Albion's charge for the play-offs emphasises the benefits of a good scouting system and the shrewd judgement of the man at the helm, Barry Lloyd.

Latest recruit Therry Racon is another player scouted by the Seagulls' former manager.

The groundwork on Charlton's French midfielder had already been done by Lloyd, so Albion were in a position to move quickly once Adam El-Abd was injured at Huddersfield.

On the evidence against Swindon and Nottingham Forest, Racon, signed on loan for the rest of the season, looks a really good addition.

With all due respect to Albion's other recent French captures, the former Marseille youngster comes with a better pedigree.

He has a bit of everything - strong in the tackle, decent in the air, a good engine and a sound range of passing. No wonder Charlton paid more than £400,000 for him.

El-Abd, as well as he has performed as an emergency midfielder, would be the first to admit he is more of a defender.

Racon and Steve Thomson, another Lloyd recruit, have the makings of an effective pairing.

Partnerships are important and Albion now have three strong ones through the spine of the side, with Nicky Forster and Glenn Murray in attack and Tommy Elphick and Joel Lynch at the back.

Lloyd also played a big part in the signing of Murray. Not all of his suggestions have come off. Former Aldershot striker Jonny Dixon is struggling to settle and the closest Irish midfielder Shane McFaul has come to a first-team start was as temporary right-back for the suspended Andrew Whing.

That is the nature of the transfer market - you win some you lose some and Lloyd is certainly in credit at the moment.

The home-grown pairing of Elphick and Lynch could develop into Albion's Vidic and Ferdinand.

Elphick, tossed the armband at Nottingham Forest after Thomson and Forster had been substituted, is a captain in the making.

He is a traditional centre-half, dovetailing nicely with the talented Lynch, who is more of a modern day defender.