Albion manager Mark McGhee today saluted the fairytale finishing power of stand-in striker Adam Virgo.

The defender-turned-goalscorer's first-half shot from 20 yards gave the Seagulls a shock 1-0 victory at promotion favourites Leicester yesterday.

Virgo, given his debut by Leicester manager Micky Adams when he was in charge of Albion, is now top scorer with two goals in the last four games.

"There are some quality strikers in this division, Dion Dublin, Teddy Sheringham, Nathan Blake and guys like that," McGhee said. "Any of them would have been proud of that finish.

"Adam is a better centre half than centre forward or rightback and eventually he will be a terrific centre half for us."

Brighton-born Virgo, 21, said: "I wouldn't say I am enjoying playing up front. There is a lot of running involved, but it was a great team performance. Defending from the front is what counts away from home.

"I am absolutely delighted for the team and the fans who have stuck by us. It was a disappointing result against Bristol Rovers in the Carling Cup last week, but they have been superb. They got behind us in the last ten minutes and that saw us through."

A second successive win after beating Preston at Withdean on Saturday has catapulted McGhee's young side up the table from rock-bottom to 13th, above Coca-Cola Championship giants like Sunderland, Leeds, Wolves and Leicester who are still without a goal or win at home.

"We had to be strong, but equally we passed it and created opportunities through football," McGhee said.

"That was especially pleasing to me. Anyone who saw us last year didn't see a lot of that."

McGhee is still tipping Leicester, one of his former clubs, to go up. "We came here at a good time," he added. "They are not firing on all cylinders but they will. They were my bankers for the division and I haven't changed my mind."

Meanwhile, Dan Harding, sidelined by a hamstring injury, has linked up with the England under-21s for the start of their European Championship qualifying campaign, but will not be fit for Friday's match in Austria and is "touch and go" for next Tuesday's game in Poland, according to McGhee.