Helped by the generosity of a former team-mate, his cheeky opportunism earned Albion maximum points against one of his old clubs.

Anticipating Billy Barr's suicidal backpass, Aspinall nipped in to lift the ball calmly over the advancing Andy Dibble. The colourful midfielder then dashed towards the Albion fans huddled in the seats on a drizzly day in Cumbria before sliding full-length on the greasy turf.

He milked the moment and why not? Aspinall is the kind of character who inspires a love-hate relationship with supporters.

He had been barracked on his Albion debut a fortnight earlier, but he was a popular figure at Brunton Park during three seasons and more than a hundred appearances.

"I have got plenty of friends up there and I gave a lot of tickets out,"said Aspinall. "I got on well with the fans and they gave me a great reception at the end, which was much appreciated."

Micky Adams took Aspinall from Carlisle to Brentford. The Albion manager seems poised to sign a player bringing poise to the engine room again providing Colchester want Andy Arnott, who he is prepared to let go for nothing.

Experienced

"The situation is ongoing," said Adams. "It is basically in Colchester's hands. I know Warren can play. He's experienced and he knows the game.

"I brought him in because I wanted to play three in midfield. I thought it was important, particularly away from home, that we are more solid."

Aspinall's introduction has clearly done the trick, although it certainly hasn't been a one-man show.

Danny Cullip's arrival has a lot to do with a hat-trick of clean sheets and seven points from the last nine following the narrow home win against Cheltenham and draw at Peterborough.

Gary Hobson, recalled in a reshuffle at the back caused by Paul Watson's absence with a groin injury, also performed admirably.

Indeed, Mark Walton was so well protected by his defence that he only had two saves to make, tipping over Scott Dobie's fierce drive in first half stoppage time and a looping header from Dobie's second half replacement Paul Baker with moments left.

"It was a job well done," said Adams. "We've had two very difficult away trips. The target I set myself of four points has been achieved.

"In the first half we played particularly well at times and I couldn't see them hurting us too much. Danny Cullip is an outstanding defender at this level and we have looked a lot more solid with him.

"Gary Hobson was excellent and the good thing is the competition for places. Andy Crosby was on the bench and he is itching to get back.

"People will probably start questioning why we are not scoring goals now, but to get promotion you have got to keep clean sheets.

"I believe in the players I have got and I think we are doing okay. Other people have been quick to criticise, but it is not easy bringing in 11 or 12 new faces. I have kept faith and so have the majority of fans."

Adams should worry. Carlisle boss Martin Wilkinson was besieged by a small group of angry Carlisle supporters in the main stand long after the final whistle.

Stewards seemingly more concerned about restricting access for the press simply stood and watched Wilkinson receive a fearful ear-bashing before he eventually lost patience and frogmarched one of his detractors away.

Notwithstanding the opening day collapse by ten-man Mansfield, Carlisle were comfortably the poorest side Albion have faced.

In that respect the Seagulls' failure to despatch their hosts convincingly was a little disappointing. For an away side they enjoyed an awful lot of possession without making the most of it, especially in the last third.

Dibble, borrowed from Hartlepool to solve a chronic goalkeeping injur crisis, saved shots from Cullip, Charlie Oatway and Gary Hart in the first half, but the final ball too often gave him a comfortable catch.

Had Aspinall not seized on that gift with 17 minutes left a dour deadlock would have been regarded as two points dropped by a team with promotion aspirations.

Adams admitted as much. "No disrespect to Carlisle, but we really should be beating teams like them," he said.

The same could be said of York and Shrewsbury, Albion's next two opponents.

A dazed Darren Freeman should be fit to replace the ineffective David Cameron and the Seagulls, already occupying a play-off place, can climb further if they relax at Withdean and find a killer instinct to accompany the rediscovered mean streak.

Automatic promotion really would be plausible then.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.