Albion manager Micky Adams has pledged his faith in rookie defender Adam Virgo to provide promotion cover.

Virgo was back on the bench for Tuesday's 1-0 home win against Blackpool. The centre half, 18 last month, has been put on standby, with Matthew Wicks sidelined by a torn hamstring.

Adams said: "We are looking at a month for Matt. But I've got young Virgo and he is coming on day by day, so I am not too worried."

Danny Cullip, just back from a three-match ban, partnered goal hero Andy Crosby against Blackpool as Albion returned to a flat back four.

The chances of Virgo being pressed into action have increased as Cullip is now on the brink of another suspension. He collected his fourth yellow card of the campaign in last Saturday's defeat at Cheltenham.

Brighton-born Virgo, a former pupil at Ardingly College, made an impressive first team debut as a substitute in the LDV Vans Trophy at Brentford last month once Cullip had been sent off.

The younger brother of former Albion fullback James Virgo made his only League appearance in the dying stages of the 1-0 victory at Torquay four games ago.

Meanwhile, Crosby wants the second-placed Seagulls to turn the clock back to clinch automatic promotion following an inconsistent spell of results.

"We have got to get on a run now, like we did at this time last season," Crosby said.

Albion embarked on an unbeaten 14-match finish a year ago.

Dropped duo Mark Cartwright and Darren Freeman played in a 1-0 defeat for the reserves at Peterborough yesterday. Keeper Cartwright has been transfer-listed by Adams, while Freeman requested a move after he was left out of the squad for the Blackpool game.