Albion lack killer instinct

IF Albion are going to turn a season rich in promise into one which is ultimately successful then they must start finding a killer instinct.

They should already be through to round two of the FA Cup, rather than relying on an injury time equaliser from late substitute Doug Loft to salvage a second chance at Withdean a week tomorrow.

Consecutive 1-1 draws against first Walsall at home in the League and now Cheltenham do not reflect their domination of both matches.

Such profligacy is beginning to gnaw away at manager Dean Wilkins. He blamed the stalemate with Walsall on a lack of devilment in the final third and it was a similar story on a drab afternoon in Gloucestershire.

"I thought in the first half we carried on from the Walsall game in terms of the quality of our play out from the back through midfield and our movement," Wilkins said.

"But we came off the pitch at the end saying again we are not scoring enough goals with the amount of possession and chances and situations that we create, so we just have to keep working at that.

"I have said now for a few weeks someone is in for a hiding soon. I am getting fed up with saying it, I want to see it."

Loft was an unlikely saviour. He did not even think he was going to come off the bench.

The former Hastings midfielder was getting ready to go on when Steven Gillespie, unmarked at the far post from a free-kick by David Bird, volleyed Cheltenham into a flattering lead with 13 minutes left.

Nathan Elder received the call first instead and Loft had to wait until the 84th minute for his chance. He made the most of it, drilling a left-foot drive into the bottom corner in the first minute of stoppage time after a Bas Savage cross had only been cleared to the edge of the area.

The energetic Loft has generally struggled to make such a telling impact. Some supporters felt he was fortunate to be given another contract in the summer and he has yet to start this season. Too often he has looked good in the reserves, only to freeze when handed his opportunity in the first team.

"I feel this season I am making a lot of progress," Loft said. "I am learning and I am calmer in a game. I just relaxed in front of goal and put it away.

"It means the world to me. Sometimes when you are in and out of the team it is hard but you train hard and hope for an opportunity."

Substitutes have made a difference several times already this season. The challenge for Loft and the rest of the fringe members of a squad with new-found strength in depth is to raise their game to earn a starting spot.

Wilkins said: "It's the same for every individual, whether they are in the side or not. The bar has been raised at our club, performances and levels of consistency have improved. It's up to everybody to try and hit and go beyond those levels."

Bas Savage's assist for the equaliser spared the blue-haired striker's blushes. He spurned the best of numerous openings for Albion when trying to side-foot in Nicky Forster's cross from six yards.

He did not make a proper connection and kicked the post in frustration as the ball was cleared. It threatened to be costly when Gillespie pounced for Cheltenham a few minutes later.

The home side were poor. Bereft of belief they showed why they are propping up League One and have now won only one of their last 12 matches.

The tie should have been over by half-time. Albion controlled the opening 45 minutes with embarrassing ease at times and regained command after Cheltenham rallied in the early stages of the second half.

Goalkeeper Shane Higgs did well to divert shots outside the area from both Jake Robinson and the recalled Dean Cox, as well as a downward header from Adam El-Abd.

On other occasions Higgs should have been beaten but both Forster and Tommy Elphick missed the target with headers, Elder with a close range volley.

At least Albion's never-say-die attitude stretched their impressive sequence to one defeat in the last ten matches.

Wilkins said: "Last year I would have feared that we might not get back into it but we finished the game so strongly. We look incredibly fit and the players never lost faith.

"That again is a good sign for us. Not only did we get the equaliser, we could possibly have nicked it at the end as well."

Albion have not lost away from home for five matches, stretching back to that needless defeat at Gillingham in mid-September.

That record will be tested in Saturday's Sky televised lunchtime kick-off at Leyton Orient. Andrew Whing is suspended for that match after collecting his fifth caution of the campaign in the frantic closing stages.

Either side of the return to League action the Seagulls face Cheltenham twice more, at home on Wednesday in the last 16 of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and in the replay six days later.

Nothing less than two wins will suffice against such modest opposition.

ALBION (4-4-2): Michel Kuipers (GK), Andrew Whing (RB), Tommy Elphick (CB), Adam El-Abd (CB), Matt Richards (LB), Jake Robinson (RM), Tommy Fraser (CM), Dean Hammond (CM), Dean Cox (LM), Bas Savage (CF), Nicky Forster (CF).

Subs: John Sullivan, Guy Butters (for Elphick 65), Paul Reid, Nathan Elder (for Robinson 81), Doug Loft (for Fraser 84).

YELLOW CARDS: Hammond 81, Whing 82.

RED CARDS: None.

GOAL: Loft (90).

CHELTENHAM (4-4-2): Shane Higgs (GK), Jerry Gill (RB), Gavin Caines (CB), Shane Duff (CB), Alan Wright (LB), Ashley Vincent (RM), David Bird (CM), Adam Connolly (CM), Damian Spencer (LM), Steven Giillespie (CF), Paul Connor (CF). Subs: Scott Brown, Andy Gallinagh , Craig Reid (for Vincent 84), Michael Wylde, Sosthene Yao (for Connor 51).

YELLOW CARDS: None.

RED CARDS: None.

GOAL: Gillespie (77).

Why are Albion failing to score more goals?