Albion boss Micky Adams has issued a title warning to crisis club Chesterfield after the Seagulls moved within two wins of promotion.

Last night's 2-0 home victory over relegation-threatened Lincoln means Albion are just four points behind Chesterfield with a game in hand.

The Spireites are embroiled in a joint FA and Football League inquiry into alleged financial irregularities and Adams has stepped up the pressure.

"The championship is a realistic goal for us now," he declared. "Our first aim was to get enough points for a play-off place, then promotion, but now the title is wide open.

"I've heard Chesterfield described as runaway leaders, but we don't see it like that. They have still got to come to Withdean, so it is all to play for."

Goals in each half by captain Paul Rogers and Bobby Zamora, his 26th of the season, lifted the Seagulls back into second place, a point above Cardiff with a game in hand of the Welshmen.

Rogers' header from a long throw by Kerry Mayo was engineered on the training ground a few hours earlier.

"I normally give the players the morning off before night games, but I had them in this time for set pieces," Adams revealed.

"One of those is getting Paul Rogers around the back from a long throw and it worked a treat."

Albion still theoretically need two wins from their remaining seven matches to make promotion a certainty, but they could go up by gaining one of them at Plymouth on Saturday.

Hartlepool would also have to lose at home to Hull and Rochdale fail to collect all three points at Macclesfield.

Rogers said: "We just want to get it over and done with. We know we are close and if it doesn't happen on Saturday then hopefully it will be Monday at Withdean against Darlington."