Lee Steele turned from supersub to Albion late matchwinner last night, after pleading to stay on the pitch.

His 89th-minute goal gave the below-strength Seagulls a 2-1 victory at troubled Swansea in the LDV Vans Trophy.

Steele's last-gasp strike was a triumph for caretaker boss Bob Booker.

The former Shrewsbury marksman was one of only three players retained from the team which won 2-1 at Huddersfield last Saturday in Booker's first match in charge.

"I decided to give fringe players a game, but I wanted to keep Lee in to see if we could get him a goal," said Booker. "He worked so hard on Saturday, but chances went begging and he was so upset. I was just about to take him off because of extra time, but he kept coming over and asking to stay on."

Steele, on target three times previously this season as a substitute, said: "I just love scoring goals. I was devastated on Saturday because I missed a couple of sitters, but I have bounced back." There was also joy for Steele's partner Dirk Lehmann. The German equalised on the stroke of half time with his first goal for the Seagulls.

Albion are expected to field a young Reserve side in the Avon Insurance combination League against Bristol Rovers at Worthing tonight (7.00pm).