Much of the work Mark McGhee has done since becoming Albion's manager has concentrated on the shape of the side and the defence.

The alarming leaking of goals, ten in his first four matches, has been successfully addressed.

Now McGhee is turning his attention towards making the Seagulls more of an attacking threat following an unfortunate first defeat in four League games.

"When you go to places like Tranmere you need to score, because there is always a danger you will lose if you don't," he said.

"We did not score and we did not look goal dangerous enough, so that is our next priority.

"I feel as if we have got our shape sorted out. Defensively we are very difficult to beat, but now we have got to find a bit more invention up front. We need a bit more guile.

"I'd like to see us turn counter-attacks into more clear cut chances. We had enough play to score a goal."

McGhee faces a headache in this respect against Wycombe at Withdean on Boxing Day, because 17-goal Leon Knight is suspended.

John Piercy, brought on for the last 15 minutes for Chris McPhee on Saturday, could now partner McPhee against Tony Adams' strugglers.

McGhee should not be too concerned by Albion's failure to score at Prenton Park. It is the first time it has happened during his reign and they were unlucky losers.

The two penalties Tranmere were awarded in the second half were the only shots they had on goal.

Ben Roberts went from villain to hero in a matter of seconds approaching the hour.

He dribbled past Eugene Dadi outside his own area but then kicked thin air in attempting to clear as the Ivory Coast international put a foot in to rob him.

Iain Hume's ensuing cross was handled by Richard Carpenter with Roberts hopelessly stranded.

Roberts redeemed himself by diving to keep out Mickey Mellon's spot-kick, but McGhee made it clear afterwards he must cut out the silly mistakes.

A similar dribbling error gifted Boston an equaliser in the LDV Vans Trophy at Withdean and Roberts almost presented Port Vale with a freak goal in the last home League game when he threw the ball back towards his own net.

His penalty stop seemed sure to secure at least a hard-earned point for Albion until Carpenter handled inside the area again with nine minutes left, this time trying to head clear a cross by substitute Ryan Taylor.

Taylor, on after only seven minutes for the injured Tyrone Loran, sent Roberts the wrong way to give improving Tranmere their fifth League victory by a one-goal margin in nine games since Brian Little took charge.

McGhee admitted Albion did not have many attempts on target themselves, just two in fact. John Achterberg, Rovers' Dutch custodian, saved a quickly taken free-kick by Paul Watson during an adventurous opening and a close range header from Chris McPhee at the start of the second half.

There were other opportunities. Mark Yeates, whose influence grew as the game wore on, was not far off target with a couple of shots and McPhee headed over from a probing cross by the subdued Knight.

"I'm bitterly disappointed," McGhee said. "We put so much into the game and the least we deserved was a point, but I am sure there will be other games when we deserve to lose and come out with something.

"It will balance up, but it is always difficult at the time to accept it."

There were some significant positives. Captain Danny Cullip was typically commanding on his return from a groin injury and Paul Watson, making only his second start under McGhee at rightback in preference to Adam El-Abd, capped an accomplished contribution with a superb last-ditch block to deny Dadi.

"Adam has done brilliantly," McGhee explained. "There is always a little dip with young players and I thought it was worthwhile taking him out before that happens. His confidence is high and he has just signed a contract.

"Also, Paul Watson has looked really determined to get back into the team in training and, given his experience, I thought it was worthwhile having him back in."

The other negative, apart from the result, was the way in which Albion continue to collect daft cautions.

Carpenter, returning from hamstring trouble, was booked for the fifth time this season for remarks made to the ref after Roberts' penalty save and he now misses the first match of the New Year at home to Oldham on January 10.

Gary Hart received his seventh yellow card of the campaign for something he said when the second penalty was awarded and Piercy also had his name taken for dissent near the end.

Barnsley's last-gasp winner at Luton dropped Albion to fourth.

QPR's surprise defeat at Oldham after leading cheered McGhee up a bit, but a comfortable home victory for new pacesetters Plymouth at home to Notts County means the Seagulls are now six points adrift of automatic promotion.

They only head Tranmere, in 15th, by the same margin which illustrates how tight the League is.

Events at Prenton Park also confirmed the impression that Albion, realistically, are candidates for the play-offs rather than a guaranteed return to Division One.

  • ALBION (4-4-2): Roberts (gk) 6; Watson (rb) 7, Mayo (lb) 7, Cullip (cd) 8, Knight (f) 6, Hart (rm) 6, Yeates (cm) 7, Carpenter (cm) 6, Butters (cd) 8, Jones (lm) 6, McPhee (f) 6. Subs: Pethick, Piercy for McPhee (withdrawn 75), El-Abd, Keeley, Rehman.
  • Bookings: Carpenter (59) dissent, Hart (81) dissent, Piercy (90) dissent.
  • TRANMERE ROVERS (3-5-2): Achterberg; Connolly, Roberts, Allen, Loran, Hume, Mellon, G. Jones, Dadi, Harrison, Linwood. Subs: Howarth, Taylor, Navarro, Hay, Beresford.
  • Scorers: Taylor (81) penalty.
  • Bookings: Connolly (27) foul, Mellon (88) foul.
  • Half-Time: Tranmere 0 Albion 0.
  • Attendance: 7,616.
  • Fan's View: Adrian Kennedy (Worthing) A game we should never have lost, but ultimately the price was paid for gifting Tranmere early Christmas presents with two totally avoidable penalties.

It was certainly a long journey home after losing a game we seemed to be in control of.

I feel Mark McGhee is coming in for some totally unjust criticism, along with certain players. I admit we aren't firing on all cylinders yet but we should get behind the club through thick and thin.

This division is nowhere near the standard of the one we won two years ago and if we can keep Mark Yeates and bring in a couple of players, especially a forward, I think McGhee can get us out of it without having to endure the lottery of the play-offs. As Micky Adams used to say, keep the faith.