Nathan Jones has urged Albion to capitalise on back-to-back home games to consolidate their automatic promotion prospects.

The Seagulls launch a hat-trick of matches at Withdean against Brian Horton's Port Vale on Saturday.

Peterborough visit 11 days later, while sandwiched in-between is the FA Cup first round tie against Shrewsbury.

Jones said: "Without putting too much pressure on ourselves it's a great opportunity with two home games coming up and the diversion of the FA Cup.

"We need to capitalise. A bit of a gap is opening up between the top three and the rest and we need to keep in the group that is pulling away."

Jones, playing on the left side of midfield, produced his best performance for some time in Albion's 1-0 victory at promotion rivals Bristol City last Saturday, which extended the cushion over their victims to seven points.

The Welshman said: "Peter Taylor has come in and done really well. He has taken over where Micky Adams left off and embraced the spirit we have here. We haven't lost since he came in, so you cannot ask for more. Training has been sharp and I am thoroughly enjoying it."

Albion have won 14 of the last 15 League games at Withdean, with the exception of last month's defeat by leaders Brentford. They have not lost on a Saturday at their temporary home since January 2000.

The eccentricities of the fixture calendar mean the trio of home games are followed by three away matches on the spin, at Swindon on November 24, Bury on December 1 and Cambridge United on December 4 in the LDV Vans Trophy.

It could be four if the Seagulls reach round two of the FA Cup on December 8.

Albion are still second after Stoke were held to a 2-2 draw at Blackpool last night. Reading have replaced Bristol City in fourth, six points below the Seagulls, following a 2-0 home win over Wrexham.

Paul Brooker, Jones' rival for the left flank role, begins a bid to force his way back into first team contention in the reserves against Cheltenham at Worthing tonight (7.0). Brooker was left out of the squad for the Bristol trip.

A strong reserve squad also features Scott Ramsay, back from a three-month loan spell with Nationwide Conference club Yeovil.

Reserves (from): Packham; Pethick, Crosby, Virgo, Wicks, Wilkinson, Brooker, Melton, Rogers, Pitcher, Ramsay, Lehmann, Marney, McPhee, Hammond, Harding.

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