Albion boss Peter Taylor has hailed Junior Lewis as the Seagulls' pass master.

Taylor believes his recent signing from Leicester is a pivotal figure in the push for promotion.

Albion have won three, drawn two and lost one of the six matches Lewis has started since his loan move from Filbert Street for the rest of the season.

The versatile former Gillingham midfielder scored in each of his first two full appearances in crucial victories against Reading and Huddersfield.

He was also involved in both of Bobby Zamora's comeback goals in Tuesday's 4-0 destruction of Wycombe Wanderers at Withdean, despite a nagging groin problem which has restricted his training.

Lewis combined with Lee Steele to set-up Zamora's first half opener, then laid on a superb solo effort by Albion's young hotshot after the break.

Taylor said: "Junior set up that goal really just by passing the ball around, which is very easy to say but difficult once you are out there. He has helped us and we are playing more controlled football now."

Lewis rounded off a 3-1 home win over Reading last month. Taylor has targeted a quickfire double against the leaders, which would leave the Seagulls breathing down their necks.

Victory in Saturday's sold-out showdown at the Madejski Stadium will take Albion to within two points of Reading with next Tuesday's home game against Northampton in hand.

"They don't come any bigger," Taylor said. "It's an important game and we are looking forward to it.

"It's a massive test for us, but we proved when we played them at Withdean that we can beat them, so we have got to make sure we go and do that again."

Winger Paul Brooker, fresh from his second goal in three matches against Wycombe, said: "Reading are top and we're second, so it's going to be a massive game. We are catching up, but so are the teams below us.

"I think we have got every chance of getting promotion, but it's pretty tight at the top. There are not a lot of points separating the top four or five."

Taylor's hopes of pairing the rejuvenated Lee Steele up front again with Zamora are under threat from an injury which forced Steele off early in the second half against Wycombe.

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