Albion boss Peter Taylor has backed Will Packham to learn from an FA Cup blunder which marred his first start for the Seagulls.

Packham handed Preston a place in the fourth round at Withdean last night when he allowed Jon Macken's long range shot in the second half to slip through his fingers.

It sealed a 2-0 exit for Albion and a home tie for the visitors against First Division rivals Sheffield United.

Packham, 21 last Sunday, was only playing because a back spasm ruled out Michel Kuipers after the big Dutchman had recovered from a pulled thigh muscle. Taylor said: "He will learn from that. It was a little bit of a lack of concentration. At the time I probably wanted to kill him, but I understand he is a young lad trying to get into the team.

"Unfortunately he made a mistake but we have all done that."

It was also a night to forget for Bobby Zamora. He had a first half penalty saved by David Lucas, three minutes after Frenchman Erik Skora slotted Preston ahead, and has now failed to score for four games.

"I spoke to Bobby about the penalty," Taylor said. "He normally puts them that side and I think he is going to have to hit them a little bit harder in future.

"He is ten times better than he is playing at the moment. It's not through a lack of effort, which is the most important thing. He is a great lad and he will work through this."

Taylor played down the presence of Everton boss Walter Smith and his No. 2 Archie Knox.

Smith has reportedly lined up a £3 million bid for Zamora but Taylor added: "It wouldn't surprise me if he was watching Jon Macken or other people."

Macken said: "In the end it was a good result. Facing Sheffield United in the fourth round is a good draw for us, we've beaten them already at Deepdale this season."

Albion's second successive defeat means the visit to promotion rivals Brentford on Thursday January 24 goes ahead as scheduled.

But they now have three key players suspended for the home game against Cardiff seven days later.

Paul Watson has picked up an automatic one-match ban, along with Gary Hart and Simon Morgan, after a second half booking last night.

David Lee, Albion's new midfield signing from Hull, makes his first appearance in the reserves at Northampton today.

Dirk Lehmann has returned from a brief trial with Motherwell and he is also in the line-up. The Seagulls are waiting to hear whether they want to sign the German striker.

More Seagulls stuff at thisisthealbion.co.uk