Albion were unchanged as they attempted to maintain their impressive recent home form against depleted Preston at Withdean.

Boss Steve Coppell, as expected, kept faith with the team which won 2-1 at Reading eight days earlier.

Centre half Dean Blackwell was still missing with an ankle injury, so Coppell continued with the 4-3-3 formation which worked so well at the Madejski stadium.

Ivar Ingimarsson made the last appearance of his second month on loan from Wolves at the heart of the Seagulls' back four.

Wolves' manager Dave Jones has already indicated the Icelandic international will be allowed to stay for the rest of the relegation run-in unless he encounters injury problems.

Simon Rodger played in midfield again with a broken toe, first sustained in the 2-2 draw at Preston in November when the former Crystal Palace stalwart was on the scoresheet.

Graham Barrett, who almost joined Preston in January, started on the right flank with Gary Hart on the left and Bobby Zamora through the centre.

The bench once more included Paul Kitson, fresh from his goal-scoring impact as a substitute at Reading.

Preston made a couple of changes to the side beaten 2-0 in a Lancashire derby at Burnley on Tuesday.

Frenchman Eric Skora, on target in their FA Cup victory at Withdean last season, was preferred to Dixon Etuhu in the middle of the park.

Pawel Abbott replaced Simon Lynch upfront to partner top scorer Richard Cresswell.

Defender Rob Edwards and goalkeeper Jonathan Gould returned from injuries to be among the replacements.

Albion: Dave Beasant; Paul Watson, Kerry Mayo, Danny Cullip, Gary Hart, Richard Carpenter, Ivar Ingimarsson, Bobby Zamora, Graham Barrett, Simon Rodger. Subs: Oatway, Pethick, Jones, Packham, Kitson.

Preston: David Lucas, Graham Alexander, Brian O'Neil, Michael Jackson, Paul McKenna, Eddie Lewis, Pawel Abbott, Chris Lucketti, Tyrone Mears, Richard Cresswell, Eric Skora. Subs: Etuhu, Cartright, Edwards, Lynch, Gould.

Referee: L. Cable (Woking).