Albion went in search of their first ever League win at Preston with Bobby Zamora but without his strike partner Graham Barrett.

Zamora made Steve Coppell's line-up despite ankle, heel and hamstring injuries which prompted him to withdraw from an England Under 21 get-together this week.

Barrett did not travel to Lancashire due to the knee injury which sidelined him from last Saturday's 1-0 home victory against Derby.

The Seagulls welcomed Dean Blackwell back to the heart of the defence from a slight hamstring problem.

He took over from his injured young deputy Adam Hinshelwood in the only change to the team which defeated Derby.

Former Wimbledon stopper Blackwell was making his first appearance since agreeing a contract for the rest of the season along with Simon Rodger.

Steve Sidwell, Barrett's fellow loan signing from Arsenal, made his full away debut on the right side of midfield with Gary Hart again partnering Zamora.

Will Packham was the spare goalkeeper on the bench, with Andy Petterson (calf) ruled out.

Zamora was hoping for better luck against Preston than last season, when the club's clashed in the third round of the F.A. Cup at Withdean.

He had a penalty saved by David Lucas, who returned between the posts for Craig Brown's men after missing their ninth draw of the campaign at Grimsby last Saturday because of an arm injury.

Brown made two other changes following that six-goal thriller, both of them in the centre of defence.

Captain Chris Lucketti was back from a rib injury and Northern Ireland International Colin Murdock from a one-match ban.

Leading marksman Ricardo Fuller was fit to lead the North End attack. Ankle trouble kept the Jamaican International out of his country's friendly in Nigeria on Wednesday.

Albion: Michel Kuipers; Paul Watson, Kerry Mayo, Danny Cullip, Dean Blackwell, Gary Hart, Richard Carpenter, Robbie Pethick, Bobby Zamora, Simon Rodger, Steve Sidwell. Subs: Oatway, Brooker, Jones, Packham, Webb.

Preston: David Lucas; Graham Alexander, Eddie Lewis, Rob Edwards, Colin Murdock, Chris Lucketti, Paul McKenna, Ricardo Fuller, Dickson Etuhu, Richard Cresswell, Eric Skora. Subs: Moilanen, Cartwright, Rankine, Broomes, Healy.

Referee: H. Webb (South Yorkshire).