BRIAN HORTON paid tribute to his players and the fans last night as battling Albion picked up a valuable point in his first away match in charge.

The Seagulls held play-off candidates Rotherham to a goalless draw at a rainswept Millmoor with a spirited display. "I don't want to single anyone out," said Horton. "It was a good team performance. "The attitude and response from the players towards me has been tremendous." The new boss was delighted with the way the side responded to an unfamiliar 3-4-3 formation forced on Horton by the absence through injury of Stuart Tuck, which left him with just 13 fit outfield players. "I threw it on them on Monday," he said. "We looked a bit shaky with it in the first half, but in the second half it worked a lot better." Skipper Gary Hobson, who along with winger Steve Barnes was outstanding, said: "The team did really well. Everyone worked so hard. "We only tried the new formation in training on Monday. We didn't work on it that long, but the lads responded well." The 341 Seagulls supporters that made the journey to Yorkshire were rewarded with Albion's first away point for six games. They have now opened a commanding 11-point gap over relegation rivals Doncaster, who lost at home to Barnet, with ten matches remaining. Added Horton: "It was magnificent to have so many fans on an awful night in Yorkshire. We enjoyed the result as much as they did." Horton is continuing his search for fresh faces ahead of the transfer deadline in three weeks time to boost a wafer-thin squad. It has been depleted further by Tuck's anticipated absence for the rest of the season with a recurring groin problem.

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