After battling in the bottom half of the table for much of last season, the win is sure to come as a boost to the Seagulls, who came into the new campaign on the back of a disappointing 20th-place finish.

Solly March of Brighton tries to get past Danny Fox of Nottingham Forest during the Sky Bet Championship match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest at Amex Stadium on August 7, 2015 © Getty Images

Chris Hughton's side made a bright start to the match when LuaLua created space for himself to test Dorus de Vries with a powerful low strike, but there was drama at the opposite end just a few moments later as Henri Lansbury rattled the post with a free kick from 30 yards.

Forest were then thanking the woodwork when poor defending allowed Beram Kayal to find space on the edge of the box and strike the post with a powerful effort.

For much of the first half it was Brighton who looked the more dangerous in possession, but Forest carried a threat on the break with the lively Michail Antonio, who forced David Stockdale into a save after a fine solo run.

However, the hosts applied the pressure heading into the interval as Dale Stephens tested De Vries with a header just moments before Sam Baldock fired his effort a few inches wide of the post.

De Vries came to the rescue again in first-half stoppage time by pushing away a close-range header from Tomer Hemed, who was making his Brighton debut following a summer move.

The Forest goalkeeper had no chance of keeping out the hosts early in the second half as LuaLua worked space for himself on the left side of the box before picking out the corner with a low finish.

Kazenga LuaLua of Brighton celebrates after scoring the first goal of the season during the Sky Bet Championship match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest at Amex Stadium on August 7, 2015 © Getty Images

Dougie Freedman's side responded well to the setback and enjoyed long spells on top, but chances were tough to come by until substitute Tyler Walker dragged a shot wide after being found by Antonio.

The introduction of Walker added a different threat for Forest, and the youngster was almost rewarded for a fine run on the break when he forced Stockdale into a low save.

Brighton were happy to work on the counter in the closing stages as they looked to protect their slender advantage, but hesitancy in the box almost gifted an equaliser to Forest when Walker flicked on a long throw, but Dexter Blackstock failed to add the finishing touch under pressure from Lewis Dunk in the six-yard box.

Forest struggled to build any sustained pressure in the closing stages of the match in a game which underlined just how much they miss Britt Assombalonga, who is expected to be out of action until Christmas, and Brighton held off the visitors to clinch all three points on the first night of the new season.