Albion manager Steve Coppell has set his team a target of at least five points from the next three matches to maintain their First Division survival bid.

The Seagulls follow Saturday's basement battle at Sheffield Wednesday with a home game against Ipswich next Tuesday and a trip to Derby four days later.

They have just emerged from a similarly tough spell of fixtures at Preston, Nottingham Forest and against Reading at Withdean with one point, so now they are playing catch-up to keep pace with Coppell's schedule.

He said: "It's not often I look ahead like that, but just by looking at the board in my office every morning I considered these six games. We've just had two mightily difficult away games and one difficult home game. Now we have got another batch like that.

"I was hoping for three points from each batch as a minimum. I think that would keep us on course and be a good return at this stage.

"It would be great if we have got something from these three games, because then we have come through a really hard patch. Mind you, there is never an easy fixture. After that we've got Leicester at home and you think blimey, then Norwich away and Burnley at home. It's never-ending."

Coppell has indicated that Adam Virgo and some of Albion's other loan exiles could still have a future with the Seagulls.

A permanent switch to Third Division strugglers Exeter is not on the agenda for the teenage stopper and Albion are not letting him play in their FA Cup tie against Rushden and Diamonds on Saturday.

Brighton-born Virgo is on loan to Exeter for a month after playing in Coppell's first match in charge, the 4-2 home defeat by Sheffield United.

Fellow youth team product Shaun Wilkinson is with Chesterfield until January 4, Geoff Pitcher has gone to Dagenham and Redbridge for a month and Steve Melton to Hull with former Albion manager Peter Taylor.

Melton's move is expected to become permanent but Coppell said: "That has not been mentioned in any of the other three cases. Peter obviously knew Melts and he's made a commitment there.

"I think for Adam Virgo and for all of them it's superb. That competitive edge makes all the difference. Footballers are all about Saturday afternoons.

"Even if reserve team football was really good you are playing it on Tuesdays or Wednesdays and it's very much of an after-thought and you are out of the first team routine.

"It's a really good opportunity. From Beckham right the way through, football is now full of young lads who have grown up with Premiership clubs and been out on loan somewhere to their benefit."

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