Jim Gannon made two changes from the side that won 3-0 in Saturday's Cheshire derby.

Stephen Gleeson returned after serving his three-match suspension in place of Tommy Rowe.

Jimmy McNulty also earned a recall at left-back in place of Michael Rose.

Former County loanee Glen Murray started for the Seagulls.

County started the game at a high tempo and they created an early opportunity. Matty McNeil's flicked picked out Davies who fed Gleeson. The midfielder came in from the left but curled his shot wide.

Gleeson and Jimmy McNulty were linking up well down the left and the set up another chance on 7 minutes when Davies saw his far-post header saved.

Ten minutes in Gleeson and McNulty combined again. This time Davies was off target at the near post.

Three minutes later a long punt forward from Michael Raynes almost caught out the Brighton defence out as Gleeson chased the ball. Michael Kuipers read the situation well though and cleared outside his box.

The keepers' clearance found Nicky Forster who shot wide when well placed.

The Seagulls suddenly found their wings and put the County defence under pressure for the first time.

And twice in the next couple of minutes Forster saw shots deflected wide.

Kevin Thornton then played a terrific one-two in the box with Murray. Raynes saved the day with an important block.

County were soon back on the offensive though and Kuipers die well to dive out to claim Davies' cross on 24 minutes.

Eight minutes later the Hatters broke the deadlock. Anthony Pilkington's in swinging corner was laid back to Blizzard who shot into the bottom corner.

Davies should have doubled the lead a couple of minutes later when Gleeson played him in. The on-loan striker tried to take the ball around Kuipers who did brilliantly to dive at his feet and smother the ball.

The Seagulls started the second half positively with the busy Thornton seeing a lot of the ball in the middle of the park

Nine minutes later Gleeson came to County's rescue when he blocked Steven Thompson's effort.

From the resultant corner Raynes popped up with a timely defensive header to clear his lines.

It was all Brighton at this stage and the came so close to an equaliser on 55 minutes. Forster beat Fon Williams with a low drive but the ball bounced to safety off the post.

County at last made some in roads in the visitors defence four minutes later. Pilkington released Davies but the striker's second touch was too heavy and Kuipers saved.

At the other end Fon Williams produced a great save to deny the dangerous Forster.

Against the run of play County won a penalty on 64 minutes. Pilkington's corner was smashed against his own post by Adam Virgo. The rebound was adjudged to have been handled by Bradley Johnson and Davies fired home the resultant penalty.

Four minutes later the Seagulls had their own penalty shout when Mullins lunged in on Stuart Fleetwood. The referee gave the visitors a corner.

The game was now switching from one end to another. Davies headed wide on 72. Murray then shot wide for Brighton.

McNeil forced Kuipers into a save on 76 minutes when Davies set him up then Murray clipped a shot just wide.

And Brighton knew it wasn't their night when, in added time, Murray picked his spot but Fon Williams beat away his angled drive.