ALBION marksman Darren Freeman is urging the Withdean fans to get behind unsettled goalkeeper Mark Walton.

The big Welsh No. 1 makes his first home appearance today since asking for a transfer because of flak from supporters.

Walton goes into the sell-out clash against third-bottom York fresh from consecutive clean sheets at Peterborough and Carlisle.

Freeman, fit-again after missing the Carlisle victory with mild concussion, declared: "I think Mark is a great keeper.

"His attitude has been 100 per cent and I say to the fans just get behind everyone wearing the eleven shirts.

"Who ever puts the shirt on out there is representing the team. You have bad times and good times, but it's during the bad times that you need the fans behind you."

Freeman, the Seagulls' top scorer with six goals, and Walton were team-mates at Fulham when they won promotion under Micky Adams in 1996-97.

"Mark is a great character," Freeman said. "He knows when to have a laugh and when he has got to do the business.

"He has lost a lot of weight and I have a lot of admiration for him. I feel safe with him between the sticks."

Albion's only away League defeat came in stoppage time at Halifax and boss Adams is keen to see his side reproduce the same sort of form at Withdean.

"We are hoping to put on a show for the fans," he said.

"Regardless of what you do away from home you are going to be judged on your home performances and our last two have been disappointing. We have to relax and try to play our football."

Albion (from): Walton; Campbell, McPherson, Hobson, Rogers, Hart, Oatway, Freeman, Wilder, Cullip, Aspinall, Thomas, Palmer, Mayo, Crosby, Newhouse, Cameron, Watson.

York (probable): Mimms; Jones, Sertori, Fairclough, Hall, Agnew, Hulme, Jordan, Ormerod, M. Williams, Conlon. Subs (from): Howarth, Dawson, J. Williams, Garratt, Bullock, Fox.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.