Albion sink high-fliers Rovers

Striker Nicky Forster grabbed the only goal of the game to sink high-fliers Doncaster Rovers at Withdean and keep up Albion's charge for the play-offs.

Forster was tripped by Brian Stock for a 57th-minute penalty and fired home the rebound after Rovers goalkeeper Neil Sullivan had parried his initial spot-kick.

Albion have not been unchanged very often this season but Dean Wilkins understandably decided not to tinker with the team which won at Walsall.

The only amendment was on the bench, where Johnny Dixon was preferred to David Martot.

Injury doubts about several of the Doncaster players, as Wilkins suspected, proved to be unfounded.

Their only change was in midfield, Sean McDaid replacing Mark Wilson who sustained a groin problem in the midweek home victory over Gillingham.

Albion's Ipswich loanees, Matt Richards and Ian Westlake, gave Neil Sullivan a couple of early tests.

Persistent heavy rain made conditions hazardous for goalkeeping but there was nothing wrong with the handling of Doncaster's former Leeds and Scottish international custodian.

He held a 30-yard free-kick from Richards in the opening minute. That was comfortable enough for Sullivan but he produced a much more difficult stop from a ferociously struck left-foot volley by Westlake after Dean Cox picked him out from a corner.

Sullivan did well to block the ball by the foot of his right hand post at the expense of a corner.

Inspite of those early threats from the Seagulls, there was also plenty of evidence of the visitors' automatic promotion credentials.

Brian Stock and Ritchie Wellens are one of the best midfield pairings in League One and they combined to very nearly continue Doncaster's recent habit of scoring quickly in games.

A patient build-up ended with Stock unleashing a 25-yard shot from Wellens' pass which hit the bar with Michel Kuipers beaten.

Kuipers really should have been picking the ball out of the back of his net in the 19th minute when the unmarked Paul Heffernan headed over from a Gareth Roberts cross.

It was a bad miss by the fit-again striker, on target both in Rovers' previous three matches and the corresponding fixture last season in which Albion were beaten in lame fashion.

Although Albion could not carve out anything quite so clear cut as Heffernan's chance, they still looked occasionally dangerous.

Cox was unfortunate to see a volley following a corner headed behind by Paul Green.

The little playmaker, operating in behind Glenn Murray and Nicky Forster, had another effort from 20 yards gathered by Sullivan after Forster nodded a diagonal ball from Tommy Elphick into his path.

The Seagulls' prolific front pairing were generally well shackled by the Doncaster defence in the opening 45 minutes. Murray showed his class in one instant, controlling and shooting on the turn in one movement, but Sullivan's handling was again assured.

Albion coped pretty well themselves at the back with the high-flying Yorkshiremen's fluid system, Kerry Mayo slotting in at left-back after Richards was forced off injured.

The stalemate at the interval was a fair reflection of the play, with little to choose between the teams in terms of possession and opportunities.

Heffernan had another chance to break the deadlock four minutes into the second half. Wellens laid a low cross invitingly into his path and he hit the target this time with a first time shot which forced Kuipers into a good stop.

It was a significant save by the Dutchman, because eight minutes later Albion went ahead.

Good work by Mayo released Forster for a run into the box and he was clipped from behind by Stock.

It was an obvious penalty, despite the protests from Doncaster.

Stock was cautioned before Forster's spot-kick which Sullivan blocked but Albion's captain converted the rebound.

Matthew Mills, on loan from Manchester City, also had his name taken in the aftermath of the penalty decision by referee Danny McDermid.

Doncaster clearly felt aggrieved, although it was hard to see why.

Sullivan continued to be much the busier of the two keepers. He kept Doncaster in the match with a double save in the 64th minute.

Westlake cut into the area to strike a low angled drive which Sullivan could not hold, as the ball popped back up, he reacted swiftly to push Murray's header over the bar.

Doncaster chief Sean O'Driscoll decided drastic action was required in an attempt to save his side from a rare away defeat.

He made a triple substitution for the final quarter of an hour, completely changing his strike force in the process.

The withdrawal of both Heffernan and subdued former Albion front man Mark McCammon emphasised how well Tommy Elphick and Joel Lynch had defended once more following their sterling efforts at Walsall.

The substitutions made little difference and Albion should have doubled their advantage in the closing stages but Gary Hart, on for Forster, shot tamely at Sullivan after Cox put him clean through.

The only disappointment for the Seagulls was a last minute booking for Andrew Whing for a foul which means he is now suspended for the next home game against Swindon and the Easter Monday trip to Nottingham Forest.

Albion: Kuipers, Whing, Elphick, Lynch, Richards, Cox, El-Abd, Thomson, Westlake, Forster, Murray. Subs: Mayo, Hart, Robinson, Dixon, Fraser.

Doncaster: Sullivan, Green, Lockwood, Mills, Gareth Roberts, Coppinger, Wellens, Stock, McDaid, Heffernan, McCammon. Subs: Stephen Roberts, Taylor, Hayter, Hird, Elliott.

Were you at the game? What did you make of Albion's performance?