Debut defender Matt Heath was a central character as Albion slipped deep into League One relegation danger today.

The Seagulls went down 2-1 at arch rivals Leyton Orient in Russell Slade's first game in charge.

Heath, one of five loan players making their first Albion appearances, forced home the 17th-minute opener after Lloyd Owusu had challenged keeper Jamie Jones for a high ball.

Slade's men looked to be in charge, only to be rocked by a hotly debated penalty award right on half-time as Heath's challenge on Simon Church was deemed illegal by referee Richard Beeby.

Scott McGleish beat new keeper Mikkel Andersen from the spot.

McGleish hit the bar from close range as Orient made a bright start to the second period.

Albion, backed by 1,915 fans in a crowd of 5,885, recovered and a handful of half chances saw Jones tip over a Heath header and Al Bangura and Craig Davies shoot just over.

There was one final twist, though, as Sean Thornton, whose brother Kevin was on loan at Withdean earlier this season, cut inside to curl a superb 88th-minute winner across Andersen and inside the far post.