Albion's hottest striking property is proving home is where the Hart is.

Gary Hart has struggled for goals this season, but he is top man at Withdean. His disputed winner deep into injury time against Southend last Saturday lifted the young striker's home tally to six of the best.

That is one better than overall leading marksman Darren Freeman and captain Paul Rogers. Incredibly, Hart's only away goal came at Darlington at the end of August and the relief was tangible as he ended an eight-game drought against Southend. The visitors protested he used his hand, rather than his head, but TV replays showed otherwise.

"We had a few good chances earlier, but when the luck is with you then you get those sort of breaks in the last few minutes," Hart reflected. "Hopefully our luck has turned. We haven't lost in four and the bonus for me is that I scored."

Hart's team-mates and the management have been rallying behind him during his barren run. They recognise the valuable work he does for the side.

Assistant Alan Cork and physio Malcolm Stuart celebrated his goal against Southend by revealing a 'hooray' message on the T-shirts they were wearing.

Hart's pace and industry bothers opposing defences, but there is nothing quite like the feeling of finding the back of the net.

"The others have helped," he said. "They have given me encouragement and you listen to it, but it's all in my head really. Everybody has been saying I just needed a bit of luck, a goal to go in off my ankle or something like that, and I got it on Saturday.

"Hopefully it will carry on now so that I can grab a few more goals before the end of the season, get my confidence back up and get us a few more points on the board. Corky is patient with me and just tells me to keep going. It's the same with the gaffer and all the players. They have given me a bit of stick, but that's all part of the banter at the club.

"I haven't been feeling sorry for myself. It is down to me to get myself out of it. Strikers go through these phases and I am sure Corky did a few times! It's up to me to work hard at my game.

"I think I have been playing well, but there is nothing to compare with scoring goals. I have been working my socks off and the luck has not been going for me. It wasn't one of my best games against Southend, but I grabbed the goal."

Hart burst onto the pro scene last season after Albion stole him from non-League Stansted for £1,000 and the price of a kit. He finished joint top scorer, had a £500,000 plus price tag slapped on him by chairman Dick Knight and is now armed with a new contract to the summer of 2003.

The contract hasn't affected me at all," he insisted. "I've not felt any pressure, even though I haven't been scoring, because everyone has been behind me.

"I have been plugging on with my game and slugging my guts out for the lads. Defenders are probably more aware of me this season, but I can improve. I have the speed to beat players, but I've just not been up to scratch. The gaffer can train and coach me, but basically it is down to me."

Hart's hopes of finishing that seven-month away famine have been scuppered by a controversial one-match ban which rules him out of Saturday's trip to Lincoln.

He was sent off against Halifax at Withdean the Saturday before last for two bookable offences, the second a supposed dive.

"It's just my luck that I am suspended now," Hart said. "That red card was absolutely diabolical. No way did I dive. I would have admitted to the gaffer afterwards if I had. He saw it on tape and backed me up.

"I was clean through on goal, so there was no reason for me to dive. As for the first booking, I was head-butted, so I don't know what was going on there. The ref is not exactly my best mate, but there was nothing I could do about it. I couldn't appeal."

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