WE already know that Micky Adams is a no-nonsense manager.

We know he wants his team to be fitter to cope with the rigours of the Third Division.

Now we know he possesses the power to peer into the future as well!

Adams missed an instantly forgettable match which would have told him little more than he learned about the players in the previous two.

Defensively Albion looked pretty solid again. Gary Hobson had a strong game against his old club and Adams appears to have inherited from Jeff Wood a reliable stopper in Keith McPherson.

Just one goal has been conceded in three games since he took charge, and that was an unstoppable effort by Halifax's Justin Jackson.

So far so good. You need go no further than North London to appreciate that successful sides are based on firm foundations.

The further forward we go though the trickier it gets.

Exactly where Adams' scouting mission took him on Saturday remained a closely guarded secret, although the need for an improvement in attacking areas is obvious.

Albion may have let in one goal under him, but they have only scored one as well.

That was provided by the irrepressible Gary Hart. The Seagulls' pacey player of the season elect was a persistent threat to Hull, hassling and hustling them at every opportunity.

It was no coincidence that all three of the visitors' central defenders were booked, two of them for fouls on Hart.

He needs help. Hart's various partners this season could, mind you, argue with some justification that the service to the front players has often been sub-standard.

Aquestion mark hovers over Albion's two creative forces. It is still unclear whether Jeff Minton will stay or exploit the Bosman ruling in the summer.

As for Rod Thomas, we can only hope that the serious ankle injury which has ruled him out since January will not curb the wizardy which propelled the team towards the play-offs mid-season.

Mark Ormerod's reflexes kept out David D'Auria's deflected shot from long range and preserved the Seagulls' first home League draw since their only other one on the opening Saturday at Gillingham.

The closing Saturday in Kent is within sight at last. The fans won't want Albion to lose against Rochdale, but a 13th defeat at the Priestfield would be quite apt. Unlucky for some? It has been unlucky for everyone.

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