Gary Ablett decided to change County's formation to compensate for the suspended Jabo Ibehre in the crucial game against the Seagulls.

Paul Turnbull came in for Ibehre as the holding midfield player alongside David Perkins and James Vincent in a 4-3-3 formation.

Danny Pilkington and Richie Partridge were given the responsibility to support central striker Jemal Johnson from the flanks.

Sam Barnes was promoted from the youth team to take Turnbull's place on the bench.

Gary Dicker and Glenn Murray started for Brighton. The three other former Hatters, Liam Dickinson, James Tunnicliffe and Jim McNulty were on the bench.

Buoyed by a draw at the weekend, County returned to Edgeley Park, to play Brighton & Hove Albion in a relegation battle that they desperately needed to win. And they nearly got it after a superb effort from Danny Pilkington gave the Hatters the lead, before Brighton equalised at the death to escape with a point.

In a match of such importance, it was hardly surprising that it took a while for the game to warm up, with both teams feeling each other out.

The action finally heated up eight minutes in when ex-Celtic player Adam Virgo clattered into Jemal Johnson with a nasty challenge. After the initial free-kick was cleared, the ball was played out to Pilkington on the right. His cross went straight across the six-yard box, but with the goal beckoning only defender Danny Swailes was in the area and he just failed to connect.

The Hatters had another good opportunity after 13 minutes when Pilkington was played in on the left. His resulting shot from distance was heading for the bottom corner before Dutch keeper Michel Kuipers managed to push the ball around the post.

The visitors finally started to come into the game after quarter of an hour, but without creating any real opportunities.

There was a controversial incident on the half-hour mark after Johnson had cleared a Brighton corner in the direction of Pilkington, who was flying down the right wing. But, with no one in front of him, the winger was fouled by Marcos Painter, resulting in a yellow card, when the crowd felt a red was called for.

Brighton eventually threatened with a golden opportunity ten minutes before half time after a miscommunication on a County free-kick. The visitors intercepted the pass and surged forward with a three-on-two break. The ball was played through to Glenn Murray on the left, but he shot tamely into the arms of a grateful Owain Fon Williams.

This appeared to stir the home side again and County had the best move of the first 45 minutes just before half time. Pilkington and David Perkins were at the heart of the attack, before the latter set Richie Partridge up on the right side of the area. His shoot was low and hard, but it just went agonisingly wide of the post.

Still the action wasn't over and Partridge again had a chance in the second minute of injury time. However, both of his shots were blocked and the teams went in at the half on level terms.

There was a blow for the Hatters when Greg Tansey emerged for the second half in place of Johnny Mullins who picked up a knee injury in the first period. With this enforced change James Vincent moved back into the defence.

Ironically, it was Tansey who started and finished the first chance of the second half on 52 minutes. Pilkington was played down the left and after a surging run his cross fell into the path of the substitute. Unfortunately, his blistering shot was saved excellently by Kuipers diving low to his right.

County were firmly in control and they finally got their reward in stunning fashion after 58 minutes. Partridge picked up the ball half-way inside the Brighton half and played a defence-splitting pass to Pilkington. From 25-yards out Pilkington let rip with a heat-seeking missile that flew into the top left-hand corner of the Cheadle End goal to send the fans into ecstasy.

The goal should have been the spur for County to go on and finish the game off. However, it had the reverse effect as Brighton started pressing forward more. And the visitors gave the Hatters a warning just past the hour-mark, with Andrew Crofts blazing over the bar when he should have done better.

The home fans were becoming anxious as Gus Poyet's side, enjoying their best period of the match, pushed for the equaliser. Nicky Forster had the next chance with 16 minutes remaining, when he shot from 25-yards out, which Fon Williams saved well.

Adam Griffin replaced Johnson with 11 minutes left, and amazingly could have scored twice within a couple of minutes of coming on. The second opportunity in particular was the best chance, after Griffin was put through on the left by Partridge. However, the substitute connected poorly and the effort was saved comfortably by Kuipers.

There was a heart-stopping moment five minutes from the end when Alan Navarro thought he had scored with a header. However, the linesmen flagged to say the ball never crossed the line.

With Brighton pressing forward for the equaliser, County had a chance to seal the win, when Pilkington was put clean through on goal. Unfortunately by this point, he was running on empty and his tired effort was hit straight at the goalkeeper.

Ultimately, this would prove to be costly as victory was snatched away on 90 minutes in the cruellest of circumstances. Crofts hit a desperate effort towards Fon Williams goal, before the ball took a bad bounce on the pitch and past the Welshman.

And there was still time for the visitors to steal an undeserved victory at the death. However, after Fon Williams was left stranded by a save, Forster saw his volley cleared off the line by Vincent.

The referee then blew for full-time and Gary Ablett and the team were left ruing two dropped points in a game they deserved to win.