Bobby Zamora fired Albion to the verge of automatic promotion.

The young hotshot's 32nd goal of the season in the second half clinched three more precious points for the Seagulls.

Brentford's 3-0 home win over Huddersfield means Peter Taylor's men must wait a little longer to make sure of a place in the First Division next season.

They will go up tomorrow if Reading fail to beat Tranmere at Prenton Park.

Alternatively Albion can make certain of consecutive promotions by beating Swindon at Withdean next Saturday.

Two more points from the final two matches against Swindon and at Port Vale on April 20 would be enough, irrespective of other results.

Zamora was not expected to be back until the Swindon match, but he made a surprise return from a dislocated shoulder.

He struck the decisive blow in the 64th minute before a crowd of 8,321 at a sunny London Road.

Kerry Mayo's long throw was headed on by captain Danny Cullip for Zamora to turn past his marker and thrash in a right-foot shot from ten yards.

Albion, roared on by 3,300 fans, should have wrapped the game up in the first half.

Zamora had a third minute penalty saved by the outstanding Mark Tyler after Cullip had been fouled by Marc Joseph.

The Peterborough keeper then foiled both Zamora and Paul Brooker when they were clean through.

The Seagulls had been forced to re-shuffle in the eighth minute when Gary Hart was hurt in an aerial challenge with Joseph.

Hart was stretchered off and Robbie Pethick replaced him, but Albion did not allow the early setbacks to unsettle them.

Tyler made another fine stop when Junior Lewis got his head to another of Mayo's long throws.

Moments later Zamora came up trumps yet again to give the Seagulls their sixth win of an unbeaten eight match sequence.

Lee Steele , substituted in the second half, starts a 2-match suspension against Swindon, but Daniel Webb will be available again after a two game ban.