Stevie Coppell must have walked under a few ladders or run over a black cat because it's not exactly been good news week at the Albion.

When the least of your worries is a 3-1 FA Cup defeat you know you've got problems.

First, Steve Sidwell turned down Brighton's offer and joined Reading instead and now Graham Barrett is on his way to Preston.

To cap it all, Steve is going to lose big Michel Kuipers for a month or so because of injury. It never rains but it pours.

Sidwell's loss is a big blow. I know he's highly rated at Highbury, but like a lot of good youngsters there he's nowhere near the first team reckoning.

I suppose Reading's higher league position and the prospect of regularly playing at the Majedski Stadium swung it in their favour, but it's a real blow for Brighton. He's been their best player for the last few weeks.

At least the £75,000 the club were prepared to pay for him is still there for Steve to spend.

Albion fans will be reassured that if there is any manager in the league who can spend such a relatively small sum wisely it's Steve.

By the time you read this they will have played Pompey and it wouldn't surprise me if Albion turn them over.

Their current form is poor at the moment so it's a good time to play them and, regardless of what happens, I wouldn't say Portsmouth's promotion is cut-and-dried yet. They have frailties which a few sides are starting to expose.

Saturday January 18