Michel Kuipers is Albion's answer to Bodie and Doyle.

The flying Dutchman knows all about professionals after four and a half years in the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps.

Like Martin Shaw and Lewis Collins, the stars of the Seventies TV series based on MI5, Kuipers has been taught how to deal with tough situations.

And the start of his Albion career, when he was the victim of an extraordinary substitution, certainly falls into that category.

Keeper Kuipers lasted only 45 minutes on the opening day of the season at Southend following his summer move from Bristol Rovers.

He wasn't injured and, to most people watching at Roots Hall, had not done anything drastically wrong.

Mark Cartwright, drafted in on loan from Wrexham, took his place. Cartwright performed well in the second half, established himself as Albion's No.1 and was rewarded with a permanent deal for the rest of the season.

Kuipers was consigned to the Reserves until a stomach injury sidelined Cartwright from last Friday's game at Hull.

Weaker characters might have quivered at the prospect, particularly as Cartwright had not conceded a goal in the previous four matches.

But Kuipers responded with a confident, clean sheet display of his own in the Seagulls' 2-0 victory.

"Of course, it has been difficult for me," Kuipers revealed. "If you start off in the first game and then you are substituted at half time that is really difficult.

"But if you are strong enough and believe in yourself you take it on the chin.

"It has been very frustrating. If you are a sportsman you always want to play in the first team, but I think I have showed I really am a professional.

"I have kept on practising and developing and showing the manager I want to play in this team.

"When your chance is there you have to grab it and I think I did that.

"I wasn't nervous at all. In fact, I was full of confidence. It's always good to keep a clean sheet and I was really pleased for the team and the club as well as myself."I didn't celebrate too much though, because you have to stay focused."

Kuipers' inaccurate kicking was one of the main reasons for his early withdrawal at Southend.

He has been working hard on that in training and, although not forced into action much at Boothferry Park, received a thumbs-up from manager Micky Adams.

"I was pleased for Michel," Adams said. "He has taken his time settling in. He didn't have a lot to do at Hull, but then neither has Mark Cartwright because of the way we have been defending.

"I thought he looked comfortable and his kicking was excellent."

Kuipers is on course for his first ever home appearance against Scunthorpe at Withdean on Saturday.

The 26-year-old only featured once in Bristol Rovers' first team, in a 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth.

Now he aims to make life difficult for Cartwright, his No. 1 pal.

"The only thing I can do is play well, then it's up to the manager," Kuipers said.

"But the main thing in training is the keeper's union. I think it's really important that we stick together.

"We always support each other. Mark helps me and I help him."

Cartwright's injury robbed him of the chance to emulate Nicky Rust, Albion's former No.1. Rust kept five successive clean sheets in the League in 1995.

The last time Albion won five League games on the trot was during the 1990-91 season, when they reached the play-off final at Wembley.