FROM Northern Ireland’s hero on Wednesday to Leeds United’s saviour on Saturday, it has been a memorable week for David Healy. The Ulsterman scored a second-half brace to bring Leeds level and then supplied the shot that led to Jonathan Douglas’s late equaliser.

But as a rueful Kevin Blackwell admitted, Healy could have won the game on his own. “We had enough chances to sink a battleship today and they just didn’t go in,” the Leeds manager said. “David Healy’s had three one-on-ones and we’ve hit the bar three times.”

But for the agility of Brighton goalkeeper Wayne Henderson, who is on loan from Aston Villa, Healy could have had a hat-trick within the opening eight minutes. So it was against the run of play when Knight scored his 50th league goal to break the deadlock, touching in Sebastien Carole’s cross.

Their second goal was a role reversal, Knight picking out the former Monaco man for a calm finish. And Knight created the third with a cross that Sean Gregan diverted into his own net.

At which point, as Blackwell said: “It looked as though we were going to be mugged today.”

But Healy, after being booked for a needless kick at Knight, and Douglas had the final say.

STAR MAN: David Healy (Leeds United)

Player ratings: Leeds United: Bennett 6, Kelly 7, Butler 4, Gregan 4, Harding 5, Richardson 6 (Douglas, 57min 8), Einarsson 6, Derry 6, Lewis 7 (Blake, 81min 6), Healy 9, Hulse 6 (Cresswell, 57min 7)

Brighton & Hove Albion: Henderson 8, Hart 6, Butters 5, McShane 6, Reid 5, Carole 8, Hammond 7, Carpenter 7, Jarrett 7 (Kazim-Richards, 69min 5), Robinson 5 (Oatway, 88min 6), Knight 8

Scorers: Leeds United: Healy 65, 70, Douglas 90

Brighton: Knight 28, Carole 51, Gregan og 83

Referee: M Pike

Attendance: 21,212

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