Albion manager Mark McGhee has admitted performances will have to improve for his team to stay on course for promotion.

The Seagulls missed the opportunity to close the gap on second-placed Plymouth and table-topping Queens Park Rangers with a 1-1 draw against Port Vale at Withdean on Friday.

McGhee said: "I'm relatively happy but I think we all appreciate there is going to have to be improvement in the quality of performance, particularly in the second half, if we are going to finish third or better as we obviously hope to.

"I don't think we are good enough at this stage to put it down as two points dropped.

"I would love to have got all three to get closer to the two teams above us but I think at the moment every point is a point gained."

Leon Knight put Albion ahead early on with his 17th goal of the season from a penalty, awarded by Premiership ref Rob Styles for a foul by Austrian midfielder Andreas Lipa on Chris McPhee.

Adrian Littlejohn levelled on the break five minutes into the second half after Vale manager and former Albion favourite Brian Horton brought on the 33-year-old forward at half time.

McGhee said: "They scored the goal, after a bit of play, from our corner kick. To run as far as the lad did with the ball and to get a shot in the way he did and score from where he did is disappointing."

Horton and his players disagreed with the penalty award by Styles. "All my players are adamant it was not a penalty," he said. "It will be interesting to see the video. I had a side bet with Rob about it for charity as we walked off.

"I am happy with a point and the response after our defeat by Scarborough in the FA Cup. I know Adrian can produce like that if he is on his game."

Albion are three points behind QPR and two adrift of Plymouth, who play at home to Hartlepool and away to Swindon respectively today.

McGhee, pleased to have Mark Yeates on loan for a second month from Spurs, hopes the injured Danny Cullip and Richard Carpenter will be back for next Saturday's trip to Tranmere.

"There is no doubt about it, we missed those players," McGhee said. "The boys who played did adequately, but we can improve with those two in the team.

"Mark has proved what a good player he is and he will be a big part of our team in the next month."

Gary Hart, forced off in the first half last night after a finger in the eye left him with double vision, should be fit for the visit to Prenton Park.

Midfielder Geoff Pitcher has gone out on loan again, this time to Barnet.