Hotshot Ben Abbey is aiming for another top-of-the-table scalp when he returns to Sussex on New Year's Day.

The former Crawley Town striker is likely to be up front for Southend as they tackle Albion at Withdean.

And he will be out to repeat his matchwinning perfomance of a fortnight ago which sent the Seagulls' title rivals Chesterfield crashing to a 3-2 defeat at Roots Hall.

Abbey was signed by the Shrimpers on the advice of Crawley boss Billy Smith and has fired six goals in eight games.

He admitted: "It has been going well. The goals are flying in and we are going along quite steadily.

"I was at Oxford at the start of the season which was an uphill battle, but you just deal with these things and hope you get another chance.

"Dave Webb has given me that chance at Southend and we are looking to finish in a play-off position."

Abbey, 22, also had a brief spell on loan at Aldershot this season before moving to Essex.

His 88th minute clincher against Chesterfield gave Albion a boost on the afternoon they lost their long unbeaten league run at Mansfield.

Abbey said: "We beat Chesterfield when they were going really well so we will just take the Brighton game as it comes.

"We know it will be hard down there but we have got a good team spirit and the players have adapted well to the new manager."

Smith is delighted to see his former hitman faring so well in the professional ranks.

He said: "I recommended Ben to Dave Webb because he was looking for someone who could out the ball in the net.

"People said he was not tough enough when he was here but he scored a lot of goals for Crawley."

Albion, who lost 2-0 at Roots Hall on the opening day of the season, have a blank afternoon today.

Their trip to Rochdale was postponed after a lunchtime inspection yesterday with the Spotland pitch still frozen.