Anthony Rougier made his first start for Albion on Saturay as they went for a fourth win on the spin at the Priestfield Stadium.

The striker on loan from Reading replaced the banned Bobby Zamora in the only change to the team which beat Millwall 1-0 at Withdean last Saturday.

Rougier scored the only goal on that occasion within three minutes of coming off the bench.

Today the Trinidad and Tobago International was back at the scene of his last goal for Reading, in a 1-0 victory in November.

Graham Barrett continued up front, with Gary Hart serving the second of a four-match suspension.

Steve Coppell's in-form line-up also included former Gillingham duo Paul Watson and Richard Carpenter.

Hart's absence left Kerry Mayo as the only survivor from the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons, when the Seagulls groundshared with their Kent hosts.

The substitutes included the versatile Shaun Wilkinson, with Coppell's striking options further restricted by the injury and illness problems which have plagued Paul Kitson.

Gillingham, like Albion, were forced into a single change by a key suspension.

Player-manager Andy Hessenthaler began a two-match ban as a result of ten bookings.

Mark Saunders took over in midfield following Tuesday's fourth home League triumph in a row for the Gills over Norwich, which was watched by Coppell.

Barry Ashby, forced off against the Canaries by a calf injury, was fit to continue in the centre of defence alongside the ever present Chris Hope.

Saunders was sent off along with currently injured team mate Kevin James in Albion's 4-2 defeat at Withdean in September.

Paul Shaw scored twice in that match and the former Millwall man was an obvious threat to Albion's revival, together with Rod Wallace and Mali-born Mamady Sidibe.

A poor playing surface promised to make life difficult for both teams, the pitch cutting up badly as the players warmed up.

Albion: Dave Beasant; Paul Watson, Kerry Mayo, Danny Cullip, Dean Blackwell, Paul Brooker, Richard Carpenter, Ivar Ingimarsson, Graham Barrett, Simon Rodger, Anthony Rougier. Subs: Oatway, Jones, Wilkinson, Packham, Piercy.

Gillingham: Jason Brown; Roland Edge, Paul Smith, Barry Ashby, Nyon Nosworthy, Paul Shaw, Mark Saunders, Chris Hope, Rod Wallace, Mamady Sidibe, Nicky Southall. Subs: Bartram, L. Johnson, Osborn, T. Johnson, Perpetuini.

Referee: P Walton (Northants).