Craig Mackail-Smith has saluted Leo Ulloa for heading Albion into the play-offs.

Ulloa has carried the goalscoring burden for the Seagulls during record buy Mackail-Smith's 13-month injury absence.

The Argentinian's last-gasp play-off clincher from Mackail-Smith's cross in yesterday's 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest was his 16th goal of the season and 26th in 56 appearances for the club.

Mackail-Smith told The Argus: "The big man has been unbelievable all season and we just get it in an area where he can do something. It went straight on his head and he's put us into the play-offs.

"It's tough up there on his own. He has played so many games back-to-back on his own and he has won so many games for us. That's what he does, just turns up and bangs them in the back of the net and if he does that in the play-offs and in the final I don't care.

"I knew what he likes, where he wants the ball to be put. I knew if I could just swing one into the right area he would get on the end of it. It was just an unbelievable feeling."

Mackail-Smith came off the bench in the 87th minute to play his crucial role, with Albion needing to better Reading's 2-2 draw at home to Burnley.

He said: "It was tough (watching). I wanted to get on, I wanted to help the boys get that result and push us into the play-offs, but obviosuly the gaffer had different ideas.

"I think they were just conscious of the score at Reading and he threw me on for five minutes. I knew I could do something, affect the game somehow, and I did that."