Leon Knight is back to his goal-scoring best, as the focal point of surely the smallest strike force in the country.

Mark McGhee's inspired decision to put Knight back up front in a four-pronged attack with Jake Robinson, Sebastien Carole and Albert Jarrett is producing a riveting brand of football, the like of which Albion fans have not enjoyed for many a year.

The goals dried up spectacularly for Knight last season, when Championship survival was based on solidity. His tally plummeted from 27, as the Seagulls were promoted via the play-offs the previous year, to only four and for long spells he looked a forlorn figure.

Knight notched his first goal of the current campaign, in the home game against Crewe, from the middle of midfield. He is creative enough for that to remain an option for McGhee in the months ahead but Knight is now doing what comes naturally again, causing havoc to opposition defences aided by his miniature mates.

What Albion's front quartet lack in height they more than make up for with pace and movement. Jarrett was less of an influence this time on the left but Knight, his central partner Robinson and Carole on the right carried on where they left off in that performance of panache against Plymouth before the international break. McGhee's assistant Bob Booker observed: "It's normally a little and large but at the moment it's two little 'uns and a bit of pace either side of them.

"That's quite exciting. Pace and movement can cause people problems.

"It was the game plan we had, to counter-attack and get down the sides of people and the centre halves. Letting in three goals wasn't the game plan, so that was disappointing and we're disappointed we didn't come away with three points."

Regarding as something of a failure a high-scoring draw at Elland Road against a Leeds side defending a 100 per cent home record and four clean sheets in a row emphasises Albion's confidence at the moment.

Even early pacesetters Sheffield United ought to be approaching their visit to Withdean tomorrow night with a degree of trepidation. It's a very different side, in terms of style as well as personnel, to the one which pinched the points at Bramall Lane at the turn of the year with a cool finish by Knight deep into stoppage time.

"We are creating a lot more chances this season," Knight said. "And the more you create the more likely you are going to score.

"Last season even the manager said we concentrated more on being solid and not conceding. That's five goals in two games now, unheard of compared to last season.

"It's good for the strikers. They are looking to get in all the time and to score goals where as last season you were more flat-footed, thinking you were not going to get there."

You will not see a better counterattacking goal anywhere than the one which took Knight to his half-century in the League in the 28th minute. Wayne Henderson started it with a catch and quick throw to Robinson from a Leeds corner.

He released Carole and the Frenchman made progress down the right before crossing perfectly into the path of Knight, who finished with aplomb from close range.

Henderson missed out on Albion's 11 draw at Leeds last season when his proposed loan move had to be aborted. American David Yelldell, borrowed from Blackburn, became the pink-shirted saviour that day.

Henderson was in the pink, so to speak, this time. The young Aston Villa custodian foiled David Healy three times, tipped over a freekick from Eddie Lewis and was relieved to see a shot from Rob Hulse hit the bar.

All of this happened in the opening eight minutes of an exhilarating contest as the Seagulls somehow survived Leeds' ferocious early onslaught.

Another spurt of pressure at the start of the second half was followed by another stunning Albion goal on the break. Dean Hammond, having clipped the bar with a diving header from Knight's cross in the first half, freed him through the inside left channel.

Knight bided his time, picked out Carole just inside the area with a square pass and the former Monaco man did the rest from beyond the far post with a crisp first-time shot as Dan Harding tried to block.

Harding, booed and abused by the Albion fans as soon as he touched the ball, had a difficult afternoon against his old club but he is not the first fullback, and he certainly won't be the last, to find Carole a handful.

A second victory in succession beckoned at that stage before a double substitution by Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell played a key part in his team's recovery and helped the ultra-demanding home supporters rediscover their voices.

Hero of the moment Healy followed up his winner for Northern Ireland against England with two goals in the space of five minutes, the first swept in from a cross by substitute Jonathan Douglas, the second from a header on by Richard Cresswell, making his debut as replacement for Hulse.

"Healy for England", the Leeds faithful sang until the ubiquitous Knight stunned them into silence once more with a low cross to the near post which the lunging Sean Gregan, exposed throughout by Albion's fleet-footed front line together with his central defensive partner Paul Butler, turned into his own net with seven minutes left.

That surely was that we thought but this tale of the unexpected had a galling closing chapter for Albion. Henderson made another brilliant stop from Healy's shot in the first minute of stoppage time, only for Douglas to gleefully ram in the rebound.

To add insult to such late injury, the Albion coach (the vehicular variety rather than Dean White) had broken down outside the ground, causing some concern for Knight and his colleagues about the journey home from Yorkshire.

The concern now is the team from the same part of the world, for whom Booker achieved legendary status as a player.

"It's another big game on Tuesday," he said. "They are on top of the League and they are a hardworking team with a lot of experience and a lot of forwards. "If we continue the vein of form we have shown in the last three games we will be okay."

  • Albion (442): Henderson 9; Hart 7, McShane 7, Butters 7, Reid 7; Carole 8, Carpenter 7, Hammond 7, Jarrett 6; Robinson 7, Knight 9. Subs: Kazi-mRichards for Jarrett (withdrawn 69), Oatway for Robinson (withdrawn 88), Nicolas, Elphick, Chaigneau.
  • Leeds (442): Bennett; Kelly, Butler, Gregan, Harding; Richardson, Derry, Einarsson, Lewis; Healy, Hulse. Subs: Douglas for Richardson (withdrawn 57), Cresswell for Hulse (withdrawn 57), Blake for Lewis (withdrawn 90), Sullivan, Kilgallon.
  • Matchfacts
  • - Shots on goal: Albion 5, Leeds 6.

- Shots off goal: Albion 3, Leeds 6.

- Corners: Albion 2, Leeds 8.

- Offside: Albion 2, Leeds 4.

- Free-kicks: Albion 12, Leeds 9.

  • Albion bookings: Hammond (68) foul, Kazim-Richards (90) foul.
  • Leeds bookings: Douglas (59) foul, Healy (86) foul.
  • Albion scorers: Knight (28), Carole (51), Gregan og (83).
  • Leeds scorers: Healy (65 and 70), Douglas (91).