Albion boss Peter Taylor has revealed plans for another new signing to strengthen his promotion-chasing squad.

Chairman Dick Knight loosened the purse strings so that Taylor could capture teenage striker Daniel Webb from Southend.

He is on loan until the end of the season when he will be bought for £25,000, a deal designed to suit the Seagulls' restricted cashflow.

Now Taylor is keen to follow up the first signing of his reign after Andy Crosby's free transfer move to Oxford last week. "We cannot buy anybody at the moment," he said. "What I am thinking about is trying to get somebody else in.

"As far as I am concerned I have got a little bit of scope because Andy Crosby has now gone. It might be a loan or there is half a chance I could get somebody in permanently, even if it is short-term."

Albion's high-quality but low-quantity squad is beginning to be tested by injuries and the threat of suspensions.

Kerry Mayo has been sidelined by knee ligament damage and Gary Hart is fighting to shrug off a dead leg.

Hart, Paul Watson, Robbie Pethick and Simon Morgan are all one more yellow card away from a suspension.

Webb, 18, is likely to launch his Albion career as a substitute against seventh-bottom Chesterfield at Withdean tomorrow night.

A win will take the Seagulls back to the top of the table after Stoke were held 1-1 at home by Cardiff last night. Daniel Gabbidon's 81st-minute own goal gave the Potters the lead but Dean Gordon replied three minutes later.

The match was brought forward from Saturday to minimise the threat of crowd trouble.

Albion have defended the decision to follow suit by advancing the Withdean clash against Cardiff from Saturday February 2 to Thursday January 31.

Richard Hebberd, the club's safety officer, said: "Following Brighton's game at Cardiff there was concern that a small minority might use the fixture in February as an excuse to cause trouble.

"After consultation between Albion, Cardiff, the Football League and police it was decided to bring the game forward to reduce the risk of any problems."