MONDAY: Albion slump to a shock 2-0 defeat by Southend in the Withdean mud. Ref Steve Baines gives the game the go ahead after two inspections.

Conditions are so bad that Micky Adams substitutes his frail wide men Paul Brooker and Nathan Jones in the first half.

Darren Freeman hits the bar and fellow substitute Bobby Zamora goes close with two headers, but second half goals on the break by Martin Carruthers and David Lee seal Southend's victory.

TUESDAY: Adams defends his decision to leave Zamora out of the starting line-up following a one-match ban. "I have a dressing room to look after," says Adams. "If I'm telling my players to keep the shirt and they go to Barnet without him and get a result then they keep the shirt.

"It doesn't matter if it's Bobby Zamora or Alan Shearer, that is my philosophy. It might be right, it might be wrong, but I always find it works better in the dressing room."

Brooker scores twice, hits the post twice and misses a last-minute penalty as the reserves lose 4-3 in an eventful Combination clash at Southend.

WEDNESDAY: Albion plan emergency talks with Ecovert South over the poor state of the Withdean pitch.

Chief executive Martin Perry says: "Quite clearly something has got to be done and we have got to decide the right way forward.

"Short-term measures have to be taken and long-term measures. It was plainly unsatisfactory and clearly impacted on the game."

Martin Burholt, Ecovert's leisure contracts manager, says: "It was never designed for football. It's a piece of grass to throw javelins on. There is nowhere for the water to run and it becomes a muddy paste."

Daniel Marney scores four as the youth team thrash Southend 5-2 at Falmer.

THURSDAY: Sussex expert Steve Moore reveals the Withdean pitch could get "back to some sort of reasonable surface" for £40,000. He adds: "It should have been dealt with in the summer. It's a case of closing the stable door after the horse is bolted."

Steve Melton is in contention for his first League start against his home town team Lincoln, with Charlie Oatway suspended.

Adams denies he is signing Portsmouth fullback David Birmingham but Darren Carr is lined up for another loan move, this time to Carlisle after returning from Rotherham.

FRIDAY: Lewes-based ref Steve Tomlin calls off the game against Lincoln with the Withdean pitch waterlogged.