Albion boss Peter Taylor has appealed to fans not to turn against Danny Cullip.

The popular stopper has stunned supporters by demanding a move from the table-topping Seagulls.

Cullip makes his 100th appearance for the club in tomorrow's first round FA Cup clash against Shrewsbury at Withdean and Taylor declared: "I've got no hesitation in playing him.

"He is a very solid pro, he will not let this club down and I want everyone to take that on board. It happens all over the world, clubs losing one of their best players.

"Danny has given everything he has got this season, including since I have been here, and I want people to encourage him while he is still here. He is a very important player."

Cullip, the subject of an enquiry from Cardiff last week, will have the task with the rest of the defence of keeping quiet the Third Division's diminutive hotshot Luke Rodgers.

Albion have not let in a league goal for over five hours but Taylor, a semi-finalist as a player and quarter-finalist in the last two seasons as a manager with Gillingham and Leicester, is well aware of the Cup's capacity for upsetting the form book.

"It's a fantastic competition," he said. "There have been so many shocks and nobody can ever work out why and how teams get the result on the day that they do. That is the beauty of the FA Cup.

"If you are in the game you understand there is not a big gap between a Third and Second Division team.

"We are pleased to be at home, but Shrewsbury are decent. I know they played very well against Brighton at the end of last season and in Luke Rodgers they have probably got the best striker in the Third Division.

"They have got a lot of good players who will fancy their chances against us, so we have got to make sure we are better than them on the day."

Albion are expected to be unchanged. Paul Rogers is under treatment for a dead leg sustained in the reserves but should be fit for the bench.

Shrewsbury's defence, missing former Albion keeper Mark Cartwright and Matt Redmile through suspension, includes a player who has tasted FA Cup success at Withdean. Centre half Mick Heathcote helped Plymouth to a second round replay win two seasons ago