Start consulting your diaries. Only an improbable set of circumstances can deny Albion a play-off place now after a solid eighth home win out of nine.

In theory they need five points from Saturday's trip to Bristol City, their remaining outing at Withdean against doomed Notts County and the closing fixture at mid-table Wrexham.

In practical terms they are likely to require one more win at most.

Their goal difference is far superior to the sides just outside the play-off zone and the five-point target is based on Luton winning each of the four matches they have left, starting on Tuesday night at home to fading Bournemouth.

That is a tall order for the Hatters, even after their dramatic victory over Bristol City at Kenilworth Road.

Albion may have unearthed another attack-minded midfielder in the process of stretching their near-invincible record at Withdean to 25 points from a possible 27.

Remember Junior Lewis under Peter Taylor and Steve Sidwell during the reign of Steve Coppell? Now step forward Paul Reid.

Mark McGhee handed the 24-year-old Australian his first start against Posh in place of Gary Hart. On target twice for the reserves last week, Reid went close to celebrating his call-up with a goal in the second half.

He had a shot beaten away by Peterborough keeper Mark Tyler and another flashed just wide after he had been set up on both occasions by strike partners Leon Knight and Chris Iwelumo.

Knight, whose 26th goal of the season from the penalty spot proved decisive, was impressed by Reid's contribution.

"Reidy is a bit fresher," he said. "He can make those surging runs and he knows Charlie (Oatway) and Chippy (Richard Carpenter) are going to be there behind him to just hold and defend.

"We are thankful of that as strikers as well, so that we don't always have to be making the runs. It gives us another option.

"Instead of us running forward the third man comes through and catches the opposition off guard."

Reid's place in the line-up, along with the return of John Piercy at the expense of Nathan Jones, was an astute move by McGhee to combat the unorthodox 3-4-3 formation responsible for Peterborough's recent rejuvenation under Barry Fry and Bobby Gould and to make Albion less one-dimensional.

Piercy operated as a subsidiary striker, with Reid to the right of Oatway and Carpenter in midfield.

McGhee said: "If you put those type of players in the team you automatically pass the ball better.

"My concern was would they be able to do the other job that Harty and Jonesy have done so well in recent weeks, the defensive job, the working part of it, but they did. They coped well with it and both played their part."

Reid, signed from Bradford for nothing for the rest of the season last month, did not know he was playing until an hour and-a-half before the kick-off. "I was a bit surprised that I replaced Gary Hart," he admitted.

"I said sorry to Gary but I've been given a chance and hopefully I can just keep on improving.

"We decided to go 4-3-3. It does get difficult at times with three in midfield when they have four, so we had to keep shifting across. I was mainly in charge of their left midfield but I tried to get forward as much as possible. I think I did that better in the second half.

"I have played right midfield before. It's not my preferred position but I am more than happy to play there. It is different to central midfield. Their left midfield players were quite pacey and liked to get at people. I know I have to improve on the defensive side of my game."

Reid's debut was almost a red card disaster. Harshly booked early on for a challenge on Peterborough captain Guy Branston, he was then warned to calm down by fussy referee Iain Williamson following a rather wild first half tackle on Tom Williams.

"The ref did say to me at the start of the second half to watch myself," Reid revealed. "It was nice of him to tell me that because you don't want your team to go down to ten men."

It was not the only nice thing Williamson did for Albion. The tenth-minute penalty, put away with customary aplomb by Knight, was certainly dubious.

Williamson decided a crisp shot from Piercy following a corner had been handled in a crowded area by Branston, on loan from Rotherham.

David Farrell had earlier rattled the Albion crossbar with a ferocious drive from close range. Apart from that, Peterborough were kept at arm's length, even when Fry made a trademark triple substitution in the second half, including the introduction of giant forward Clive Platt and long throw exponent Andy Legg.

"I don't think Bristol City will be any tougher," said McGhee. "Peterborough bombed it at us in the second half with Legg's throws, which are as good as any cross. They put us under pressure at times, but I thought Danny Cullip and Guy Butters were excellent as was the goalkeeper (Ben Roberts)."

The charismatic Fry is among the Albion captain's many admirers. "Cullip is outstanding for them and Iwelumo and Knight are a terrific combination," he said. "Brighton were notorious the year they went up (2001-02) for winning 1-0. They kept clean sheets then and battled like hell."

  • ALBION (4-3-3): Roberts (gk) 8; Cullip (cd) 9, Knight (f) 7, Oatway (m) 7, Carpenter (m) 7, Butters (cd) 9, Virgo (rb) 7, Piercy (f) 7, Harding (lb) 7, Iwelumo (f) 7, Reid (m) 8. Subs: Kuipers, Hart for Reid (withdrawn 84), N. Jones for Piercy (withdrawn 73), McPhee, El-Abd.
  • Booking: Reid (13) foul.
  • Scorer: Knight (10).
  • PETERBOROUGH (3-4-3): Tyler; Gill, Branston, Rea, Arber, Farrell, Clarke, Newton, Logan, Williams, Thomson. Subs: Legg for Farrell (withdrawn 57), Platt for Newton (withdrawn 57), Kanu, Willock for Logan (withdrawn 57), Jenkins.
  • Bookings: Williams (11) dissent, Gill (59) foul.
  • Half-time: Albion 1 Peterborough 0.
  • Attendance: 6,285.
  • Fans' View: SIMON TIPPLE (Saltdean) It was an improvement on the Rushden game and we created a lot of chances but it was a shame we couldn't make them all count. Reid looked good on the ball. He and Piercy could be the way forward if they keep the ball on the deck. Hopefully we can get the one win we need to make the play-offs.

MIKE DEANE (Eastbourne) It wasn't vintage Albion by any means but it was good to see us at least trying to pass the ball a bit. Reid looks useful in that respect and his forward runs do give us something our midfield has been sadly lacking. A better performance but still a lot of room for improvement.

DAVID ALDIS (Hove) A dogged, workmanlike performance. Our back four again looked strong, with Cullip outstanding, and three more points should see us book our place in the play-offs. I still think we lack a cutting edge up front and our away form is worrying but on our day we are capable of beating any team in this division.

JOHN TOWN (Seaford) It was a good, hard-working performance against quite a physical team who are clearly in good form. The penalty may have been a bit fortunate but we also missed a lot of chances. Reid looks a good passer and may be better used in the middle of the park than on the right.