Albion chief Steve Coppell has hailed birthday boy Leon Knight as his little magician.

Knight marked his 21st birthday with a stunning first half strike to beat basement club Chesterfield at Withdean last night.

The former Chelsea striker capitalised on a mistake by defender Kevin Dawson with a curling shot to end the Seagulls' sequence of three games without a win and lift them two places to sixth.

Coppell said: "Leon has got that in his locker. That is what can make him a little bit special, a little bit different. We needed that bit of magic and that is what he is all about.

"He's a good goalscorer, there is no doubt about that. I think teams are now trying to stop him from playing and that is going to be a test of his mental endurance over the course of the season.

"Chesterfield had been playing with four at the back. They came with a sweeper and did very well denying us space but when the little fella gets it to his feet and turns and runs at people he is a very good player."

Knight, celebrating his sixth goal of the season, said: "I wasn't really thinking about the birthday, just the three points, and in the end it all worked out well.

"We were a bit edgy at first but the gaffer told us at half time to settle down and we did. If I keep getting the chances I believe I will put them away."

Coppell also saluted a sound debut in goal by 19-year-old Fulham loanee Ross Flitney, replacing back injury victim Ben Roberts.

"Ben was stiff yesterday (Monday). He saw an osteopath and I didn't hear anything this morning (Tuesday), so I expected him to be fit," said Coppell.

"When he reported for the match he was uncomfortable. He went for a try out at a quarter past six and it was just obvious straight away he was not fit enough.

"Ross came in and, except for a little aberration, I thought it was a terrific performance."

Roberts has been plagued by back problems in the past, so Coppell is likely to recall Michel Kuipers from his loan spell at Hull for Saturday's home game against Sheffield Wednesday.

Paul Watson, missing for the fifth match in a row last night, has been ordered to rest his injured feet for two to three weeks.

Midfielder Geoff Pitcher plays his first game since returning from a loan spell at Stevenage for the reserves at Gillingham today.

Albion Reserves (from): Flitney, Bridle, El-Abd, Virgo, Harding, Lee, Piercy, Pitcher, Robinson, McPhee, Windsor, B. Watson, Breach, C. May, Piper, Elphick.

thisisthealbion.co.uk