Wolves defenders have joined the Bobby Zamora fan club ahead of Saturday's crucial clash at Withdean.

Wolves coach and former Albion forward Terry Connor has revealed their admiration for the Seagulls' spearhead after watching him score his eighth goal of the season in the closing stages of Tuesday's 3-2 home defeat by Wimbledon.

He has made a big impression on Connor and the players he tormented when on target in the 1-1 draw at Molineux in November.

"As a former striker myself I think he's a super player, but you have only got to ask our centre halves who played in the game that night," Connor said.

"They had all heard about Bobby in the previous couple of seasons but hadn't played against him.

"We spoke to the players the very next day and they were full of praise. That tells you something, when fellow pros tell you they have been up against a very good player."

Connor's spying mission on Tuesday rekindled some fond memories, as well as giving him an insight into what the Wanderers can expect.

"I've got only good memories, a real soft spot for Brighton," he said. "The people were great, it was a very friendly club and I had a smashing time down here.

"I've only known Withdean as a running track. It's a bit different and I'm glad I came down so that I can let the boys know what to expect.

"Each to their own. I remember a few years back when Wolves didn't have a great deal at all themselves. We will be prepared for it."

Wolves despatched Sheffield Wednesday, Albion's closest relegation rivals, 4-0 at Hillsborough last Saturday.

Connor, who scored 59 goals in 174 games for the Seagulls from 1983 to 1987, is not taking another victory for granted after Albion's deserved point in the first meeting three months ago.

"They played very well that night," he said. "That didn't surprise me. Teams in the First Division will always give you a hard game, whether it's at home or away. We know clubs are capable of doing that against us. What we have got to try and do is fulfill our own potential. If we do that then we think we have got a good chance of winning games.

"We didn't expect to win so easily last Saturday against Sheffield Wednesday, but if we play to our true potential we feel we can beat most teams in this division.

"We know when we come down here it's a different type of stadium, a different atmosphere, and we know if we are not ready for the game then Brighton could easily beat us."

Wolves looked certainties to win the League last season until a late collapse culminating in a play-off exit against Norwich.

Their form has been patchy so far this term, but Connor refutes suggestions they are still suffering a hangover from that botched promotion bid.

"It's a new season and you never have two seasons the same," he said. "At the moment we are sixth, obviously in the play-off positions, and that is where we ended up last year.

"We are hoping now we can put a good run together. If we do that we can finish, if not in the top two, then certainly in the play-off positions and have a chance of going up that way. I think we will be better equipped for that this time. Once you have been somewhere and done it you are that much more experienced.

"One thing we have been stressing to the players is that you should always learn from your experiences.

"If we are in a similar position this year then hopefully we will do that little bit better."

For Albion boss Steve Coppell the target is rather less exalted. He knows the Seagulls must start making home advantage count to have any chance of staying up.

"We've only won a couple of games at home and that's more or less what we've deserved," he admitted. "If anything we've looked more likely away from home.

"It's a little more difficult for us at home, because teams can sit back and then hit us on the break and the responsibility is with us to take the play to the opposition.

"Sometimes we can be a little bit exposed at the back, but we are learning. It's a steep learning curve for the players.

"They have come an awful long way in a short space of time and I think they are really getting a handle now on what the First Division is all about."

It was a grim night for Albion against Wimbledon, but at least Paul Brooker became the first current player apart from Zamora to score at Withdean since Kerry Mayo's last-gasp match-winner against Derby back on November 16.

Coppell wants to see less of a dependency on the man Wolves fear and more players chancing their arm to get on the scoresheet.

"We have got to create opportunities for others," he said. "Other people have got to be more prepared to make the box area.

"We get 30 yards from goal then all of a sudden we begin to get a bit flowery, intent almost on only scoring the perfect goal.

"We have the reputation of being a passing side and we sometimes try to pass our way into scoring opportunities.

"I look at all the other teams. If you watched Premiership football at the weekend people were taking shots and getting deflections into the back of the net.

"We don't gamble as much as we should in terms of shooting, crossing and actually hurting the opposition."