Albion manager Dean Wilkins saluted his side's "fantastic character" as they stretched their unbeaten run to six games.

The Seagulls came from behind twice to hold promotion rivals Leyton Orient with second-half goals by Nicky Forster and Dean Cox.

Wilkins said: "I felt we froze slightly in the first half. We did not pass the ball with anywhere near enough quality or calmness so I was glad to come in at half- time so that we could talk things over, relax the players a little bit and try to get more belief back into them.

"I think in the second half we showed more belief and we showed fantastic character to come back twice which has been a feature up to now this season.

"The players looked incredibly fit and strong towards the end of the game and we played with a little bit more quality in the second half.

"I feel a little bit hard done by. We could possibly have won the game in the end."

Forster fired Albion level with his seventh of the season after Wayne Gray's first-half opener for the O's. Jason Demetriou put the home side back in front but Cox nodded Albion level again after Forster's header hit the bar.

Wilkins added: "Under the circumstances, having to come back twice, it was a big test which I think we passed with flying colours. That gives us huge confidence going not only into Tuesday's replay (in the FA Cup against Cheltenham) but the following week as well.

"It was a pleasing last half-hour. We slightly let ourselves down in the first hour but we are really pleased about coming back from the disappointment of going behind twice."

Albion got the draw they did not want in the Southern Area semi-finals of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, away to Swansea in the week commencing January 7. Wilkins admitted: "It couldn't be any tougher."

Johnstone's Paints Trophy Southern Section semi-finals: Swansea v Albion, Gillingham v MK Dons. Northern Section semi-finals: Stockport v Grimsby Morecambe v Bury. Ties to be played over the week commencing January 7.

Albion under-18s drew 1-1 at home to Brentford in the Youth Alliance.