A spectacular Steve Staunton strike from range earned Coventry a nail-biting 2-1 Highfield Road victory over fellow Championship strugglers Brighton.

Referee Mark Cowburn had disallowed a Mark McCammon goal for the Seagulls late in the first half before ordering a Sky Blues spot-kick within two minutes of the second half getting under way.

And hometown boy Gary McSheffrey made no mistake from 12 yards as he rifled the ball straight and high into the roof of the Brighton net only for Adam Virgo to equalise shortly after the hour.

But with seven minutes of the contest remaining Staunton produced a 20-yard shot which found the back of the net via the Seagulls' woodwork.

The first action of note had arrived with eight minutes on the clock as goalkeeper Luke Steele and Richard Duffy created a crisis in the Sky Blues penalty box before referee Mark Cowburn eventually stepped in to award Brighton an indirect free-kick following the defender's backpass being picked up.

But from eight yards Virgo could only find the side-netting after being teed up by Leon Knight.

Shortly after the half-hour McSheffrey threatened for the hosts when he shrugged off the attentions of Dolan before bearing down on the Seagulls' goal.

But Alan Blayney, the Southampton goalkeeper on loan at Withdean, was quickly off his line to challenge and the striker lifted his eventual shot over both his opponent and the crossbar.

The hosts found themselves under pressure late in the half though when McCammon saw his headed effort ricochet in off the post only for the goal to be disallowed after he was ruled offside.

And deep in first-half stoppage time, McCammon was guilty of slashing wildly across a gaping net.

Both sides ran out unchanged for the start of the second half but within seconds of the resumption Claus Jorgensen raided along the Coventry right and crossed for McSheffrey, who was denied by Guy Butters at the expense of a corner.

And it was from Stephen Hughes' delivery that Cowburn ruled Butters had handled and awarded a penalty in the hosts' favour which McSheffrey converted with 47 minutes gone.

But two minutes later the visitors drew level thanks to some neat interplay involving Gary Hart who, from the right channel, set up Virgo for an assured finish underneath the body of Steele.

Substitute Dele Adebola, on as a 68th-minute replacement for winger Lloyd Dyer, threatened to restore the hosts' advantage within moments of his introduction but was denied by a courageous Blayney save.

However, Adebola should have done better than merely heading wide from close range after meeting a Hall cross at the back post.

Trevor Benjamin, on as an 80th-minute replacement for Goater, saw a bicycle-kick saved by Blayney who then also denied fierce shots from Adebola and McSheffrey.

But with seven minutes to go back-peddling Brighton allowed Staunton to advance from defence, play a one-two with Adebola, and stroke a left-footed finish in off Blayney's right post.

Teams

Coventry Steele, Duffy, Page, Staunton, Hall, Jorgensen (Morrell 79), Hughes, Doyle, Dyer (Adebola 68), Goater (Benjamin 79), McSheffrey.

Subs Not Used: Pressman, Whing.

Booked: Doyle.

Goals: McSheffrey 47 pen, Staunton 84.

Brighton Blayney, Reid, Dolan, Butters, Harding (Jones 86), Hart, Oatway, Hammond (Nicolas 87), Knight, McCammon (McPhee 75), Virgo.

Subs Not Used: Shaaban, Elphick.

Booked: Knight, McCammon, Virgo.

Goals: Virgo 62.

Att: 18,606

Ref: M Cowburn (Lancashire).