Adam Virgo became Albion's unlikely play-off saviour at the end of last season with a last-gasp header in the semifinals against Swindon at Withdean.

Now another youth team product has emerged, in similar fashion, as an equally improbable relegation rescuer.

Dean Hammond's equalising header on the stroke of full-time against the Hammers, his second of the game, could prove to be just as important, all be it for contrasting reasons.

Virgo's goal led to Albion securing a place in the Championship with victory in the play-off final over Bristol City. Hammond's goal could lead to them retaining their Championship status, although with two games to go there is still a lot of work to be done.

The Seagulls might be safe by 5pm at Rotherham on Saturday if they win and results elsewhere work in their favour. Lose and a far more extraordinary set of results might send them down. No wonder Mark McGhee is already labelling the trip to South Yorkshire "the final of finals".

Hammond's rise to prominence could not have been better timed. The 22-year-old from Hastings nodded the first League goal of his career against Wigan last month before volleying a valuable second-half equaliser at Burnley nine days ago.

His first two-goal haul against the Hammers earned Albion another precious point after a spirited performance looked like counting for nothing.

Hammond was almost axed last summer. McGhee gave the tall midfielder three months to prove himself.

McGhee said: "He was as good as out of the door but he impressed in pre-season, we gave him that trial for three months and he answered us then.

"He hadn't done enough last season to earn himself a contract, but I saw attributes in him his size, his passing ability, his attitude and the fact that he could head the ball was something we couldn't just throw out.

"We threw the gauntlet down to him and, in fairness to the lad, he went about his business in superb style. He got in the gym, improved his physique and upped the tempo Late Hammond's priceless header of his game.

"I felt he had been a gear down. Suddenly there was an urgency, because of the threat of not getting a contract, and that really brought him on. "He won his place at the start of the season and, as much as he has had a season in and out of the team, he has come along nicely."

Hammond, now enjoying the comfort of a contract through to the end of next season, admits almost being cast aside by the club he has grown up with was the motivation he needed.

"It was a wake-up call when the gaffer offered me three months in the summer," he said. "I went away and worked hard but I think I was pretty close to not being here.

"When I got my first game, against Preston, I only had a couple of weeks left on my contract and it didn't look like I was going to get in. I hadn't been travelling with the squad or really been involved.

"I just tried to train well and hopefully get noticed. Credit to the gaffer, he gave me my chance and then gave me a new contract.Hopefully I am repaying him."

He certainly did against the Hammers, twice over, after Nigel Reo-Coker had given the classier visitors an eighthminute lead.

The former Wimbledon midfielder nodded bravely past Alan Blayney from close range when Marlon Harewood set him up from Matthew Etherington's left-wing cross.

Hammond's first equaliser, eight minutes into the second half, followed an inspired substitution by McGhee. Gary Hart, back from a two-match ban, had only been on for a couple of minutes in place of Adam El-Abd when he provided an inviting cross which Hammond headed in from close range.

Albion's joy was shortlived, Harewood restoring West Ham's lead two minutes later with his 19th of the season after Guy Butters uncharacteristically miscued a header from a long ball into his path.

Harewood and former Seagulls legend Bobby Zamora, on for Teddy Sheringham, both had chances to put the match beyond recall, but Albion refused to be denied.

With Jake Robinson brought on to form a four-man attack, Richard Carpenter's corner came back to him and he crossed for Hammond to head a carbon copy of his first goal.

Nobody was more relieved than Butters, the match-winner at Upton Park in November, after his role in West Ham's second goal. "He just timed it wrong," McGhee said. "It's probably the first header he has timed wrong this season, so we'll forgive him for it. I didn't speak to him after the game but I could tell as he was sitting in the dressing room his mind was on that goal. Thankfully we came back and got something.

"As much as the two goals we lost were disappointing, I thought overall we deserved at least a point. Their quality is always keeping you under pressure. You are always straining at the leash a little bit, because we know they have some good players but we played some good stuff as well and the two goals were well worked.

"I thought Dean had goals in him. He is good in the air and he times his runs well. We needed that bit of quality and the two crosses were sublime. We need more of that, because there were too many situations where we didn't convert good possession into decent quality crosses.

"We could have won one of our last three games, which would have made it easier for us, but we have showed great resolve and resilience and great determination to hang in there. That point could end up being the one that keeps us up."

  • Albion (4-4-2); Blayney 7; El-Abd 6, Virgo 7, Butters 6, Harding 7; Reid 7, Oatway 6, Carpenter 8, Hammond 9; McPhee 7, Knight 7. Subs: Hart 7 for El-Abd (withdrawn 51), Robinson for Oatway (withdrawn 69), Mayo, Jones, Shaaban.
  • Scorer: Hammond (53) and (90)
  • Booking: Harding (33) diving.
  • West Ham (4-4-2); Walker; Repka, Ferdinand, Ward, Powell; Newton, Mullins, Reo-Coker, Etherington; Harewood, Sheringham Subs: Zamora for Sheringham. (withdrawn 59) Fletcher for Etherington (withdrawn 80), Bywater, Brevett, Chadwick.
  • Scorers: Reo-Coker (8), Harewood (55).
  • Booking: Reo-Coker (52) foul.
  • JOHN ELDER (Burgess Hill) - We probably should have lost comfortably as West Ham had quite a few chances but we battled hard. Dean Hammond had another good game and is coming along really well. Im hoping well win at Rotherham but it wont be easy as some of their players will be playing for contracts.

JUNE HOLMES (Seaford) - It was very disappointing to concede a goal so soon after we equalised, but our second equaliser could be the difference between staying up and going down. All roads lead to Rotherham for a yellow balloon festival. Now is the time for every player and fan to stand up and be counted.

DAVE WILLIAMS (Brighton) - Crewe play Coventry on the final day so we will be mathematically safe next weekend if we win, Crewe lose or draw at Ipswich and Coventry lose at home to Derby. Even if Coventry dont lose, four points will do so long as Ipswich beat Crewe. Watford and Gillingham arent safe either!

DUNCAN TERRY - (West Ham fan, Burgess Hill) - I was really disappointed that we sat back when we went ahead, but it looks like Pardew has been taking tips from Sven Goran Eriksson. Repka stood out as being awful but Sheringham held the ball up well before he was taken off. I hope Brighton stay up and I think they will.