On April Fool's Day last year, London launched a low point in the managerial career of Peter Taylor.

Leicester's 2-0 defeat at Charlton was the catalyst for a wretched run of results which eventually cost Taylor his job at Filbert Street.

The capital name could have much happier consequences for the Albion boss on Saturday.

A dramatic 2-1 home win against Bristol City on April Fool's Day this year has opened up the possibility of the Seagulls clinching promotion at London Road, Peterborough.

Everybody was caught on the hop when Albion went up from the Third Division on Easter Saturday last season.

Three results went their way. They won 2-0 at Plymouth, Hartlepool lost 1-0 at home to Hull and Rochdale were held to a goalless draw at Macclesfield.

Fans are better prepared this time for a similar scenario. Albion will be up if they win and third-placed Brentford draw at home to fifth-placed Huddersfield.

Both results are entirely feasible. The Seagulls have won five of their last seven matches and Barry Fry's Posh are in that no man's land between the play-offs and the relegation dogfight.

Huddersfield's bid to put a dent in Brentford's formidable record at Griffin Park has been boosted by injuries to a couple of key players for the Bees.

On-loan Blackburn striker Ben Burgess, two-goal destroyer of Albion in January, has hamstring trouble and Martin Rowlands limped out of Monday's surprise 2-0 defeat for Brentford at Bury.

There are, in fact, three routes in the space of five days by which Albion could ensure a place in Division One next season providing they win at Peterborough.

The second is victory for Brentford and a draw or defeat for Reading at Tranmere on Sunday.

Reading manager Alan Pardew is defiantly insisting the desposed leaders can still lift the championship.

"We're capable of winning all three games and winning the title, and that's what we've got to aim for," he said.

Albion would have to wait until next Wednesday for the third route, when Huddersfield play their game in hand at home to Cardiff.

The prospects of Lou Macari's men following up a victory over Brentford by winning that match are diminished by the start of a lengthy suspension for their goalscoring spearhead Leon Knight.

The striker on loan from Chelsea was already facing a two-match ban when he was sent-off for a stray elbow after two minutes of Monday's 0-0 home draw against Oldham.

Cardiff will be just as eager to win. Their Brighton-born boss Lennie Lawrence said: "I haven't given up on automatic promotion, although I'm probably whistling in the wind. We've got to win all of our final four games.

"To get into a play-off position has been harder than I expected. We have won six out of our last eight and we're still only sixth. That's unbelievable."

All of the promotion permutations for Albion can be condensed into one plain fact.

Five points from Peterborough, Swindon at home and Port Vale away will be enough irrespective of other results. It has surely become a matter of when rather than if for the Seagulls.

Another promotion seems to have been their destiny for some time now, which was encapsulated by an extraordinary Easter.

When Bobby Zamora dislocated a shoulder against Notts County there were plenty of supporters gloomily resigning themselves to a play-off place.

Who would have believed Albion would help themselves to six points and six goals in his absence?

Approaching 3pm on Monday the prospect of a 1-1 draw against Bristol City threatened to cost them their place in the top two a couple of hours later.

Then Lee Steele nodded a stoppage time winner, Brentford were beaten and Reading held 0-0 at home by Northampton.

No wonder Taylor shrieked with delight as he drove home. He may have looked an April Fool a year ago, but only a fool would bet against him taking Albion up now.