CHRISTMAS could not have come at a better time for Albion and their fans this year.

The Seagulls are in need of a boost, and the festive programme usually provides it.

They have been invincible for seven years in matches played between Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Since losing 1-0 at Hull in 1992, they have put together six wins and four draws from their ten holiday games.

In the 1997/98 season, Albion came from three goals down to draw 4-4 with Colchester, then won 2-1 at Peterborough.

Last season saw them beat Brentford and Peterborough while the desperate relegation battle of three seasons ago was aided by draws against Colchester and Scarborough.

Winner

Dean Wilkins hit the winner at Brentford in 1995 while, a year earlier, Seagulls played on successive days and took four points from unpromising circumstances.

They drew 0-0 with Martin O'Neill's Wycombe side after having Peter Smith sent-off, then came from behind to beat Shrewsbury with Ade Akinbiyi hitting the winner.

That sequence of ten games started in December 1993, when Liam Brady's side beat Barnet thanks to Ian Chapman's penalty.

You won't get a more satisfying pair of results than Albion managed in 1988/89, when they saw off Palace 3-1, then smashed Birmingham 4-0.

But, given they are playing the top two, four points or more this time round would ensure Christmas 1999 ranks alongside the best for Seagulls fans.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.