Peter Taylor has passed on the credit to the caretakers and players for the resounding start to his Albion reign.

He applauded assistant Bob Booker, director of youth Martin Hinshelwood and the team for Saturday's 3-0 destruction of Oldham at Withdean.

First-half goals by recalled captain Paul Rogers and Lee Steele (2) have lifted the Seagulls back up to second, behind Brentford on goal difference with a three-point cushion over the rest in the race for automatic promotion.

"I was delighted with the way the lads played," said Taylor. "The way they started is the reason they won the match. They were very positive and played at a brilliant tempo.

"I watched them train for two days and did most of the talking before the game, but I think Bob and Martin deserve all the credit and the players. I knew they were going to start like trains, because they are a very together group who give each other a gee-up at the right times. That is the beauty of them.

"You want to do well in your first game. The applause only lasts for two seconds if the performance isn't right, but thankfully the performance was excellent."

Steele's second goal, his sixth of the season, was set up by Bobby Zamora.

Taylor was encouraged by their partnership and impressed by his first look at Zamora.

"Lee looked a handful," he said. "Bobby helped with one of the goals and people could have helped him to score as well, but overall I was very pleased with them.

"Bobby is very clever. He has great awareness and goals in him, as we all know. One of my questions to the chairman when I was interviewed wasn't whether Zamora would be staying. That was basically answered for me before I asked it. He is staying."

Steele said: "Somebody was going to score, because we played really well in the first half-hour. I'm just glad it was me. "Bobby fed me for the second one, but he owes me a few anyway! He was brilliant. He had a few marking him and that gave me a lot more space."

Richard Carpenter missed the match through illness. Charlie Oatway is doubtful for tomorrow's trip to Notts County with a hamstring injury.