BOSS Russell Slade has lost half of his back four for the game in hand which could lift Albion out of the relegation zone.

The Seagulls are definitely without right-back Andrew Whing and centre-half Tommy Elphick will almost certainly be missing as well at Bristol Rovers tomorrow night.

Whing is suspended following his late red card against Oldham on Saturday, while Elphick was forced off at the break with a thigh injury. Slade said: “He is very doubtful. He took a stud and a bashing to the leg. It swelled up so it’s like a very severe dead leg. The chances of him being available are probably slim.”

Whing, booked for a first-half foul, received a second yellow card two minutes from time for knocking the ball away after a throw-in went against him.

“There were one or two things throughout the game that hadn’t gone Whingy’s way but he needs to show a little bit more professionalism,” Slade said.

“He'll know that anyway. He is a good, wholehearted and solid professional. He’ll feel as if he let himself down.”

Adam El-Abd, who replaced Elphick, Adam Hinshelwood and Colin Hawkins are all in contention as Albion aim for a fourth win out of five in their penultimate away game at Rovers, which would ease them out of the bottom four.

A draw would also edge them above the drop zone on goal difference, providing Northampton lose at home to play-off chasing Scunthorpe.