Paul Watson is seeing double. It has nothing to do with a nasty whack on the neck he took at Mansfield last Saturday.

Albion's dead ball specialist just has a vision of scoring at least ten goals this season. That would be a remarkable tally for a rightback, but Watson is already way ahead of schedule.

He went into last night's match against Exeter as the nearest challenger to Bobby Zamora with six goals, which is better than his highest tally for a whole season!

"My previous best is four," Watson explained. "That was here last season and at Fulham as well when we got promoted.

"Double figures would be nice, but I think it might have to be four more penalties.

"I won't catch Bobby up if I keep providing goals for him. I might have to miss him out a few times.

"Bobby is flying at the moment, so I don't think anyone will.

"But if we keep getting penalties hopefully I can keep on sticking them away."

Watson doesn't mind being put on the spot. Four of his six goals have been penalties. He converted one apiece against Cheltenham and Carlisle and two at Aldershot in the FA Cup.

In fact, he should have a magnificent seven in total by now. Former Seagull Steve Book saved another penalty in Cheltenham's 3-0 defeat at Withdean in September.

Throw in an inswinging cross-shot against Carlisle, a free-kick from inside the area against Millwall and countless assists and you begin to get a picture of Watson's considerable contribution to Albion's promotion push.

Prolific defenders are few and far between, but it is not only goalscoring prowess and being a left-footed rightback which makes Watson rare. Kerry Mayo is the only other Sussex-born first team regular this season.

Watson, 25 next month, is a Hastings lad and former Goldstone regular who started his career as a trainee at Gillingham. Albion manager Micky Adams admires him so much that he has signed him three times.

He took him to Fulham for £13,000 in July 1996, to Brentford for £50,000 in December 1997 and then to the Seagulls the summer before last in a combined £30,000 deal with Charlie Oatway.

How does it feel to be playing for your thriving local club?

"It's brilliant," Watson said. "I have been at Gillingham, Fulham and Brentford, so it has taken me a while to get back down here.

"But there is a buzz even when I go back home to my mum and dad in Hastings."

Watson is part of an amazing success story for the William Parker School in Hastings. Gareth Berry was a pupil there and so too were Albion youngsters Chris McPhee and Dean Hammond, both of whom have tasted first team action.

"It was always very sports orientated when I was there," Watson said. "I played from the first year through to the fifth year and was lucky enough to be captain as well.

"When I was there it was very rare for any young lads from that area to be picked up by professional teams. To have three lads here and Gareth Barry flying for Aston Villa is great for the school."

Watson has become a permanent fixture in the Albion side. He made his 64th start in a row at Mansfield last Saturday. His value was recently emphasised by a new contract, tying him to the club until June 2003.

If McPhee and Hammond eventually follow suit Adams will be delighted and a certain school in Hastings will have even more to crow about.