Vicente came off the bench to fire Albion closer to the Championship play-off frame.

The Spanish star drilled home a low free-kick on 83 minutes as the Seagulls beat Hull City 1-0 at The Amex.

Albion held on to close the gap to the play-off places to just two points.

They were the only team in the top half of the table to win this weekend.

Vicente struck after Andrea Orlandi was fouled just outside the box.

Orlandi had earlier spoiled some of Vicente’s good work by shooting over after a brilliant pass by the former Valencia star released Wayne Bridge.

But Albion keeper Tomasz Kuszczak also played a key role in the win.

He handled well and made great second-half saves from Robbie Brady and Ahmed Elmohamady.

The stop from Elmohamady – just four minutes before Vicente scored – was probably the best.

He got down quickly to his right and stuck out a hand to somehow divert the Egyptian’s truly struck volley away from the bottom corner.

City keeper David Stockdale saved well from Orlandi and David in the first period.