One of Bobby Zamora's prolific predecessors has backed Albion to sustain their Second Division promotion challenge.

Kurt Nogan was an interested spectator at last Saturday's 1-1 draw between his current club Cardiff and the Seagulls at Ninian Park.

He noticed enough to believe both sides will be towards the right end of the table at the end of the season.

Nogan said: "Brighton looked very well organised. They are a good side at home and they are picking up points away, so I think they will be up there all season.

"They didn't look like conceding a goal, but there is always a danger if you sit back for too long and I think it was a fair result in the end.

"Cardiff need to win their home games. Hopefully we can get back on track, because we get great support. The team hasn't gelled yet, but it is going to take time."

The fact that Nogan did not even warrant a place on the bench is an indication of how far he has fallen out of contention with the Welsh giants.

Indeed, the suffering striker's career has gone largely downhill since his incredible goalscoring spree for the Seagulls.

Nogan netted 60 times in 120 appearances between 1992 and 1995, a strike rate comparable with the best in the club's history and one which Zamora would I am sure be satisfied to emulate over the same period.

In fact, Nogan notched all of those goals in his first 100 games before a barren 20-match run which preceded a £250,000 move to Burnley.

He rediscovered his touch in his first season at Turf Moor, topping the charts with 26 goals to earn a call-up to the Welsh squad.

But he fell out with the management and, after a spell of fluctuating fortunes at Preston, the dream move to his home city club has turned into a nightmare.

Nogan, 31 last month, is unlikely to still be around when Albion clash with Cardiff again at Withdean in February.

He said: "I have been granted a free transfer, so I am waiting for an offer to come in. I need a couple of games in the reserves and then hopefully I can move on.

"I went to Rushden for a trial, but it didn't go too well. The game I played in wasn't that good. I've got a couple of clubs interested, so we'll see how it goes."

Nogan's fellow former Seagull at Cardiff, Mark Walton, isn't having much luck either. He faces a fight to win his place back following a knee injury.

In the summer Alan Cork signed a new No.1, Neil Alexander from Scottish Premier League club Livingstone.

Walton must have looked on enviously as his Albion replacement Michel Kuipers produced another commanding display last Saturday.

Micky Adams accused Walton of leaving him in the lurch when he suddenly left two summers ago, but Kuipers' form has extinguished that blow.