Captain Dean Wilkins forgot he scored when Albion last reached a play-off final.

Wilkins, now Albion's youth manager, netted a consolation goal as the Seagulls lost 3-1 to Notts County in the Division One final at Wembley 13 years ago but it slipped his mind as he came off the pitch.

He said: "I was interviewed straight after. I was walking down the tunnel and I got a microphone shoved in my face.

"I spoke as if I was having a conversation with a friend. I said I couldn't believe we had lost 3-0 and when my interviewer reminded me it was 3-1 and that I had scored I went 'oh yes'. The goal hadn't meant anything.

"I look back now and think 'blimey, I scored at Wembley' but at the time I was just feeling a great disappointment.

"Going to a final at a big stadium is a great day out but only if you win."

It didn't take long for Wilkins to piece together the details of that goal.

He said: "It came with a couple of minutes to go when the game was dead and buried. John Byrne had come on as a substitute and got the ball wide out on the left and did a bit of trickery and got into the box.

"John poked a ball towards Mark Barham and I called Mark to leave it so he let it run through his legs without taking a touch and I just smashed it into the bottom corner."

Wilkins, though disconsolate at the finish, was excited by the build-up.

He said: "It was terrific. I was on a real high for the week leading up to it and counting the days until I would be playing at Wembley, at a stadium that was considered the centre of football even for people abroad."

As Albion skipper he remembers the moments before kick-off clearly. He said: "To lead the team out was a fantastic feeling.

"I thought I'd get nervous but I didn't feel any nerves at all because I'd been looking forward to the match so much.

"Also we were confident we would beat Notts County on a big pitch and on a good surface.

"That season they were pretty much a side that would hit you on the break.

" They weren't a side who played a lot of football. We felt we had enough experience, ability and quality to turn them over. But obviously it wasn't to be."

It begs the question what went wrong?

Wilkins said: "We got a bad decision early on. Gary Chivers challenged somebody by the 18-yard box and the ball ricocheted off their player and went out for a goal kick but referee David Elleray gave a corner and they scored from it.

"You get turning points in games like that and it put them in a perfect situation where they could play on the break.

"We were probably the opposite to them in style as we tried to play through the middle and out from the back and we had a lot of near-misses.

"Clive Walker hit the post before half-time and I hit the bar in the second half and from that they went 2-0 up. It was a sucker punch, another turning point. I think goalkeeper Perry Digweed would possibly have expected to save it.

"The third goal was another strange one. Ian Chapman conceded a free-kick and as it came in, Colin Pates tried to back head it clear but it fell to a Notts County player behind him.

"They were all poor goals."

Wilkins still savours fond memories of the support Albion received that day.

He said: "We had 35,000. The following was terrific. It's a shame it was the wrong outcome."

He was asked to compare the 1991 side with the current one who face Bristol City at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday. He said: "You can't really compare. We had a team of big match players that had played at a high level. We even had a European Cup winner in Stefan Iovan.

"But one thing the current side have got is an outstanding attitude. I think Chippy (Richard Carpenter) and Charlie (Oatway) epitomise the side in their attitude and work-rate. They are real club men, unsung heroes who work their socks off every game and provide a lot of protection for the back four as well."

Wilkins admitted Albion had good fortune in their semi-final against Swindon but said: "It's not just about being lucky in a one-off game.

"We've earned the right to be in the final because you have to look at it over the season."

He believes Albion will beat Bristol City.

He said: "Psychologically the result we got at Bristol, when we drew before the end of the season, will work in our favour."

Wilkins is convinced the youngsters he produced for the first team will do him proud again.

Defenders Adam Virgo, Dan Harding and Adam Hinshelwood helped the Seagulls reach Cardiff via a dramatic penalty shoot-out in the semi-final against Swindon.

Virgo was the hero with the last-minute goal in extra time that forced the penalties and scored one of the spot kicks.

Harding impressed, as did Hinshelwood when he was brought on.

Wilkins said: "I don't think they will have a problem in the final because they've played two massive games. I was so proud of them. I was so relieved at the end for Dan.

"The ball switches sides a 100 times in a game but he made an error, albeit by the half way line, from which they scored their second goal. He could have thought that it had cost us a place in Cardiff. But he went on and played stronger than he had done. That showed terrific character.

"Part of their development has been to try and improve their mental approach.

"We have talked about the fact that you are going to get lots of disappointments in football but it is how you react to those disappointments that will make you the player you end up being.

"It's such a fantastic story for Virgs. Myself and the Centre of Excellence coaches were jumping up and down like lunatics when he scored.

"It's almost like his career has changed around since Mark McGhee came in.

"One minute he doesn't look close to getting involved under Steve Coppell but he has come back to perform like he did with his late goal and then to have the nerve to step up and take the penalty as well also shows fantastic character."

Wilkins revealed he owes Robins manager Danny Wilson, a former Albion team-mate, a big thank you.

He said: "I played with Danny for Albion and then went to Holland for three years and he recommended me to manager Barry Lloyd to bring me back. I'm chuffed that he rated me that highly. I've got a lot of respect for Danny.

"He was a terrific player and excellent manager and a good man. I don't think I've ever really thanked Danny but I am grateful for that recommendation."

Will he be thanking him on Sunday?

Wilkins joked: "It depends, I might not want to see him after the game!"

Then seriously he added: "If I do see him, then of course I will speak to him."