On the face of it, Albion's first goal of the season at Withdean pales in comparison to the last one last season, scored by the same player.

Yet Adam Virgo's point-saving free-kick with a minute left could just turn out to be as significant as that header at the end of extra-time which rescued the Seagulls in the semi-finals of the play-offs against Swindon back in May.

Although it won't set up another promotion, it might provide an extra ounce of belief to avoid another relegation.

Imagine the damage which might have been done to the morale of Mark McGhee's young side if they had suffered a third straight defeat, especially as it would have been so undeserved?

Instead, they make the daunting trip to Wigan on Saturday with renewed optimism. You sense the season may be about to take a turn for the better.

McGhee said: "We have Leon (Knight) and Dan Harding for Wigan and we hope to have Charlie Oatway. That could strengthen us again and we have to take confidence into the Wigan game.

"This performance was adequate and I think we can get better than that with those additions.

"The bench on Saturday was made up of people like Adam El-Abd, who has not been in the frame recently, through default because there was nobody else. Next week that should improve as well."

Virgo has been the butt of managerial jokes in the past few days. In the build-up to Coventry's visit, McGhee's jovial assistant Bob Booker used miniature football boots, stuck on the end of two fingers, to talk tactics with the rightback on a board in the manager's office.

Virgo did not know whether to take it seriously until Booker used the boots to impersonate several of the players.

It lightened the mood after the tame defeat at home to Plymouth last Tuesday and Virgo was not offended either by McGhee's lack of faith as he lined up a free-kick from 30 yards, needlessly conceded by Coventry substitute Patrick Suffo.

McGhee feared there was more chance of a dent being put in his Mercedes convertible in the car park behind the east goal than in the visitors' flattering lead. It wasn't the cleanest of strikes, but Virgo's low drive through the defensive wall and a crowded area crept into the bottom corner.

The goal will do the powerful Virgo a power of good, as well as his team-mates, after a testing start to the campaign for him personally and a difficult first half against former Seagull Graham Barrett.

McGhee believes Albion would now be celebrating their first victory if Knight had been leading the attack, instead of serving the last of a three-match ban.

They certainly had the better of the chances in a vibrant opening 45 minutes in which summer recruits Maheta Molango, Albert Jarrett and the impressive Darren Currie all went close.

"I think if Leon had been playing we would have won the game," McGhee said. "We would have been ahead at half time.

"That's not taking anything away from Maheta or Jake (Robinson). I thought they did a sterling job."

McGhee reluctantly gave 17-year-old Robinson his first home start in the League to facilitate a return to 4-4-2. Albion certainly looked more at home in this respect than they did playing 4-5-1 against Plymouth.

"It was an easier shape for them to understand and there were some good performances," McGhee said. "Considering the age of the team we put out I've got to be pleased. It's something for us to build on.

"I thought Jake was terrific. I questioned whether he would be able to do what he did. I still cannot say he is ready to lead the line and take us into a position in the League where we can be happy, but I think he has a big part to play along with the other young lads."

Another of those is Adam Hinshelwood. Preferred to Paul Reid, he emphasised his versatility with a hard working contribution in the centre of the park on his first start since November.

It was a still relatively young Coventry midfielder who threatened to condemn Albion to a hat-trick of defeats with the crispest of strikes.

Former Arsenal prospect Stephen Hughes, trying to rebuild his career at Highfield Road following unhappy spells with Everton, Watford and Charlton, gave Michel Kuipers no chance with a low right-foot volley from inside the area with 20 minutes left.

Kuipers kept Albion in contention with a brilliant one-hand deflection from Louis Carey's swerving effort five minutes later. When Peter Reid spoke afterwards of Coventry throwing two points away, Virgo's soft equaliser was not the only incident on his mind.

He must also have been thinking about the 77th-minute opening for Bjarni Gudjonsson, blocked with his legs by Kuipers when the Icelandic international really should have buried his shot.

Virgo said: "We showed great character again and I think a point was a fair result. We are on the board now and can look upwards."

A home point against Coventry two seasons ago was the prelude to a dozen defeats. Albion have good reason to think this time it could launch an improvement in their fortunes.

  • ALBION (4-4-2): Kuipers 8; Virgo 7, Cullip 7, Butters 7, Mayo 7; Currie 8, Hinshelwood 7, Nicolas 7, Jarrett 7; Robinson 7, Molango 7. Subs: Hart for Molango (withdrawn 70), Jones for Jarrett (withdrawn 52), Reid, El-Abd, C. May
  • Scorer: Virgo, 89
  • Bookings: Hinshelwood (27) foul, Molango (62) persistent fouling
  • COVENTRY: (4-4-2): Shearer; Carey, Shaw, Davenport, Staunton; Gudjonsson, Hughes, Doyle, Barrett; Johnson, McSheffrey. Subs: Whing, Suffo for McSheffrey (withdrawn 61), Morrell for Gudjonsson (withdrawn 84), Sherwood, Marriott
  • Scorer: Hughes, 69
  • Booking: Davenport (39) dissent
  • Half-Time: Albion 0 Coventry 0
  • Attendance: 6,368
  • Fans' View: RICHARD STEVENS (Brighton) - Darren Currie looked much more of a threat and had some nice passes and runs. My man of the match was Jake Robinson who ran his socks off, didn't pull out of a tackle and made some great runs off the ball. If he's not ready for a regular first-team spot yet, he can definitely do a job coming on as a sub.

PETER STAINES (Shoreham) - Why Jake Robinson was not man of the match is beyond me. Currie looked better but Nicolas was disappointing and we went through a dreadful phase in the second half when, at times, players looked uncomfortable on the ball. A point is something to build on.

DAVE RIDER (Southwick) - Jake came in and did superbly well, helping to link the play from defence to attack - something we sorely lacked against Plymouth. The whole team looked far more comfortable and effective reverting to 4-4-2. Can someone tell Virgo he doesn't always have to leave it that late!

JANE COX (Coventry fan) - A draw was a fair result but it was very disappointing to throw away two points to a late goal like that. I think questions will be asked about how the ball got past the wall and into the corner because it wasn't hit perfectly by any means. Brighton didn't look too bad a side.