a foul on Peter Clarke. Free kick taken by Peter Clarke.
64:57 Theo Robinson challenges Tommy Elphick unfairly and gives away a free kick. Graeme Smith takes the free kick.
63:56 Substitution Antony Kay leaves the field to be replaced by Daniel Drinkwater.
63:14 The assist for the goal came from Jordan Rhodes.
63:14 GOAL - Gary Roberts:Huddersfield 4 - 1 Brighton A goal is scored by Gary Roberts from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Huddersfield 4-1 Brighton.
62:25 The official flags Theo Robinson offside. Graeme Smith takes the free kick.
61:19 Inswinging corner taken by Gary Roberts, Peter Clarke takes a shot. Comfortable save by Graeme Smith.
60:43 The official flags Liam Dickinson offside. Joe Skarz restarts play with the free kick.
60:12 Andy Butler fouled by Liam Dickinson, the ref awards a free kick. Andy Butler restarts play with the free kick.
59:41 Andy Butler concedes a free kick for a foul on Liam Dickinson. Direct free kick taken by Dean Cox.
57:50 Substitution (Huddersfield) makes a substitution, with Theo Robinson coming on for Lee Novak.
56:05 Unfair challenge on Jordan Rhodes by Andrew Whing results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Tom Clarke.
54:09 Jordan Rhodes challenges Andrew Whing unfairly and gives away a free kick. Andrew Whing takes the free kick.
Correction - 53:38 Anthony Pilkington takes a shot. Save made by Graeme Smith.
53:38 Anthony Pilkington takes a shot. Save by Adam El-Abd.
53:07 Corner from the right by-line taken by Gary Roberts, clearance by Adam Virgo.
52:04 Placed penalty taken by Jordan Rhodes saved by Graeme Smith. Huddersfield 3-1 Brighton.
52:04 Jordan Rhodes fouled by Andrew Whing, the ref awards a Penalty.
49:26 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andrew Crofts by Tom Clarke. Direct free kick taken by Adam El-Abd.
Correction - 49:26 Tom Clarke concedes a free kick for a foul on Andrew Crofts. Free kick taken by Graeme Smith.
Correction - 48:36 Corner taken left-footed by Gary Roberts, save by Graeme Smith.
48:36 Inswinging corner taken by Gary Roberts, save by Adam El-Abd.
46:43 Dean Cox gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lee Peltier. Lee Peltier takes the free kick.
45:10 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andy Butler by Liam Dickinson. Free kick taken by Andy Butler.
45:01 The referee gets the second half started.
Half Time
45:00+5:47 The match has reached half-time.
45:00+5:20 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andy Butler by Adam Virgo. Alex Smithies takes the direct free kick.
45:00+4:54 Foul by Jordan Rhodes on Tommy Elphick, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Graeme Smith.
45:00+4:16 Dean Cox has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the goal.
45:00+3:42 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andrew Crofts by Tom Clarke. Free kick taken by Andrew Whing.
44:53 Lee Novak is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Graeme Smith.
43:46 Inswinging corner taken by Gary Roberts, Tommy Elphick manages to make a clearance.
42:54 Jordan Rhodes produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the net.
42:02 GOAL - Lee Novak:Huddersfield 3 - 1 Brighton Lee Novak scores a placed penalty. Huddersfield 3-1 Brighton.
41:08 Booking Graeme Smith receives a caution.
Correction - 38:45 Substitution Graeme Smith joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jamie Smith.
38:45 Substitution (Brighton) makes a substitution, with Graeme Smith coming on for Jamie Smith.
38:45 Sent off Red card for Michel Kuipers.
Correction - 37:54 Foul by Michel Kuipers on Lee Novak, Penalty awarded.
37:54 Michel Kuipers concedes a Penalty for a foul on Lee Novak.
37:13 Inswinging corner taken by Kevin McLeod from the right by-line, Tommy Elphick takes a shot. Save by Alex Smithies.
37:03 Kevin McLeod takes a shot. Save made by Alex Smithies.
36:39 Free kick awarded for a foul by Alan Navarro on Tom Clarke. Direct free kick taken by Antony Kay.
34:50 GOAL - Peter Clarke:Huddersfield 2 - 1 Brighton A goal is scored by Peter Clarke from inside the six-yard box to the top right corner of the goal. Huddersfield 2-1 Brighton.
34:15 Unfair challenge on Gary Roberts by Alan Navarro results in a free kick. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Joe Skarz from left channel, Tommy Elphick manages to make a clearance.
33:07 The assist for the goal came from Andrew Crofts.
33:07 GOAL - Liam Dickinson:Huddersfield 1 - 1 Brighton Liam Dickinson scores a goal from the edge of the area to the top left corner of the goal. Huddersfield 1-1 Brighton.
32:28 The referee blows for offside against Lee Novak. Adam Virgo takes the free kick.
32:21 The assistant referee flags for offside against Liam Dickinson. Alex Smithies restarts play with the free kick.
28:34 Shot from deep inside the area by Antony Kay clears the bar.
28:10 Andrew Whing gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Gary Roberts. Joe Skarz restarts play with the free kick.
27:32 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Dean Cox from the left by-line, Tommy Elphick takes a shot. Save made by Alex Smithies.
22:43 Lee Novak has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the goal.
20:27 The assist for the goal came from Anthony Pilkington.
20:27 GOAL - Antony Kay:Huddersfield 1 - 0 Brighton Antony Kay scores a headed goal from close range. Huddersfield 1-0 Brighton.
17:39 Shot from just outside the area by Jamie Smith goes over the bar.
17:04 Corner taken by Dean Cox from the left by-line, clearance made by Andy Butler.
14:18 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Lee Peltier.
11:12 Kevin McLeod takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Gary Roberts manages to make a clearance.
9:37 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Dean Cox, Unfair challenge on Alex Smithies by Liam Dickinson results in a free kick. Alex Smithies takes the direct free kick.
7:01 Jordan Rhodes challenges Tommy Elphick unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Michel Kuipers.
1:36 Free kick awarded for a foul by Liam Dickinson on Tom Clarke. Direct free kick taken by Alex Smithies.
0:00 The referee gets the match started.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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