Albion ended a turbulent week with a performance which showed they are still good enough to survive in the Championship.

They shrugged off the departure of captain Danny Cullip to Sheffield United and were worth at least a point.

Mark McCammon made an encouraging debut on a month's loan from Milwall and Leon Knight was back to the sort of form which made him so prolific last season.

The manner of the Seagulls defeat was especially cruel, Ade Akinbiyi stealing Stoke's third win in a row with a solo effort in the closing stages.

It should never have been allowed to happen, Akinbiyi using his strength to dispossess Dan Harding when there seemed no danger.

Harding was taken off moments later by manager Mark McGee, who said: "The goal was diabolical. Again Dan Harding was involved and that is three goals in two games which is something I have got to consider.

"Maybe I played a part in that by playing a lad whose head is perhaps not quite right with all the speculation surrounding his future."

McGhee is now poised to drop Adam Virgo back into the defence after McCammon and Knight struck up an instant rapport.

He said: "Mark did very well and Leon had arguably his best game since I have been at the club.

"He worked for 90 minutes in both directions and that is the first time I have been able to say that. I thought he was terrific and he deserved a winning goal."

Stoke arrived with the second tightest defence in the Championship and Albion started with the second lowest scoring record at home, so nobody was expecting a goal feast.

Both teams almost defied the logic of those statistics by nearly breaking the deadlock in the early stages.

Stoke are one of the biggest sides in the Division. Their aerial threat almost told when Hill, unmarked towards the near post, headed a corner from Brammer into the side netting.

For all Stokes's stature it was Knight, the smallest player on the pitch, who should have given Albion the lead.

A short pass by McCammon gave Carpenter space to cross and Knight's header from point blank range was somehow blocked by keeper Simonsen.

If Knight felt the gods were against him then, he had even more reason to feel unlucky midway through the half.

Thomas seemed to bring him down on the left hand edge of the area after Simonsen had completely miskicked.

Knight thought he should have had a penalty but instead received his fifth booking of the season, ruling him out of the visit on Boxing Day by fellow strugglers Gillingham.

Albion certainly did not perform like a team in turmoil over recent events during the first half. In fact, there was little sign of morale being affected by the flurry of comings and goings.

They passed the ball at times with considerable confidence and gave Stoke plenty to think about.

The visitors should, however, have gone ahead in the 34th minute, when Asaba missed a sitter. Clarke's cross found him unchallenged six yards out, but the player who hit a hat-trick on his previous visit to Withdean with Sheffield United headed wide.

A frustrating opening 45 minutes for Knight was complete when he clipped a free-kick from 20 yards inches wide, with Simonsen scrambling.

Albion, with Knight looking a danger to Stoke's sturdy rearguard every time he got on the ball, continued to look the brighter side and to play the better football after the break.

Knight brought Simonsen to his knees to save after cutting inside to shoot from 20 yards.

Kuipers had been given little to do, but he made a fine diving stop following a strong run and shot by Clarke, the Stoke skipper.

There was plenty of evidence to suggest McCammon and Knight could develop an effective partnership. The marauding McCammon was inches away from reaching a cross hooked in by Knight following a throw-in headed on by Virgo.

Albion did not deserve the blow inflicted by Akinbiyi, with the help of Harding, five minutes from time. The England under-21 left-back's nightmare continued as Akinbiyi muscled away from him close to the touch line midway inside Albion territory.

The Seagulls' former loan signing then made progress into the box to score with a low left foot drive in off the post from 12 yards.

Harding, blamed by McGhee for both of Milwall's goals last Saturday, was substituted shortly afterwards.

It was a sad end for the Seagulls, but they did more than enough to suggest their resolve to continue defying the odds is undiminished by recent events.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis said: "It is a difficult place to come and Brighton played well. They created some good chances and we had to defend resolutely."

  • ALBION (4-3-3): Kuipers; Reid, Hinshelwood, Butters, Harding; Oatway, Carpenter, Nicolas; Knight, McCammon, Virgo. Subs: Hammond for Nicholas (injured 83), Jones for Harding (withdrawn 88), Hart, El-Abd, May
  • Bookings: Knight (23) diving.
  • STOKE CITY: (4-4-2): Simonsen; Halls, Thomas, Duberry, Hill; Russell, Brammer, Clarke, Asaba; Akinbiyi, Noel-Williams. Subs: Hall for Asaba (withdrawn 90), De Goey, Euastace, Greenacre, Henry
  • Scorer: Akinbiyi (85)
  • Bookings: Brammer (44) foul
  • Attendance: 6,028
  • Fans' View: MARK LEWIS (Horsham) It was a really good first half and we played well, but it was frustrating to lose a game we shouldn't have lost. We had plenty of chances but just couldn't get it in the back of the net, even though Leon Knight had a really good game. Overall I'm just annoyed that we didn't get the three points.

STEPHEN WATSON (Hove) I really feel for Dan Harding but he's making a lot of costly mistakes and possibly needs a spell in the reserves. I hope he has the character to come back and prove his critics wrong at the Albion. A silver lining from Leon Knight's suspension is that we should unleash Jake Robinson, who is really flying and deserves a chance.

ROBERT JAMES (Hassocks) We didn't really deserve to lose but got punished for a sloppy mistake. Leon Knight was excellent, McCammon put himself about and we looked a better attacking force with three up front instead of a lone striker. The midfield battled well all evening and Oatway led by example.

KAY AUSTIN (Stoke fan) A draw would have been a fair result but it always looked possible the game could be decided by a mistake and Brighton made it. I didn't think Brighton were too bad and on this evidence they are probably good enough to stay up. We've got our eye on the play-offs but there's still a lot to do.