Albion manager Micky Adams has saluted his promotion-chasing players for cleaning up their act.

The Seagulls have accumulated only 22 yellow cards in the League this season, the lowest total in the country. It's an amazing turnaround after last season's poor disciplinary record, which cost the club a suspended £25,000 fine from the FA.

Adams introduced a tough new code of conduct in the summer with no right of appeal and it seems to be working wonders.

Adams said: "Last season was a transitional period and people weren't quite grasping what I was getting at in terms of being physical and competitive.

"They know now. Under the new code of conduct if they step out of line they get hit. I am pleased that bookings for minor offences have been stamped right out."

Both Albion fullbacks are walking a disciplinary tightrope. Kerry Mayo collected his fourth caution in Saturday's win at Kidderminster to join Paul Watson on the four mark, one away from an automatic one-match ban.

"Everybody is in the same boat in the League," said Adams. "If you have played all season and got four bookings by January 13 that is excellent for competitive fullbacks.

"It goes to show we have got better at defending. "Players are staying on their feet longer, which is all part of the discipline of being a good defender."

Danny Cullip misses the matches at Exeter on January 27, Torquay on February 3 and Rochdale on February 6 after suffering Albion's third red card of the campaign at Brentford last week.

A booking for Mayo or Watson at home to Barnet this Saturday would mean them missing the Torquay trip as well, but Adams is satisfied he has enough cover.

"Nathan Jones can go in at leftback," he said.

"Steve Melton has been playing rightback in the reserves in preparation for a suspension for Watson, so it is nothing to worry about."