Ben Roberts has shrugged aside the disappointment of being sent back to Charlton and backed Albion to beat the drop.

The on-loan goalkeeper delivered the positive verdict on the Seagulls' survival prospects after being impressed by his temporary team-mates during his unbeaten three-match run against Portsmouth, Wolves and Bradford.

"They are a really good, honest bunch of lads and they have a real desire to stay up," he said. "I honestly cannot believe the position they are in. They are a good team.

"Three games is not a lot to go on, but they have done really well. I think it is too early to say it is three from four at the bottom and they can get out of it."

We revealed on Monday that boss Steve Coppell had reluctantly returned Roberts to Charlton on the expiry of his month's loan.

"I was very disappointed as you could imagine," Roberts said. "I actually thought I would be staying until the end of the season.

"I wanted to help them stay up and I was really getting into the fight. Now I am back at Charlton and I have got to start all over again."

Dave Beasant resumes in goal against Roberts' old club Millwall at Withdean on Saturday, while Ivar Ingimarsson makes his home debut on a month's loan from Wolves.

Coppell is confident the Icelandic centre half can maintain the solid standard he set in last Saturday's 1-0 win at Bradford.

"Ivar is not spectacular, but he doesn't make many mistakes either," said Coppell. "He doesn't give much away and he is a very genuine, committed player.

"I was hoping he would do well and in the back of my mind I knew he wouldn't be exposed. You have got to be a flying machine to get around him."

Richard Carpenter walks a disciplinary tightrope against Millwall. The central midfielder will join Gary Hart and Bobby Zamora on the banned list if he collects his fifth caution of the campaign.

Saturday's clash is the cut-off point for an automatic one-match suspension for five bookings. After that players escape with a warning.

Paul Ifill, Millwall's Brighton-born Albion fan, returns from a ban for Mark McGhee's injury-ravaged side.

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