Anthony Rougier, only half-fit and not even knowing the names of most of his new team-mates, could hardly have made a more remarkable debut.

Last season he scored once in 33 League games for Reading and that goal did not arrive until April.

Two in 12 this term for the Royals is positively prolific by the recent standards of the Trinidad and Tobago international.

So what happens? Rougier, out of shape, out of touch in front of goal and surrounded by unfamiliar faces grabs the winner within three minutes of coming off the bench to carry Albion into survival country.

It was storybook stuff and the good news for the Seagulls is they ain't seen nothing yet.

"I haven't played since January and I felt horrible out there," Rougier admitted. "I've got a lot to work on.

"All through this week I can get my sharpness back and my fitness level back up.

"It always works that way when you are not playing. You lose so much and this is the reason I left Reading to come on loan.

"Coming on every so often and playing in the reserves is not the same as first team football. Let's hope with my commitment I can improve that.

"If I was fitter I could probably make much more of a difference, so I am going to work on it. I want to be a blessing for Brighton, not a curse."

Rougier, a Born-Again Christian, was certainly a blessing on Saturday. When he came on after 62 minutes Albion were effectively four points adrift of safety.

They were being held by a depleted Millwall, missing nine players through injury or illness, while Grimsby were ahead at Ipswich.

His match-winning stab three minutes later, combined with Darren Bent's late leveller for Ipswich, curved the relegation fight dramatically in Albion's favour.

Rougier only had one training session at Withdean on Friday morning to get accustomed to his colleagues.

"The boys tried to stitch me up," he said. "We were playing five-a-side and they asked me to pick my team.

"I couldn't name anybody. I could probably have said Bobby Zamora five times but I am just happy to be here.

"This is just the beginning. It's a great start, but I didn't come here to play one game. I'm here to make a difference.

"The important thing for me is to leave Brighton in a better position than when I came."

The muscular Rougier was in the right position when the ball reached him via Graham Barrett and Millwall fullback Robbie Ryan.

He used his pace and power to toe-poke past advancing keeper Tony Warner from close range.

Boss Steve Coppell refused to take credit for an inspired substitution.

In fact, Rougier may not have found himself in that goalscoring position at all, because Coppell was torn between playing him wide and keeping Barrett through the middle when groin strain victim Paul Brooker was withdrawn.

"I just felt, and I am sure the supporters felt, Millwall were getting more of a handle on the game," Coppell said.

"I honestly didn't know whether Tony would make a great deal of difference but I thought the change might pep everybody up."

Rougier almost did not get his opportunity at all. A power failure inside the ground knocked out the floodlights and could have led to a postponement.

Coppell revealed: "I was aware of it before the game. We were told there was a question mark about whether it would take place but why do you need power when it is still light when the game finishes?

"At all public events now, I suppose, they are particularly sensitive after what has happened in America in the past week, so I can understand safety officers being a little bit cautious."

Millwall were on course for their first scoreless stalemate in 31 games until Rougier reigned.

Bobby Zamora, watched by Spurs chief Glenn Hoddle, hit a post in the first half with a low drive in a contest of few chances.

The visitors were dangerous on the break and from set pieces through Brighton-born Paul Ifill and Republic of Ireland prospect Steven Reid in the wide midfield roles but Dave Beasant's first clean sheet was only seriously threatened in a frantic finale.

Coppell said: "We were hanging on a little bit at the death but prior to that our play had merited us being in front. It was a solid performance again and that was the pleasing aspect."

Lions first team coach Steve Gritt, the former Albion manager who steered Seagulls to Football League survival on the last day at Hereford six years ago, said: "Brighton started the game a lot quicker than we did.

"They took the lead against the run of play and, although we got back into it, we just didn't get the breaks."

Rougier's goals for Reading this season were against Gillingham and Stoke, the next two opponents. Are things about to get even better for him and Albion?

  • Albion (3-4-1-2): Beasant (gk) 7; Watson (rwb) 7, Mayo (lwb) 7, Cullip (cd) 8, Blackwell (cd) 8, Brooker (m) 7, Carpenter (m) 7, Ingimarsson (cd) 7, Zamora (f) 7, Barrett (f) 7 Rodger (m) 7. Subs: Oatway, Jones, Packham, Piercy, Rougier for Brooker (withdrawn 62).
  • Scorers: Rougier (65).
  • Bookings: None.
  • Millwall (4-4-2): Warner; Ryan, Ifill, Livermore, Harris, Reid, Ward, Dunne, Hearn, Robinson, Claridge. Subs: Gueret, Ashikodi for Harris (withdrawn 73), Kinet for Reid (withdrawn 75), Bull, Rees.
  • Bookings: Hearn (50) foul, Richardson (90) foul.
  • Half-Time: Albion 0 Millwall 0.
  • Attendance: 6,751.
  • Fan's View: Nigel Erskine (Worthing).

A real scrap. Millwall had their moments but I really think the best team won.

It was one of those games that Albion might have lost three months ago but Steve Coppell has got the team playing with more confidence.

Tony Rougier's goal was worth my admission money on its own, let's hope he scores a few more than the last loan signing to score on his debut, Wayne Gray!

Bobby Zamora was unlucky when he hit the post and we really will miss him at Gillingham next week, but I still think we can get a draw.

Staying top of the four-team mini league at the bottom of Division One is all that matters. When the safety point is reached, then we can look to what we do next season.