Danny Cullip has paid tribute to the remarkable resolve which has turned Albion from relegation certainties into survival candidates.

At the end of October, when they capitulated to a dismal dozen defeats on the trot at Crystal Palace, the Seagulls had only a win and a draw from 14 games and were ten points adrift of safety.

They go into Saturday's home fixture against Nottingham Forest just outside the drop zone after 28 points from the last 22 matches.

Cullip, their inspirational captain, believes the indomitable spirit within the camp is the main reason why Albion have hauled themselves back into contention.

"We've had a winning formula for two seasons, so you still have that belief," Cullip said. "You don't become bad players overnight.

"I don't know many teams that would come back from 12 games without a point. We were written off.

"It's a credit to the players and the management staff for keeping everyone together.

"The spirit has been terrific. Most of us have been together for three seasons, so we have been through some hard times. It's going to be an achievement if we can stay up this season."

The determined Cullip and his co-defenders deserve most of the plaudits. Albion's vastly improved defensive record is responsible for their current position.

They are above Stoke on goal difference or, more to the point, a lower number of goals conceded.

Both have scored 36 in as many games, but Albion have let in 55 compared to Stoke's 63.

Such slender margins might just make all the difference. Rotherham, last Saturday's Withdean victims, survived last season on goal difference primarily because their defence was meaner than Crewe's.

Rotherham manager Ronnie Moore said: "It might be goal difference again this year, but Brighton have given themselves a chance.

"That is the big thing, because they were dead before Steve Coppell came here. What they have got to do is survive. How they do it is by hard work and graft.

"With the fighting spirit they showed against us they have got a chance. Zamora is going to cause any team a problem and the little lad out wide (Paul Brooker) is lively.

"We will play a part because we've got Grimsby to come in our next home game."

Albion have kept three clean sheets in their last five outings, but Cullip is typically modest about his own formidable contribution.

"We are trying to keep as many clean sheets as we can now until the end of the season and we are looking quite solid," he said.

"Dean Blackwell and Ivar Ingimarsson have slotted in very well. They are two very good players. It's easy to play alongside them."

It is three hours and 25 minutes since Ingimarsson's Wolves colleague Kenny Miller netted the last Withdean goal against the Seagulls.

The matches remaining in front of their own fans, collectively far easier on paper than those away, are crucial to Albion.

"We've got some winnable games at home," Cullip said. "Forest will be a very hard game, but if we can stay there or thereabouts come April then we have got three home games in the last five.

"Hopefully we are running back into some good home form and we can carry it on."

Fixtures left for bottom four:

ALBION: (h) Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Preston North End, Sheffield Wednesday, Watford; (a) Sheffield United, Ipswich, Reading, Leicester, Grimsby.

STOKE: (h) Sheffield United, Rotherham, Gillingham, Wimbledon, Reading; (a) Wolves, Watford, Millwall, Coventry, Crystal Palace.

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY: (h) Ipswich, Watford, Wimbledon, Grimsby, Walsall; (a) Bradford, Millwall, Portsmouth, Albion, Burnley.

GRIMSBY: (h) Watford, Wolves, Crystal Palace, Walsall, Albion; (a) Rotherham, Burnley, Leicester, Sheffield Wednesday, Reading.