ALBION'S return to peak form is under threat from two old boys.

Graeme Atkinson and Jason Peake are expected to figure in Rochdale's midfield at Spotland on Saturday.

They are hoping for a repeat of their dramatic 4-3 victory at Withdean before Christmas to spoil the three-match unbeaten run that has hoisted Micky Adams' men back into the play-off picture.

Atkinson was on target in that soggy horror show for the Seagulls four weeks ago, which provoked ridiculously premature calls from a small section of fans for Adams to resign.

Atkinson nodded Rochdale into a 2-0 lead in a madcap encounter in which Albion fought back to lead 3-2 early in the second half, only to lose to two Clive Platt goals in the last eight minutes.

Atkinson's header from a Tony Ellis cross was one of six he has scored for the unfashionable Lancastrians.

"I am playing in a more advanced role than I was for Brighton," he said. "It gives me an opportunity to get into the box and our game is geared to getting crosses in.

"I've got five goals in the League and one in the cup and I've got a claim for another one, direct from a corner, although I think that will go down as an own goal.

"I looked at the fixtures at the start of the season to see when we were playing Brighton and I was surprised to see they were so close together.

"It should be a good game. The one down there was exciting and good for the neutrals, although I am sure Brighton will want to get one back over us because we robbed them really.

"We need to tighten up from set pieces. Brighton are a big side and they were putting good balls into the box against us, so we mustn't give away silly free-kicks in dodgy areas.

"We conceded from set pieces again against Hartlepool on Monday, but hopefully that defeat was just a hiccup."

Atkinson made 17 appearances in two different spells with Albion after playing for Preston, Rochdale on loan and his home town club Hull, where he now lives.

The versatile 28-year-old became Brian Horton's first signing when the Seagulls took over his contract from Preston for the rest of the season in March 1998.

He was re-signed on a short-term contract towards the start of last season before moving back up north with Scunthorpe and Scarborough, where he suffered the disappointment of relegation from the Football League.

"The move to Rochdale came as a bolt out of the blue," he said. "Steve Parkin rang me when he was still the manager at Mansfield. I had a chat with him and we left things until the summer.

"When he resigned I thought my hopes had been dashed, but when he went to Rochdale he rang me up again and I haven't looked back."

Atkinson now has the luxury of a contract until the end of next season following such an unsettling period of chop and change.

The talented Peake never settled with the Seagulls after Jimmy Case bought him from Rochdale in the summer of 1996 for an appearance-related fee which was due to rise to £120,000.

He became embroiled in a row with the club over thousands of pounds of re-location expenses, when Case allowed him to move back to his home city of Leicester but former chief executive David Bellotti refused to sanction the bill.

Peake was given a free move to Bury 15 months later after just one goal in 30 League games for Albion, in exchange for abandoning the financial dispute.

Now the central midfielder, also 28, is back at his spiritual home and enjoying some of the best football of his career.

"Things are going really well," he said. "The new manager has got us playing good football and there is a lot of character in the team.

"It is probably the most consistent I have played throughout my career and I hope it continues, because I am out of contract in the summer.

"I have got three goals this season and I should have scored more."

Peake was substituted midway through the second half at Withdean, one of his few disappointing performances against an Albion side he predicts will still be in the promotion shake-up.

"It was one of those hustle and bustle games where the midfield was a non-entity," he said. "I fancied Brighton to go up this year, because the teams that get promoted are usually strong and powerful.

"They've just had two good wins on the trot, so I am sure their confidence is high.

"I was really impressed by Gary Hart up front and Paul Rogers and Charlie Oatway are good players in midfield. I played against Rogers a few times when he was at Wigan and I thought he was a good signing.

"Then there is Darren Freeman as well, who will always get goals."

Freeman missed Rochdale's win at Withdean through suspension. Atkinson and Peake will have to contend with Albion's top marksman on Saturday, but not their mutual pal Gary Hobson.

The Seagulls' ex-skipper has both a recurring back problem and an elbow injury.

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