Torquay 0 - Albion 1

Skipper Andrew Crofts returned from suspension and headed Albion into the fourth round of the FA Cup today.

Crofts headed home a Gary Dicker corner on 77 minutes to settle a hard-fought third-round tussle at Torquay.

The midfielder missed Monday's bonanza at Wycombe after his red card against Leyton Orient on Boxing Day but his fifth goal of the season sees the Seagulls into the fifth round for the first time since 1993.

The game only got the go-ahead after referee Mike Russell carried out a lengthy inspection of the frosty-in-parts Plainmoor pitch.

Kick-off was delayed by ten minutes to allow a season's best crowd of 4,028, including about 800 Albion fans, to get in.

What followed was a tense tussle, largely devoid of chances, but Crofts got the winner from a flag kick forced by Nicky Forster's drive which was pushed away from the bottom corner by keeper Michael Poke.

Glenn Murray also went close late on and recalled keeper Michel Kuipers only had one real scare, pushing away a Kevin Nicholson free-kick blast as the game entered added time.

Albion defended the more frosty penalty area in the first half without undue alarm.

They almost edged ahead three minutes after the break when the impressive Adam Virgo curled a shot just over the top corner.

We will have four pages of coverage from the match, including reaction from Gus Poyet, Andrew Crofts and Adam Virgo, in The Argus on Monday.