Coppell plays mind games

Rob Forzoni worked with Coppell at Brentford and now he is focusing the minds of the Albion players on the battle to beat the drop.

Coppell said: "It's something we have slotted in probably over the last four or five weeks. It's just to concentrate minds on what we are trying to achieve. It isn't massive and it isn't rocket science, just a different way of thinking and a different voice.

"He is probably saying the same things, but these days if it comes from a sports psychologist it probably has a little more weight.

"Rob has become a part of things. He came to Gillingham and was devastated we lost there. I think he first came to us just before the run of three wins we had, so is it coincidence or has he had an effect? Who knows?"

Albion are back out of the relegation zone on goal difference from Stoke following Saturday's 2-0 home victory against Rotherham.

A second-half own goal by Paul Hurst, supplemented by Bobby Zamora's 11th of the season, earned the Seagulls their third Withdean win on the trot.

Captain Danny Cullip said: "Hopefully we can keep building on our home form and pick up some points away.

"It was a hard fought game. Rotherham are a benchmark for us, with similar resources to ourselves. They are a hard-working side, so it was a very good result."

Albion have another testing spell coming up, starting at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday. That is followed by trips to Sheffield United a week tomorrow, Ipswich and the month-ending derby against Crystal Palace at Withdean.

Coppell said: "It's very important now that we rest and recover from the exertions of the past week and get ourselves up for the next ten days.

"Realistically, I don't think anyone will be expecting us to get anything from these next four games, so in many ways we have got nothing to lose."

Rock-bottom Grimsby, three points adrift of Albion with a match in hand, visit Forest tonight.

Match report at thisisthealbion.co.uk