Albion boss Mark McGhee insists his men deserved the good luck which has put them on course for a date at the Millennium Stadium.

The Seagulls will take a 1-0 lead into their play-off semi-final second leg at Withdean on Thursday, thanks to yesterday's dramatic 1-0 win at Swindon.

Richard Carpenter hit the winner on 72 minutes with the help of a deflection and Albion's woodwork was struck twice before they completed a sixth successive clean sheet.

McGhee said: "We defended well enough that we deserved a bit of fortune. Swindon will feel a little hard done by that they have lost but that's what these games are all about. They are always on a knife edge."

McGhee was pleased with his side's discipline on a nerve-jangling occasion and admitted he would have settled for a 1-0 defeat.

He also had praise for skipper Danny Cullip, the centre piece of another impressively resilient defensive performance by the visitors.

The Albion boss said: "Danny Cullip has been at the heart of this good run we have had. He's back to his best marshalling the team and he was fantastic here again."

Cullip's defensive sidekick Guy Butters, who enjoyed a tremendous battle with Swindon hitman Tommy Mooney, warned his team still had plenty to do to reach a play-off final with either Hartlepool or Bristol City.

He said: "Swindon really put us under pressure. We were fortunate to nick a goal but it's not over yet.

"If they play like they did here it's going to be very difficult again at Withdean. On another day they could have scored two or three goals so we know we have got everything to do on Thursday."