Albion grabbed three more precious promotion points against play-off candidates Blackpool.

Andy Crosby was the hero with a fortunate first goal of the season.

A goal line clearance by Blackpool's impressive Danny Shittu from a Paul Rogers header rebounded in off Crosby on 57 minutes.

It capped a commanding performance by the Seagulls' big central defender and clinched an eighth home win out of nine from Micky Adams' promotion chasers.

But they were grateful to recalled keeper Michel Kuipers for a couple of fine saves at each end of an evenly matched contest.

There were three changes to the Albion line-up following Saturday's surprise 3-1 defeat at Cheltenham.

Kuipers replaced the transfer-listed Cartwright in goal. Jones came in for the injured Wicks and Hart returned to the right flank at the expense of Freeman.

Wicks' hamstring problem prompted a resumption of the 4-3-3 system following the unexpected switch back to three central defenders at Cheltenham.

Freeman was not even on the bench, Ramsay taking his place, while young stopper Virgo was named as cover for Cullip and Crosby. There was no spare goalkeeper with Cartwright so out of favour and Packham on loan to Langney Sports.

Blackpool welcomed back Jaszczun and Hills from hamstring injuries and Walker, on loan from Aston Villa, was relegated to the replacements.

Carpenter went close for Albion in the second minute. Watson's free-kick was cleared to him 20 yards out and his right foot shot flashed narrowly wide.

Kuipers, left out three games ago because of his poor kicking, wasted no time in showing what a fine shot-stopper he is.

The big Dutchman dived to divert Ormerod's angled drive for a corner after Wellens' cross from the left had been completely missed by Mayo.

The early exchanges suggested that Zamora, the subject of a rejected £1.5 million bid from Wigan, was going to have quite a tussle with Shittu, the huge Nigerian defendermaking his first away appearance for the visitors.

Albion put together a sweet move when Watson's pass was cleverly dummied down the right flank by Zamora for Carpenter to run on to. His resulting cross was headed away by Shittu from the lurking Rogers.

Blackpool were looking bright going forward themselves, with dangerman Ormerod heavily involved. He skipped away from Oatway's lunging tackle before whipping in a dangerous cross which Cullip headed behind.

Simpson then had a low cross shot from a tight angle pushed away at his near post by Kuipers.

Albion were finding it difficult to maintain any attacking momentum against Steve McMahon's men, who were passing the ball with aplomb at times.

One crisp move by the visitors was ended by the covering Crosby's clean tackle on Ormerod.

Zamora came agonisingly close to easing Albion's anxiety nine minutes from the break with a far post header from Watson's penetrating cross which flew inches over the crossbar.

Blackpool were looking that much sharper than the Seagulls, who were grateful several times for Crosby's solid defending. There was an air of restlessness amongst another packed house as Blackpool continued to hold the edge in the dying stages of the half.

Hills pulled up with what appeared to be a recurrence of hamstring trouble as Hart took him on down the right.

Hart eventually forced a corner, which led to a somewhat fortunate breakthrough for the Seagulls on 57 minutes. It was taken by Watson, who delivered deep to the far post. The unmarked Rogers' downward header was cleared off the line by Shittu, but the ball ricocheted off Crosby into the net.

It was just the sort of stroke of luck the Seagulls needed and rewarded Crosby for his dominating display. Albion tried to build on their advantage with a glancing header by Cullip from another Watson corner, which was blocked in a crowded goalmouth.

Blackpool broke instantly and it required a well-timed tackle by Mayo on Simpson as the former Manchester City winger was shaping to shoot. Albion visibly grew in confidence as a result of Crosby's precious, if unwitting, strike.

They began to put some passes together but were grateful when Murphy's header from a Simpson corner on 71 minutes went just wide of the far post. Albion were a little fortunate when Coid, escaping goal side of Hart from Simpson's smartly taken free-kick, trod on the ball.

The visitors' narrow deficit was particularly rough on Shittu, who had done an effective marking job on Zamora. But the result was far more important to Albion than the manner in which it had been achieved.