Albion boss Peter Taylor has played down talk of the Seagulls winning back-to-back titles.

A simmering feud has developed with leaders Reading, but Taylor will be thrilled if Albion finish as runners-up.

They will return to top spot for the first time since a 2-0 win at Bury on December 1 if they beat the cash-strapped Shakers at Withdean on Saturday and Reading lose at Chesterfield.

"I would settle for one of the top two positions at the moment," Taylor said. "It would be a tremendous achievement and that's what we have got to aim for.

"If anything better than that happens that would be lovely, but if we keep pushing for automatic promotion then we can be very pleased with the work we have put in over the season.

"Every game is going to be very tense. We need the players to hold their nerve. They are very tight matches and it's the ones that keep their nerve.

"We've got here by playing a certain way and that is what we have got to keep doing."

Albion had a bitter promotion battle with Chesterfield last season. Now they are involved in something similar with Reading.

There has been little love lost between the clubs since Reading manager Alan Pardew protested about having to play two midweek matches in four days following their Monday night defeat at Withdean last month.

The Seagulls were miffed by an initial allocation of only 1,900 seats, which eventually rose to 2,800, for last Saturday's scoreless showdown at the Madejski Stadium.

Gary Hart's injury time goal was controversially disallowed for a foul by Junior Lewis on Reading keeper Phil Whitehead, then Taylor expressed anger earlier this week over the timing of the Royals' interest in Lewis.

"If Reading had won last Saturday I think they'd be looking at themselves as champions already, but we can still catch them," Taylor said.

"I must admit I am still worried more about the ones behind us. It wouldn't embarrass me going up in second place, I'd be delighted with that.

"All we can do is concentrate on us. I told the players on Monday if they perform to their capabilities then we have got a very good chance.

"It's about us now. We have got to keep our home form going. It's just a case of thinking about the next game and trying to get three points, then you can plan again."

Tuesday's 2-0 home win over Northampton, which reduced Reading's lead to two points, brought to an end a hectic run of regular midweek fixtures for Albion since the New Year. They are playing Saturday to Saturday from now on, with the exception of the Easter Bank Holiday Monday visit by promotion rivals Bristol City.

That is good news for Simon Morgan, described by Taylor as "absolutely outstanding" at Reading last Saturday and scorer of his first League goal for nearly three years against Northampton.

Taylor has been resting the 35-year-old on a regular basis, with teenager Adam Virgo deputising alongside captain Danny Cullip in the centre of defence.

"I think it will help the team," Taylor said. "If you have got a free week you can get prepared with four days of roughly knowing the players that are going to be fit.

"Saying that, if you have got midweek games and you win them you don't mind that either."

It is two years and two months since Albion suffered a Saturday defeat at Withdean, so the odds are stacked against Bury, Notts County and Swindon.

Morgan is taking nothing for granted. "I haven't thought about automatic promotion yet," he said. "We have got to win on Saturday, that is all that counts.

"If we don't keep on winning then we won't go up. We like playing at Withdean. We have got four home games left and four wins would be very nice."

If Pardew's maths is correct, which seems doubtful, then Albion still need 16 points from their last seven matches.

"They are all closing up on us, but we have still got a nice lead and as long as we don't panic three or four wins should do it now," said Pardew.

"I've worked out that perhaps 89 points would be the target. After three draws we would like to get a win on the board, so Chesterfield is a big game for us."

Chesterfield did Albion a big favour by holding Brentford to a 0-0 draw at Griffin Park on Tuesday.

Considering the events of last season it would be ironic if the Spireites help the Seagulls' cause again at Saltergate on Saturday and at home to Bristol City next Tuesday.

For a full preview of tomorrow's game visit thisisthealbion.co.uk