Albion 2, Sheffield Utd 3: The Seagulls lost out narrowly to Micky Adams' boyhood idols in last nights showpiece Withdean friendly.

The Blades edged a lively encounter, enjoyed by a crowd of 3,327.

Goals by Carl Asaba after 16 minutes, Bobby Ford (45) and Paul Peschisolido (55) gave Neil Warnock's side victory.

The Seagulls made a fight of it, particularly in the second half when winger Paul Brooker (53) and captain Paul Rogers (65) reduced the arrears to 2-1 and 3-2 respectively.

Boss Adams will not be happy with some of Albions defending, particularly a mix-up involving Michel Kuipers and Andy Crosby which presented Asaba with United's early opener.

But there were encouraging signs going forward, with Bobby Zamora looking as threatening as ever alongside his new partner Dirk Lehmann.

Boss Adams stressed beforehand that the result was not significant, although it will please his family and particularly his Blades-crazy brother Keith.

The Albion line-up made interesting reading, with the opening fixture at Cambridge United only a week away.

Zamora and Lehmann spearheaded a 4-4-2 formation in which Nathan Jones started at left-back and Crosby partnered Danny Cullip in the centre of defence.

Paul Watson took up his customary right-back role, with Richard Carpenter and skipper Rogers in the centre of midfield and Gary Hart and Brooker on the flanks.

Rogers played for Sheffield United and so too did Albion assistant Bob Booker.

In fact, Booker scored for the Blades in the previous meeting between the clubs, a 2-2 draw at the Goldstone back in March 1990.

There was an early scare for the Seagulls when Kuipers, just outside his own box, chopped down Paul Peschisolido, the visitors' new signing from Fulham.

Fortunately, common sense prevailed as Lewes fireman Steve Tomlin, an experienced League referee, took no action against Albion's big Dutch goal keeper.

Kuipers' infringement did not prove expensive, Paul Devlin curling the resulting free kick over the bar.

Inevitably it was Zamora who looked the most threatening early on for the Seagulls.

Last season's 31-goal hero headed narrowly wide from a free kick, then turned sharply to fire over left-footed from 20 yards.

Horrible confusion between Kuipers and Crosby inside the Albion area gifted the Blades a 16th minute lead.

Crosby was clearly expecting Kuipers to deal with the situation, but they left it to each other and ASABA had the simple task of slotting into an empty net.

Although attempting to let the game flow, Tomlin was evidently not prepared to let players take any liberties.

Peschisolido was lectured at length by the ref for a late challenge on Jones, for which the Welshman required treatment from physio Malcolm Stuart.

Albion's deficit was in danger of doubling the 29th minute when Peter Ndlovu embarked on an elusive burst towards the Albion box.

The former Coventry and Birmingham man spoilt his approach work by dragging a right foot shot well wide of the target.

The Withdean pitch looked, from the sidelines at least, in the condition you would expect at this time of year after being completely relaid at a cost to Albion of more than £130,000.

Zamora scored the majority of his goals at the Seagulls' temporary home last season and he was proving a handful for United's First Division defenders.

When Zamora turned impressively past Murphy in a central position 30 yards out he was unceremoniously hauled down by the visitors' captain.

Carpenter blasted the ensuing free kick narrowly over the crossbar.

Albion went two behind on the stroke of half-time, Ford cutting infield to beat Kuipers with a low left-foot drive from the edge of the box.

Blades' boss Neil Warnock made a trio of substitutions at the break, bringing on Uhlenbeek, Montgomery and Jagielka in place of Phelan, Devlin and Brown.

Albion, re-emerging unchanged, almost halved their arrears early into the re-start following a fluent three-man move.

Rogers, fed by Jones, found Zamora with a first time pass and the young hot-shot's effort from a tight angle deep inside the box was smothered by keeper Simon Tracey.

The Seagulls did not have to wait much longer to get on the score sheet. Lehmann was crowded out inside the area, but Brooker rammed in the loose ball through a ruck of players in the 53rd minute.

Peschisolido restored Sheffield's two-goal cushion just two minutes later, escaping to drill a shot under Kuipers from an acute angle eight yards out.

The visitors continued to ring the changes, making three more substitutions, before Rogers hauled Albion back into contention again against his old club.

The veteran midfielder met a typically penetrative cross from Watson with a glancing header which found the far corner of the net.

Lehmann nearly levelled for Albion 20 minutes from time with an audacious effort.

The ball fell to the new German front man when Hart won a challenge and he tried to find the top corner with a right foot curler from the edge of the area.

Tracey was equal to the task with a clawing save for a corner which left Lehmann swishing a hand onto the turf in frustration.

Cullip almost equalised on the stroke of full time with a thumping header against the top of the bar from a Watson corner.