Brighton and Hove Albion boss Peter Taylor has put his trust in the players by giving them Christmas Day off.

They will spend tomorrow at home with their families ahead of the Boxing Day visit to Queens Park Rangers (12.00).

Albion, like many clubs, trained on Christmas Day under former manager Micky Adams and had an overnight hotel stay.

This time the Seagulls will make the coach journey to Loftus Road early on Wednesday morning, followed by an extended pre-match warm-up.

Taylor said: "I have trained on Christmas Day before and gone away on Christmas night a lot as a player and a manager, but I don't really agree with it.

"Players like to be with their families. They know what to eat and drink and I trust them."

Taylor is reverting to type after Christmas Day away with Leicester last season backfired.

The Foxes were thrashed 6-1 by Arsenal at Highbury when challenging near the top of the Premiership.

"Players don't really rest, they don't really sleep and I think it's a waste of time," Taylor said. "The year before with Gillingham we didn't go away and we had a good Christmas programme.

"We will go up to QPR early on Boxing Day morning and have a little bit longer warm-up before the game.

"The players here know there are about 23 in the squad all trying to get in 11 positions, so they owe it to themselves to do things right to make sure they put in a good performance."

Fullback Robbie Pethick, deputising for the injured Kerry Mayo, could get the chance to put one over his old boss.

The former Portsmouth defender fell out with Ian Holloway when the Rangers' manager was in charge of Bristol Rovers and they blew promotion from Division two.

"I was one of those blamed," said Pethick. "I felt hurt in that respect, because I had been setting up goals all season.

"He messed me around a few times. Ian's heart is in the right place and he was entitled to his opinion, but I have got to try and prove him wrong. It would be nice to stick one over him."

Albion hope to have Gary Hart back from a dead leg.