Albion need someone to score goals for them against Leicester.

Back in 2008, they were in a similar situation and found just that person for a home game against the Foxes.

He was more than 200 miles away, up the M1.

Bradley Johnson’s two-goal showing in a 3-2 win that Tuesday night in late October is one of the more remarkable Albion debuts.

The Seagulls, 18th in League One and winless at home, met a Leicester side, managed by Nigel Pearson, who were fourth but only four points off leaders Scunthorpe with a game in hand.

Albion had failed to score in their three previous games, against Hereford, Peterborough and Hartlepool.

Not that Johnson thought that was any concern of his as he woke up in Yorkshire.

He said: “I got a phone call in the morning from my agent saying did I fancy going out on loan and playing some football.

“I was on my way to training at Leeds at the time. I got into the building and met the manager.

“I spoke to (Albion boss) Micky Adams and he said, ‘Where are you?’ and I said I was up in Leeds.

“He said, ‘Well get yourself down here, we’ve got a game tonight’ and I was like ‘Wow!’.”

Johnson drove himself down the M1 and M23 to the training pitches at the University of Sussex in Falmer.

He said: “Normally on the day of a game the lads would be off but Micky brought them in to do set-plays just for me.

“We walked through set-plays. Defending corners, attacking corners, throw-ins.

“I wasn’t taking them but they wanted me to know exactly what my job was.

“I didn’t mind because I didn’t want to come into a team and start the game not knowing what I was doing.

“It was all right for me but I could tell a few of the lads weren’t so happy at being dragged in!

“We were literally there for 45 minutes and then it was, ‘Get yourself to the hotel, get some sleep and you’re starting tonight’.”

Adams made changes for the game after a 1-0 defeat at Hartlepool.

A couple of disgruntled squad members made hasty exits from Withdean at about 7pm after being left out.

A Matty Fryatt double put Leicester 2-0 up and Adams responded by hauling off Robbie Savage and Kevin McLeod at the break.

It was the final insult for Savage, a League Cup winner with Leicester, and spelt the end of his unsuccessful loan deal from Derby County.

Johnson then took centre stage, twice beating keeper David Martin from outside the box before Jack Hobbs gifted the hosts a late winner by turning Joe Anyinsah’s cross into his own net.

Johnson said: “I was a young boy from Leeds coming into a struggling team against a team who were flying so it was a bit daunting for me.

“I didn’t know what to expect but, as debuts go, I don’t think it could have gone any better.

“Anyone who knows me knows I like a shot and I’ve always had that since a young age.

“Some don’t go where planned but thankfully on that night they did.”

Having started the day at Leeds’ training complex, pulling into Albion’s old base was a culture shock.

But he said: “I have had to work hard throughout my career.

“I was on loan before that in the Conference at Gravesend and Stevenage.

“It was humbling going from Leeds, where everything was top, to Brighton, although it has all changed there now.

“But it made me realise how lucky I was at Leeds and drove me on to try and keep Brighton in the league and go back to Leeds and stay in the team there.”

One of Johnson’s best mates, Colin Kazim-Richards, had told him what to expect at Withdean.

He added: “My dad had been to a few games at Brighton to watch him with his dad and he told me about Withdean as well.

“It felt like you were miles away from the crowd, a bit of a strange atmosphere, especially going from Elland Road.

“Probably in the first half the fans were moaning and groaning a bit but, towards the end, the atmosphere was good.

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“I will never forget one game I played there (at home to Millwall). It poured down with rain.

“I went into the players’ lounge after and my mum and dad were soaked because there was no roof over the bit they sat in.

“But I had a great time there and met some good friends and enjoyed my time under Micky Adams.”

Albion: Sullivan; Whing, Elphick, Hawkins, Richards; Savage (Thornton 46), Johnson, Thomson, Virgo, McLeod (Cox 46); Anyinsah. Subs Not Used: El-Abd, Livermore, Fraser.

Leicester: Martin; Hobbs, Tunchev, Kisnorbo, Berner; Gradel (Adams 87), Powell, Andy King, Dyer; Howard, Fryatt. Subs Not Used: Henderson, Morrison, Hayles, Mattock.