ALBION are chugging along nicely under Micky Adams.

He hailed his team's resolute performance in an absorbing FA Cup deadlock

as the best yet.

"That is the best 90 minutes since myself and Alan (Cork) came to the

club," Adams said. "We created numerous chances and were a little bit

unlucky to come away with only a 1-1."

What a difference a week makes. Darren Freeman disgraced himself at

Cheltenham, which cost him a red card, a club fine and a three-match

suspension.

Adams branded him a "silly boy", but now he is the golden boy again. His

first half equaliser at London Road was superbly conceived.

Freeman started what amounted to a long range one-two with his tireless

strike partner Gary Hart.

Freeman hooked a first time pass into the path of Hart down the right

flank, where both of them profited throughout the match.

He then made progress into the area to slot home Hart's perfectly weighted

and placed low cross from close range.

Hart was back on the scoresheet in the last home game against Shrewsbury.

The way the pair combined for Freeman's equaliser suggests the goals could

start flowing again from them following a lean patch.

Freeman's barren spell stretched back to the injury time defeat at Halifax

in early September.

Coincidentally that was the last time Mark Walton had let in a goal away

from home until Andy Clarke unleashed a moment of Premiership quality.

There seemed no danger when Clarke controlled the ball 35 yards out. But

the former Wimbledon forward let fly with a left-foot piledriver, which

dipped over Walton.

It was a wonder goal worthy of winning any game, but Albion under Adams

are made of pretty stern stuff. They showed great spirit and character to

hit back.

Adams' formation at the back is so familiar to the players now that a

change in personell does not affect the solidity.

Keith McPherson, recalled after a two-match absence, had a sound match in

place of the injured Andy Crosby. Darren Carr got better as the game wore on

in his first full 90 minutes and Danny Cullip continues to be a model of

consistency.

The foundation for any successful side though is sheer hard work, a

quality Albion displayed in abundance all over the pitch.

In the second half, when a Paul Watson corner was cleared and Francis

Green launched a quick counter-attack, Hart chased back to midway inside his

own territory to dispossess the Peterborough winger.

It typified the Seagulls' industry throughout a compelling contest, which

flowed from end to end.

They also passed the ball with composure at times and came close to

winning with three minutes left. Mark Tyler could only claw away Warren

Aspinall's cross as far as Kerry Mayo, on in place of the injured Charlie

Oatway.

The substitute's goalbound shot was headed off the line by Steve Castle

and Mayo blazed the follow-up over the bar.

That would have avoided the need for the replay Adams said he didn't

want.

Finance director Bob Pinnock will be happy, however. Another full house is

guaranteed at Withdean eight days hence, when another tight tussle is

likely.

Albion have held Posh twice away from home in a matter of weeks. The only

other team to have returned from London Road with a result was Second

Division Reading, 2-1 winners in the Worthington Cup.

"A win would have been nice, but we played well," Adams said. "I was very

pleased with the performance.

"If we had come in at half time 1-0 down it would have been a travesty,

but if somebody scores from 35 yards there is not a lot you can do.

"We got a lot of joy from Darren and Harty down the right. It was a good

cross by Gary and Darren stuck it in.

"We have been criticised a lot for our passing, but we showed we can

handle the ball and play. We were positive from the first whistle, got

forward in numbers and were unlucky at the death not to have won.

"You can see the confidence growing in the lads. I've got a squad of

players who know what they are doing and can fit into the system at any

time.

"Keith McPherson was magnificent, as was Darren Carr.

"It was an important response from Darren Freeman. He received a lot of

criticism for what happened at Cheltenham and that hurts sometimes.

"But if I had to single anybody out it would be Gary Hart. I thought he

was outstanding."

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