Andy Crosby is a worried man. The recalled central defender reckons he could be a Withdean jinx for Albion.

The Seagulls' temporary home has been the scene of an unhappy League hat-trick for Crosby. He was sent-off in Albion's first home fixture, a 2-1 win against Rochdale back in August.

He featured in the 2-0 defeat by Kidderminster Harriers nine days later.

And Crosby's first League start at Withdean since then coincided with Monday's setback by the same score against Southend.

Just for good measure the 27-year-old also figured from the kick-off in Albion's home defeat against Millwall in the Worthington Cup.

Victory over Cardiff in the LDV Vans Trophy interfered with Crosby's losing trend at Withdean, but it's no wonder the former Chester stopper said: "I think I am the curse!

"Seriously though it's nice to be back playing again and it's up to me to stay in the side now."

Micky Adams' 'keep the shirt' policy has worked both for and against Crosby this season. Adams signed Matthew Wicks as cover after his red card against Rochdale resulted in a three-match ban.

Wicks formed such an effective partnership with Danny Cullip that Crosby found himself relegated to the bench for 18 of the next 19 matches and worrying again, this time about his future.

Crosby's Withdean luck changed when Wicks strained a hamstring in the pre-Christmas win against Exeter. The injury kept the former Peterborough stopper out of the Boxing Day triumph at Barnet and Adams named an unchanged line-up against Southend.

That even meant only a place on the bench for the prolific Bobby Zamora following his one-match suspension.

"That is how the gaffer operates," Crosby said. "If you play well you stay in the team. All the players know what the policy is. We did well at Barnet and got a good result.

"I've got to play well to stay in the team, because Wicksy and Danny have done ever so well together.

"The Barnet game was the first I had started for four months. I played six reserve games in that time, so in the last ten to 15 minutes I was blowing a bit.

"It was hard to come back in, but I have got to take my chance now. I've waited long enough and I have been quite patient. I have been to see him (Adams) a few times to see what the position is, but I am happy down here. It's a big club.

"We have got to get ourselves out of this League this season. We have got into a great position and it's up to us now to carry it on in the second half of the season."

All the talk this week has been about the shocking state of the Withdean pitch and its possible impact on Albion's promotion bid.

There is a precedent, which Adams has already warned his players about.

Darlington, one of Crosby's old clubs, seemed certainties for automatic promotion last season until drainage problems with their Feethams pitch eventually took their toll.

They won only one of their last six games at home, finished fourth and lost in the play-off final to Peterborough.

"The pitch is not going to help us now for the rest of the season, but it's the same for both teams," said Crosby. "It's important not to let it become a mental thing. At Darlington the pitch was terrible and they went.

"It's up to us to be mentally strong now and not let it be a problem to us."