Simon Rodger has saluted the contribution made to Albion's survival bid by temporary team-mate Anthony Rougier.

The forward finished his month on loan from Reading by playing a central role in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Ipswich.

Albion equalised when Rougier's second-half header hit the bar and rebounded in off the back of keeper Andy Marshall.

He then slotted them ahead with his second goal for the club from a Paul Brooker cross.

Midfielder Rodger said: "He has been a great asset in the time he has been here and we are sad to see him go.

"He works really hard for the team and he got his rewards. He's a nice lad as well. Reading obviously want him back because they want to push on for the play-offs."

Boss Steve Coppell said: "He is a deep human being in a spiritual sense. He wanted to go out making a real statement and he did. He was a real handful all day."

Rodger is determined to be fit for tomorrow night's home derby against his old club Crystal Palace.

He played at Ipswich with a heavily strapped ankle and limped away from Portman Road.

"It's one I definitely don't want to miss," Rodger said. "I'll be giving everything to get a win and make up for that 5-0 defeat at Selhurst earlier in the season.

"The lads will be up for it to get the three points we need. After that game the gaffer said to us to remember it and when we play them at Withdean turn them over."

Albion are one off the bottom after Stoke won at Watford and Grimsby drew at Burnley but a point against Palace will ease them back out of the relegation zone.

Tomorrow night's showdown is the climax to a tough and hectic schedule of fixtures, which began with a home victory over Nottingham Forest nine days ago and continued with a narrow defeat at Sheffield United.

Coppell said: "I said at the beginning of the four games we could play great and not pick up a point.

"We have got four from three games now, so we are better than par with one game to go but it has coincided with the other teams at the bottom having good runs.

"I don't think anyone is capable of going seven or eight games unbeaten. Three or four is going to be the limit, so we have just got to hang in there."

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