It has taken a while this season but, as assistant manager Bob Booker observed after a triumphant return to Bramall Lane, Leon Knight is "in the zone".

The return to prime form of last season's prolific top scorer bodes well for Albion avoiding the zone that really matters to them, the one with three teams in it at the bottom of the Championship.

Mark McGhee is right to urge caution. The Seagulls are not out of the woods yet, with Gillingham rallying under Stant Ternent.

They can, however, virtually ensure the Gills are the only obstacle to their bid for survival by beating Nottingham Forest at Withdean on Saturday in Gary Megson's first away game in charge.

A 15-point gap would surely be too much for a team which has won only five matches all season. McGhee's old club Millwall may be proving a pain in his pursuit of Mark McCammon but they certainly did him a favour by winning at the City Ground.

Not that Albion are in need of favours from others, the way they are performing at the moment. They are heading for safety under their own steam, with Knight heavily involved in their fifth away victory against fifth placed United.

It was not only his part in Richard Carpenter's superb opener on the break in first-half stoppage time, or his classy clincher in the fourth minute of injury time, which pleased McGhee.

We all know Knight has the ability.

Now he is combining it with industry.

"It was a very important goal for Leon," McGhee said. "Again it tells him he can work his socks off the way he did all afternoon and still score the winning goal. I have been saying it for four or five weeks, even though I have sometimes had him on the bench.

When he has come on or played he has showed that sort of form.

"For me now is the time for Leon. It looks like the penny has dropped and he has got no excuse to combine the two, working for the team and being the guy that scores the winning goals."

Carpenter is also right on top of his game at the moment.

The experienced midfielder followed up his free-kick equaliser at Spurs in the FA Cup by finishing off a stylish three-man counterattack.

Gary Hart was the instigator, breaking from midway inside his own half following a United free-kick. He showed great determination to win a challenge with Phil Jagielka before releasing Knight to his left.

Suddenly Albion were three against one as Knight unselfishly squared a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Carpenter. His right foot did the rest, a well-placed shot finding the far corner of the net.

United enjoyed plenty of possession but they seemed intent on trying to walk the ball into the net.

The Blades lacked a cutting edge, promising build-ups all too often floundering on the edge of Albions box against a defence which stood typically firm throughout.

They did not look like scoring until Kerry Mayo gifted them parity just before the hour.

It was a messy goal, Adam Virgo inadvertently directing the ball into the danger area and Mayo then lifting it over the helpless Michel Kuipers.

United must have been scenting a repeat of their FA Cup victory at home to Aston Villa the week before, when Danny Cullip levelled at a similar stage in the second half.

This time Albion had the last laugh on their former leader as an own goal proved the prelude to another happy ending for Mayo, just as it did in that relegation decider at Hereford eight years ago.

The ever-improving Paul Reids slide-rule pass put Knight through and he calmly sidefooted past Paddy Kenny.

After 11 appearances without a goal, Knight has now notched twice in as many Championship matches following another high quality winner against Watford at Withdean.

This one was especially sweet as an ex-player with Uniteds bitter rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

"Im feeling good and, like Bob Booker said, in the zone," reflected Knight.

"Hopefully that will continue for a very important game against Nottingham Forest."

For McGhee the most important aspect of Albion's performance was carrying on where they left off at Tottenham.

"The Tottenham game was a continuation of the progress we have been making and to come here and win in the style we did shows how far we have come from the Millennium Stadium in May," he said.

"I am not embarrassed at all about winning the game. The equaliser was disappointing and they put a bit of pressure on us but we kept our cool, continued to defend with some composure and eventually scored a terrific goal."

Knight pointed out the part played by substitute McCammon, his decoy run creating room for Reid's killer pass.

It cannot be a complete coincidence that Albion's best form of the campaign coincided with the big man's month on loan from Millwall and Knight is hoping he returns. "We need players in our squad, we will be disappointed if he doesnt come back. Me and Harty did really well in the first half, so it is not all about a target man, but the gaffer knew when to change it. He brought on Mark and he made his presence felt."

  • ALBION (3-5-2) Kuipers 7; Virgo 8; Hinshelwood 8; Butters 8; Reid 8; Oatway 7; Carpenter 8; Harding 7; Mayo 7; Hart 8; Knight 9
  • Subs: McCammon for Hart (withdrawn 68), Watson, Nicolas, Hammond, May.
  • Bookings: None
  • Scorer: Carpenter (45), Knight (90)
  • SHEFFIELD UTD (3-5-2) Kenny; Cullip; Morgan; Wright; Bromby; Jagielka; Quinn; Tonge; Harley; Liddell; Gray
  • Subs: Cadamarteri for Wright (injured 52), Forte for Quinn (withdrawn 83), Geary, Shaw, Thirlwell.
  • Bookings: None
  • Scorer: Mayo (OG 59)
  • LIZ COSTA (HOVE) Our defence was incredible but it was an absolutely brilliant performance by everybody. Who would have put money on us scoring in injury time at the end of the first half and at the end of the game? Charlie (Oatway) has only lost one League game since he took over the captaincy and long may it continue.

IAN TAYLOR (Brighton) I think most of us would have happily settled for a point from this match, so to get all three like that is a terrific boost to everyone. Its probably too much to ask but I notice we are now only three points from the top half! The Forest game on Saturday is massive as beating them would inflict big damage.

SUE OSBORNE (Crawley Down) Chippy's (Richard Carpenter's) goal was brilliant and Leon Knight's goal was perfectly timed. It was a really good performance by the team and we are definitely improving as games go on. I think we've got a very good chance of staying up this season if we can carry on playing the way we are at the moment.

DAVID GADD (Sheffield United fan) We are all gutted but I suppose you've got to hold your hands up to Brighton. It was a classic away performance, complete with sucker punch for us in the last minute. I am still very confident we will reach the play-offs this season but to take only one point from two games against Brighton is very disappointing.