Paul Reid expects to shrug off a back injury and make Albion's squad for Saturday's visit to Blackpool.

The recent signing from Bradford picked up a knock during the Seagulls' Reserves 1-0 defeat at Reading yesterday.

The midfielder said: "I took a knee in the back.

"I've had ice on it and it's sore, but I should train today and hopefully travel up with the squad for the game on Saturday.

"The aim is to get into the first team sooner rather than later.

"The thing I'm trying to improve on is getting forward and shooting more."

Reid twice went close for Albion yesterday with long-range efforts in a match where they created very little in attack.

Daniel Beck also shot wide, while Jake Robinson had Albion's only real effort on target after good work from Mark Windsor down the left flank.

However, Pontins' League title-chasers Reading were the more creative side and they were denied further goals by three excellent saves from Stuart Jones.

He was finally beaten, though, by a Nicky Forster penalty 20 minutes from time after Bas Savage was brought down in the box by Gary Elphick.

Albion Reserves: Jones; Piper, Rents (Breach 51), Hinshelwood, Elphick, Reid, Beck, Hammond, Windsor, Robinson, Budd (Cox 77). Subs not used: May, Mountford, Carey.