Striker Nicky Forster insists Albion are close to becoming serious League One promotion contenders.

The Seagulls face Bristol Rovers on Saturday on the back of their first away win of the season at Bournemouth on Tuesday.

It left them one point adrift of the play-off positions in tenth place with nine games played.

Forster said: "We are not far away from being a team that can ask questions in this league. Part of that is just about believing. We are a young squad and when we get that belief we are a good side.

"It is going to be tight all the way through this season. I imagine it will be like it until the last month and it will be the teams that find form towards the end of the final push that will make it. We have to make sure we are one of them."

Tuesday's shut-out was the first time Albion have kept back-to-back clean sheets this season and Forster says more are needed if the Seagulls are to be successful.

He said: "The back five, including Michel (Kuipers), were superb (against Bournemouth). They threw themselves in the way of everything, they were fantastic.

"We have kept two clean sheets now and you build good runs of them. It is the key to getting into the play-offs."

Forster knows goals are also vital and admits he has to start finding the net more often.

The 34-year-old has scored twice since his summer move from Hull, both goals coming in a 3-2 home win over Southend at the start of September, and is under pressure to end his drought.

The former Reading frontman showed the other side of his game at the Fitness First stadium, creating the second goal for Bas Savage and leading the line well throughout.

Forster said: "I'm here to score goals and provide goals and I'm delighted I have done that. I think I played better (against Bournemouth) than I did in previous games.

"I'm still looking for that run of form but I'm happy with my performance. When you come to a different club, the training regimes are different and they certainly are here. I'm getting used to that and this division as well."

Manager Dean Wilkins is hoping Forster can build on his encouraging display against the Cherries.

He said: "I think it was his best contribution since the Millwall game. Nicky is conscious of the fact he has not scored but he has got enough confidence in himself to believe he can score in every game.

"If he is not scoring, then that was the kind of performance we need from him, being a creator or a nuisance."

Is Nicky Forster right to be so optimistic?