Chris McPhee made a convincing case for a regular place with the first double of his career.

Goals in each half from the young Eastbourne striker could hardly have been better timed, not just for the team but also for his own aspirations.

Darius Henderson, effectively signed to take over from McPhee at the start of the season, ended his two months on loan from Reading on the bench.

With Henderson back at the Madejski Stadium, the way is clear for McPhee to establish himself alongside Leon Knight.

"It is everyone's dream to get into the first team and make it a problem for the manager to leave you out of the side," said McPhee.

"I hope I have done enough to be in next week. Two goals are always going to speak out but it was not just my performance, everyone did brilliantly.

"I was just lucky to get on the scoresheet. It is the first time I have scored two goals in a game, but you can always improve. I am looking to get my first hat-trick as soon as possible."

A promising partnership is developing between McPhee and Knight. They have scored four goals in four starts together. Significantly, McPhee's share is three.

"The way I look at it is he (Knight) is the danger," McPhee said. "Everyone might be looking out for him and I might nip in and get a couple of goals.

"I am growing to know how he works. He stays high up the pitch and his movement in the box is just unbelievable."

Knight was as influential as ever, despite not adding to the eight goals he has scored already.

He was directly responsible for both of McPhee's plus the daft early own goal by Danny Coid which set the injury-ravaged Seagulls up for a hat-trick of home wins without conceding a goal and the Second Division summit.

"As long as the team are winning I am happy," Knight said. "Chris is young and hungry, we both are. He has got a good touch, he is strong and we complement each other well."

It was only McPhee's second start at Withdean. The first was against Wrexham under Peter Taylor two seasons ago, when he deputised for Bobby Zamora in a 0-0 draw.

McPhee has come on in leaps and bounds since then and can now look forward to a more permanent role.

Steve Coppell said: "I took the decision at the start of the season to take Darius Henderson on loan for a couple of months and in many ways I was sad to do that.

"Chris in pre-season showed he is really making progress. My concern was I only had two forwards, my concern now is I've only got two forwards.

"Chris has got to learn his trade now in the first team, that is the next step, but it does leave us vulnerable. Our reserve forward as such is Jake Robinson at 16 years of age.

"In my mind the plan would be not to get a loan player in, because I would feel obliged to play him. I've just got to keep my finger on the pulse, so if anyone gets injured I can move straight away for a loan player."

Albion, minus seven senior pros and with John Piercy making his full home debut on the right in place of ankle victim Gary Hart, did their bit to persuade Coppell to stay instead of joining Reading.

The same could not really be said of the fans. He received a standing ovation from the entire ground when he made his way to the dugout for the second half, but the atmosphere for the most part was morgue-like.

"One supporter very pointedly told me at half time that it's not all about money," Coppell said.

That was unfair, because Coppell is certainly not motivated by pound signs.

When it was suggested to him that the supporter in question was in a minority of one, Coppell's reply was also pointed.

"We are top of the League," he said. "If we were mid-table and had been beaten, would the reaction have been the same?

"Given the evidence I've had since I've been here I would hazard a guess that it wouldn't."

Coppell barely had time to take his customary seat in the directors' box for the first half before Albion were gifted the lead.

Inside two minutes Knight's right-wing cross was inexplicably headed into his own net, rather than wide for a corner as he intended, by Coid when he was under no great pressure on the edge of the six-yard box.

More woeful defending initiated McPhee's opener seven minutes from the break. Skipper Simon Grayson was robbed by Knight midway inside his own half.

The cross was perfect for McPhee, goal side of his marker, to steer in from close range with the outside of his right foot.

Blackpool controlled much of the second half without looking particularly threatening.

McPhee killed them off with 17 minutes left by latching on to Knight's pass, outpacing Steve Davis and planting an angled finish beyond Lee Jones.

Guy Butters, impressive again, made sure Albion have gone more than five and a half hours without conceding at Withdean by clearing off the line from Scott Taylor when the visitors were at their most dangerous midway through the second period.

It is testimony to the players that they have come through such a hectic period of matches in such great shape, statistically if not physically.

If Knight stays fit and sharp there is every chance of a repeat triumph in a Second Division inferior to the one they won two seasons ago.

  • ALBION (4-4-2): Kuipers (gk) 7; Mayo (lb) 7, Pethick (cd) 7, Knight (f) 8, Carpenter (cm) 7, Butters (cd) 8, Jones (lm) 7, Piercy (rm) 6, McPhee (f) 9, Hinshelwood (rb) 7, Rehman (cm) 7. Subs: Henderson, Marney 6 for Piercy (withdrawn 58), Harding, Flitney, Robinson.
  • Scorers: Coid (2) own goal, McPhee (38), (73).
  • Bookings: Jones (32) foul.
  • BLACKPOOL (3-5-2): Jones; Grayson, Southern, Clarke, Wellens, Murphy, Taylor, Coid, Hilton, Davis, Douglas. Subs: Barnes, Sheron for Southern (withdrawn 82), Bullock for Coid (withdrawn 65), McMahon, Burns.
  • Bookings: Davis (20) foul.
  • Half-Time: Albion 2 Blackpool 0.
  • Attendance: 6,483.
  • Fan's View: Billy Phillips (14, Lancing).

At the time of writing, Steve Coppell is still the Albion manager, but if he has gone or is going to Reading, then he will leave on a high after a great win, albeit against a poor Blackpool team.

Another positive was the peformance of Chris McPhee. It was good to see that Leon Knight can be a provider as well as a goal poacher.

Top of the League, well done to Steve Coppell and the Albion.

With or without this manager, Division One here we come.