Albion manager Mark McGhee is demanding an apology from axed striker Leon Knight.

He wants Knight to say sorry for his reaction to being substituted against Wolves last week.

McGhee hinted today that if an apology is forthcoming then Knight will be back in the team for the Seagulls' next match against arch rivals Crystal Palace at Withdean on Sunday week.

Knight was dropped from the squad for Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Stoke and left at home to stew.

McGhee said: "I was disappointed with his attitude coming off the pitch the other night. He's not come to see me about it, he's not apologised, therefore I did not want him on the coach. He's not just let me down, he's let us all down.

"I would like his response to be to recognise that he was the right man to bring off against Wolves, that he was totally out of order the way he reacted, to apologise to me and his team-mates and to come in and get on with his training and score the winning goal against Crystal Palace."

Goals by Sam Bangoura (2) and Darel Russell for Stoke ended the Seagulls' six-match unbeaten away run and dropped them back into the Championship relegation zone.

McGhee accused Russell of stamping on Seb Carole at the end of the first half after tackling Albion's French winger. He said: "I thought the tackle was quite legitimate but then he got up and stamped him.

"I'm surprised at the lad. I've watched him a lot and I don't think it is in his nature. It's just an aberration and we'll frogive him for it."

Russell had already been booked but McGhee added: "The ref did not see it, so what can you do? I don't want to win games because the other team has got ten men, I want to win because we're better than the other team."