Albion manager Micky Adams has defended Paul Watson for a rare blunder which wrecked the Seagulls' winning League run at Withdean.

Watson's miskick in the 74th minute allowed Icelandic centre half Ivar Ingimarsson to give his old club Brentford a 2-1 victory.

It was a sad way for Watson to mark his 100th League appearance for the club, but Adams revealed: "I told Watto not to worry. He has probably done more for us so far this season than anybody."

Watson had scored in each of the previous three home League games to help extend Albion's winning Withdean streak to 12.

Seagulls stopper Simon Morgan said: "These things happen. Watto held his hand up in the dressing room, but he has nothing to reproach himself for.

"He has been magnificent this season and he has saved us on more than one occasion."

Adams preferred to blame himself for getting his tactics wrong as Brentford became the first team to win a League match at Withdean since Southend on New Year's Day.

He started with Bobby Zamora alone up front, but Martin Rowlands rifled Brentford into a deserved interval lead.

Albion improved once Adams brought on Lee Steele to partner Zamora and Gary Hart for the second half.

Steele equalised on 52 minutes when Ingimarsson's fellow countryman Olafur Gottskalksson could only parry a long range shot by Kerry Mayo.

"Tactically I probably got it wrong with the shape of the team in the first half," Adams confessed. "I'll give myself a dressing down when I get home.

"We started fast and furious in the second half and once we got the equaliser I thought we would go on and win, but one mistake cost us the game."

The defeat dropped Albion to third, behind Brentford and Oldham on goal difference. Oldham stay top, despite losing 3-2 at Bournemouth.

Huddersfield, Albion's next opponents at the McAlpine Stadium next Saturday, can go a point clear at the head of affairs if they win at QPR tomorrow.

Brentford boss Steve Coppell believes the Seagulls will still be a force to be reckoned with.

"I would put money on them being there or thereabouts," he said.

"They are guaranteed to be in the top six or eight at the death."