Albion, most famously, had Ward and Mellor, then Nelson and Bremner.

Now they have another front pair to drool about, according to one half of the Seagulls' last great strike partnership of the modern era.

John Byrne and Mike Small fired Albion to a play-off final at Wembley 17 years ago.

On the evidence so far, Nicky Forster and Glenn Murray could be about to stage a repeat.

They spearhead the attack against second-placed Doncaster Rovers at Withdean with eight goals between them in nine starts since Murray's £300,000 move from Rochdale in January.

Byrne, a Withdean regular in his media role as summariser for BBC Southern Counties Radio, is impressed by what he has seen so far.

"They are starting to build up a decent relationship," Byrne said.

"They are playing close together, which is always good with a partnership.

"They are both capable of scoring goals and the good thing is Albion have now got two good footballers playing up front for them.

"That is what a partnership is about at the end of the day, having two very good players who can score goals."

Forster and Murray were leagues apart last season, when the former was playing for Hull in the Championship.

Byrne and Small were worlds apart when Barry Lloyd, who recommended the signing of Murray in his current role as chief scout, gave them a common cause in the late summer of 1990.

Byrne arrived from French club Le Havre, Small from PAOK Salonika in Greece.

They bagged 32 goals between them in a season to take Albion to the threshold of the top flight before Byrne was snapped up by Sunderland and Small by West Ham.

"I did not know Smally, although I had heard of him," Byrne said.

"We were just thrown together and that is how partnerships develop. I don't think it is ever planned. All of a sudden you hit it off.

"My debut was at Blackburn and I scored. We seemed to click straight away. It was great playing up front with him. He was a handful and took the pressure off me but he was always capable of scoring goals.

"We were good mates as well. We signed at a similar time, so we were staying in the same hotel and spent a lot of time with each other.

"I think that helps as well, not just in centre forward partnerships. If you have a team where the camaraderie is good then you take that onto the pitch with you.

"When I was at Brighton they were the best set of lads I ever played with, a great bunch of guys.

"The amazing thing was when I left (for Sunderland) we played West Ham in the Cup and me and Smally both scored, so the partnership continued!

"I always played better off a big man. Smally was a handful and he used to knock people about.

"At York I played with a lad called Keith Walwyn, who was similar to Smally. He used to knock people about as well and I would pick the bits up. The difference with the Forster and Murray partnership is that it is not a big man, little man syndrome. I think they are very similar players."

Byrne believes Murray, ten years younger than Forster, will derive great benefit from playing with such an experienced partner, just as he did early on his career.

"York had a lad called Kevin Randall and he was great," said the former Republic of Ireland international.

"He only played in the lower divisions but he was a proper centre forward. I played off him and watched his runs, stuff like that.

"It was an education and I am sure Glenn Murray will be loving it playing with Nicky Forster because for me he is a proper footballer, a proper centre forward.

"He is intelligent, he makes good runs. He is a good, all-round player.

"Glenn has natural ability. He is good in the air, has a great touch and he brings people into the game, which I like. He also gets into goalscoring positions, which is a knack in itself.

"He misses a few but I wouldn't worry too much about that. I'd just be pleased that he is getting into goalscoring opportunities and another thing I like about him is that when he does miss a chance it doesn't bother him.

"He just waits for the next one to come around and that is the sign of a good striker.

"If you miss a chance and allow it to play on your mind then you will miss the next one as well. You have just got to put it out of your head."

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