Knight needs help from refs

He is concerned about the rough treatment dished out by defenders to the Seagulls' diminutive danger man.

McGhee protected Knight by taking him off in the second half of Tuesday's LDV Vans Trophy tie against Boston at Withdean.

"He is lightweight in the sense that he is a wee boy and he is going to get knocked over playing against big centre halves," said McGhee.

"It's not always a foul, don't get me wrong, but it can go the other way. The centre halves know they are not going to get hurt playing against Leon.

"When they collide with him only one person is going to come off worst and that is Leon. I think referees have to be looking out for that a bit and they have to offer him a certain amount of protection.

"There were times on Tuesday night when there clearly were fouls on him and the referee (Paul Taylor) seemed to think they weren't."

The 5ft 5in Knight can expect another buffeting in the first round of the FA Cup at Third Division Lincoln tomorrow.

Boston have already played at Sincil Bank in the League and McGhee has been warned what lies in store.

"I spoke to their manager Neil Thompson after the game on Tuesday," McGhee revealed.

"He was saying what our reports say, that Lincoln are very direct and are a big, strong, physical team.

"From his experience of playing them up there it was only when they got the ball down and played around them that they gave them problems.

"If we go there and try to take them on at their game we will be in trouble, so we must be prepared to keep the ball."

Midfielder Richard Carpenter, fresh from his first goal for eight months against Boston, said: "It's a tough tie, there's no doubt about it. Even if we had them at home it would be a tough tie.

"They got into the play-offs last year and they are a compact unit. We have got to make sure we are up for it."

Michel Kuipers will be back in goal tomorrow. Ben Roberts is sidelined with a hamstring injury so John Keeley will be on the bench.