Albion manager Micky Adams has blamed a lack of grass for the injury which has robbed him of Richard Carpenter.

The influential midfielder has been ruled out of tonight's key clash at promotion rivals Rochdale, although he could be fit to face his old club Cardiff at Withdean on Saturday.

Bad weather has restricted Albion's training at the University of Sussex in recent weeks and the boss believes that has aggravated Carpenter's ankle problem.

"The hard surfaces are killing him," Adams said. "We keep going in the gym or on the Astroturf and it just flares up."

Carpenter had an injection in the ankle yesterday. An x-ray revealed he will require minor surgery at the end of the season.

Steve Melton stands in for him again at Spotland tonight following his late call-up for the 1-0 win at Torquay.

The match hinges on a 10am pitch inspection this morning and Albion have delayed their journey north until today. If the game does go ahead the team is expected to be unchanged, although Darren Freeman is battling to recover from a calf injury.

Michel Kuipers, whose poor kicking cost him the goalkeeper's jersey at Torquay, is among the replacements again as cover for Mark Cartwright.

Adams is repeating his policy of naming a spare keeper for every League game in the last three months of the season.

A first win at Spotland for 29 years will take Albion nine points clear of Rochdale. Defeat would leave Steve Parkin's side only three points behind the Seagulls with a match in hand.

"It's an important game if you are table-watching," Adams said. "When you play other teams up there you don't want to let them beat you because they gain three points.

"I don't want to put negative thoughts into the players' minds. We want to go up there and win, but I might take a point."