Albion boss Peter Taylor paid tribute to a "wonder goal" from Gary Hart last night which kept the heat on table-topping Reading.

Hart's 61st minute stunner sealed a 1-0 win for the Seagulls against promotion rivals Tranmere at rain-ravaged Withdean.

They are now only four points behind Reading with a game in hand and the leaders visit Albion's home fortress next Monday.

Taylor said: "Harty cut inside and smacked it with his left foot. It was an absolute wonder goal, unstoppable.

"You wouldn't have fancied Gary doing that with his wrong foot but it was a wonderful sight."

Four-goal Hart, back from a one-match ban, said: "I just got the ball and went inside, which was stupid really because of the muddy conditions.

"I let fly with my left foot and most of the time they fly over the bar but this time it went in.

"I haven't got a clue when I last scored with my left foot but I don't care who scores as long as we win and go up again."

Taylor made a double substitution after Tranmere bossed the opening 45 minutes.

He brought on Paul Brooker and Daniel Webb in place of Nathan Jones and Charlie Oatway and the move paid off as Albion chalked up their fourth victory out of five.

"In the end it was a case of go and get three points," Taylor said. "I wanted us to have a go at them a bit more.

"We did okay in the first half but we weren't attacking them as quickly as I thought we should have."

Michel Kuipers, who kept a second successive clean sheet, was troubled again by the thigh injury which sidelined him over Christmas.

The goalkicks had to be taken in the second half by defender Robbie Pethick but Taylor expects Kuipers to be fit for Saturday's trip to seventh-placed Oldham.

Bristol City beat QPR 2-0 at home last night to move into third but they are still three points behind Albion and have played a match more.

Huddersfield, the visitors to Withdean on Saturday week, are fifth following a 1-0 victory at Swindon.