Albion still in title hunt

He has pledged to pursue runaway leaders Chesterfield until they are mathematically out of reach.

Bobby Zamora's 20th goal of the season gave the Seagulls a vital 1-0 victory over promotion rivals Cardiff at Withdean on Saturday. They have cut Chesterfield's lead back to 13 points with four matches in hand after the table-toppers beat Cheltenham 2-0 at home 24 hours earlier.

Adams said: "Having watched Chesterfield on Friday night we wanted to close that gap. I certainly don't think they are going to win the League by 16 points, but we have just got to keep plugging away.

"If you look at the stats we are okay. While there is still not a 'c' by their name for champions we are going to chase them."

Goalkeeper Mark Cartwright, celebrating back-to-back clean sheets since his recall, said: "I think we have got to go for the top spot now. With the games in hand that would leave us a point behind Chesterfield and we have got to play them.

"We cannot relax and think there is five points between us and Cardiff now. The moment you do that you slip up, but I don't think the boss will let that happen. We've got to aim for that top spot and I think it's achievable."

Cartwright suffered a perforated left eardrum as Albion survived a late Cardiff onslaught. The Welshmen had substitute Gavin Gordon sent off in the closing stages for violent conduct.

Zamora's hopes of teaming up with Trinidad and Tobago's World Cup squad have been wrecked by injury. We exclusively revealed on Saturday that Zamora was due to join the Trinidad training camp in England.

But the young goal ace limped off with an ankle injury after scoring the winner against Cardiff.

Adams said: "He has decided he doesn't want to go because of the injury.

"I don't think it is anything serious. It won't keep him out of any games, but he won't be able to train for a couple of days."

Zamora had treatment in Brighton yesterday while the Trinidad squad trained at Arsenal's Colney headquarters.