ALBION have still only lost once away from home in the League this season.

That is a formidable record, but a dour deadlock against struggling Cheltenham should really be regarded as two points dropped.

Manager Micky Adams admitted: "On reflection when they were reduced to ten men so early in the second half we should have won.

"Our forward play did not warrant a goal. We flattered to deceive."

Cheltenham were at a numerical disadvantage for 44 minutes. Neil Grayson had already been booked early on for having too much to say when a crunching challenge left Andy Crosby on the floor.

A red card was inevitable for the striker whose goals for Hereford knocked Albion out of the FA Cup a couple of seasons ago.

The Seagulls' frustration at failing to find a way through the ten men boiled over as Darren Freeman recklessly trod on Mike Duff five minutes into time added on.

A fourth away draw has lifted them to seventh spot, which is about right at the moment.

They have conceded just one goal in six games now but scored only three over the same period.

In other words, they look like a play-off team rather than one capable of clinching automatic promotion.

To achieve the latter you really need to sneak wins in matches like this, especially against a side beaten in seven of their eight previous outings.

Most fans would be happy with the play-offs after the misery of recent years. Adams though would prefer not to depend on football's version of a lottery.

Defensively Albion look rock-solid again since that charitable patch last month, when they let in eight goals in three games.

Adams fielded his first choice back five at Whaddon Road, with the introduction of the injury-plagued Darren Carr and the departure of Chris Wilder to Halifax.

Carr was booked for a foul on Grayson and his debut only lasted 45 minutes.

Ross Johnson took over as part of a double substitution by Adams at half time. Paul Watson, Wilder's replacement, demonstrated his versatility in the reshuffle by switching from right to left wingback, but the option of playing Wilder in midfield will be missed.

Adams also introduced Rod Thomas for Warren Aspinall at the break.

Albion, facing a blustery wind and rain, had been forced to defend for most of an uneventful first half in which Mark Yates struck a post for Cheltenham.

Kicking down the slope, Adams wanted the pattern reversed in the second.

Grayson's dismissal was a bonus, but Albion failed to stamp their mark on the match in the way that Freeman eventually did.

Even a switch to 4-4-2, when Dave Cameron came on for the injured Crosby, produced little in the way of attacking spark.

Cheltenham boss Steve Cotterill threw Mark Freeman forward following Grayson's red card, when it would have been so easy to settle for just one up front.

The former Albion loan forward was almost rewarded for his adventure, Russell Milton crashing a left-foot drive against the crossbar with seven minutes left.

It would have been cruel for the League newcomers if Paul Rogers, their stoppage time wrecker a month earlier at Withdean, had produced a repeat.

The Seagulls' skipper very nearly did with a shot which deflected off Cheltenham's Freeman and onto the post.

Adams said: "It is a difficult place to play at. We expected an onslaught in the first half. Cheltenham have got some big boys and we had to defend resolutely.

"In the second half it was up to us to take the game to Cheltenham and the substitutions were no reflection on Darren Carr or Warren Aspinall.

"I was disappointed again with our forward play at times. We should have got the ball down and passed it more and we didn't get enough crosses in.

"It pleases me that we are a difficult team to beat. We have just got to

get our attacking play warmed up a little bit and then we won't be far

away.

"I am delighted that we are keeping clean sheets, but you have got to

score at the other end. Nil-nils don't get you promoted."

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