Thirteen may be unlucky for some, but not for Albion.

That is the number of points they need now to be certain of promotion after an anxious victory and a home draw for Hartlepool against next Saturday's relegation-haunted hosts Halifax.

It's a mathematical irrelevance really, because we all know the Seagulls are already as good as up with nine games still to go.

So what are the prospects of coping with the Second Division? Pretty good according to somebody whose opinion Micky Adams values.

He used to idolise Billy Dearden when he stood on the terraces with his dad at Bramall Lane watching Sheffield United.

Mansfield manager Dearden believes Adams' Albion will be capable of competing next season.

"I have seen quite a lot of the Second Division," said Dearden. "Everybody needs to strengthen when they go up.

"It's tougher, because they are better players, but there are one or two players in the Brighton side or maybe more that could play at a higher level.

"I think they will more than hold their own if they get promoted."

Dearden's verdict must have been based on the opening 45 minutes. Albion completely dominated his fledgling team, containing nine players aged 22 or under.

It was a different story after the break, as Adams acknowledged.

"I don't think we were at out best," he said. "The first 25 minutes was good and it was only a matter of time before we scored.

"Once we had we seemed to relax and take our foot off the pedal."

Bobby Zamora was obviously one of the individuals Dearden referred to.

Zamora has not been anonymous many times this season. That was the case at Field Mill in December, when Mansfield's 20-goal marksman Chris Greenacre upstaged him with a second-half double.

The ball was firmly on the other foot this time. Greenacre, alone up front, was a peripheral figure, while Zamora was at the heart of the action for an hour.

His early goal was expertly taken. Richard Carpenter's chipped pass released him through the inside right channel and Zamora calmly lobbed the advancing Bobby Mimms, although the keeper rather made his mind up for him.

Zamora celebrated by pointing to his shorts to indicate that his squad number, 25, is now matched by his tally. Perhaps he should wear 32 next season!

Zamora was in the wars. Kerry Mayo accidentally whacked the ball against his right hand, then he hurt his right ankle attempting a far post header.

He emerged for the second half with his hand strapped before eventually hobbling off, but not before setting Paul Brooker up to rattle a post.

The one-way pattern of the contest had just begun to shift by then.

Michel Kuipers was forced into a key one-handed save to keep out an equalising effort by Darrell Clarke when Mansfield, free from the pressures of a promotion challenge or relegation battle, broke smartly from an Albion corner.

Adams Virgo stood splendidly firm in an encouraging full debut marred only by a misplaced early clearance, which might have proved costly, and a late caution.

Martin Thomas made his bow too in the final half-hour in place of skipper Paul Rogers.

Adams was "disappointed" with his midfield trio. He felt they were responsible for the second half reversal in fortunes by allowing Mansfield too much room.

The tension was not relieved until four minutes into stoppage time. Nathan Jones, Zamora's replacement, set up Gary Hart, operating as a central striker in Zamora's absence, to place his eighth of the campaign past Mimms.

Adams rather enjoyed watching from a standing position behind the directors' box as a consequence of his 14-day ban from the dugout for misconduct.

"It's always nice to see an overall picture of the game without getting too excited," he explained.

"Managers rant and rave on the touchline when they might as well save their breath, because it's hot air a lot of the time."

Not everything went according to plan. Phil Stant was supposed to replace Brooker in the dying stages but, would you believe it, Stant didn't have a shirt so Darren Freeman came on instead.

There was also a communications breakdown with assistant Bob Booker. "Bob put a lad on (Nathan Jones) in the wrong position," Adams said.

Adams was sending instructions to Booker on the bench via mobile phone.

Adams' phone, I am reliably informed, answered to the Southampton theme tune "When The Saints Go Marching In".

It's nice to know he is maintaining a mischievous sense of humour as his side marches on to promotion.