Pinamonte is thinking big

The giant Italian is aiming for goals and wins to help the Seagulls realise their potential.

Pinamonte played six games in his first month on loan from Bristol City. Albion won two, lost three and drew one of them and the 6ft.3ins striker scored twice, both against Exeter.

"I want some more goals and wins," he said. "We need some points. I know that Brighton, with the atmosphere here, should not be playing in the Third Division. We have got to go higher.

"If we find our confidence we can play. We drew with Barnet and beat Rotherham, so there is no big difference between the top and middle of the table.

"We have got to keep going. There is still a long way to go."

The saga over Pinamonte's short-term future was finally clarified on Tuesday when he signed for Albion for another month.

The Seagulls made a bid to buy the Verona-born powerhouse last week, at the same time as Bristol City boss Tony Pulis quit Ashton Gate to take charge at Portsmouth.

It left Pinamonte in limbo going into last Saturday's disappointing 1-0 home defeat by Leyton Orient.

"I didn't know what was going to happen before Saturday's game," he said. "In your mind you wonder what is happening, whether you are going to stay or go, so there was a little bit of confusion.

"That probably affected me. I was thinking about it and perhaps not concentrating. I think I have don well so far, but not in that game."

Pinamonte wants to join Albion permanently. The Seagulls' bid was below Bristol's asking price and Brentford are understood to have made an offer for the former Foggia forward as well, although their figure has been described by one source as derisory.

Much will depend on how the managerial situation develops at Ashton Gate. Reserve coach Leroy Roseni chief scout Tony Fawthrop and youth academy director David Burnside have been put in charge for the time being.

Albion boss Micky Adams said: "We are pleased to keep Lorenzo for another month. The situation at Bristol won't be resolved for a few weeks, so a permanent deal is up in the air.

"I think either way he will go back at the end of this month, because a new man will want to look at him."

For the time being Pinamonte can look forward to another six appearances for Albion, starting with Saturday's trip to Torquay.

Charlie Oatway can look forward to a warm reception from Torquay fans when he returns to Plainmoor.

Albion's combative midfielder was named player of the season by supporters of the West Country club after only 24 appearances.

That was four years ago, when Oatway spearheaded Torquay's fight for Football League survival.

"Eddie May took me there just after Christmas and it was a case of them fighting against relegation again," he said.

"I just got stuck in. I don't think the fans had much of a choice from earlier in the season, so they ended up voting for me.

"I had a good time down there. I know the management and quite a few of the Torquay lads like Tony Bedeau. He's from Shepherd's Bush as well."

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