Albion manager Mark McGhee has pinpointed January as a pivotal period in the fading quest for a guaranteed return to Division One.

McGhee believes automatic promotion will be beyond the Seagulls' reach if results do not go right for them this month.

Saturday's home game against struggling Oldham is followed a week later by a trip to second-placed Queens Park Rangers.

Barnsley, a place and two points above Albion in fourth, are due at Withdean on January 24 depending on their involvement in the FA Cup.

A critical spell of fixtures culminates in the Sky televised visit by rampant League leaders Plymouth Argyle on January 31 (5.35pm).

Plymouth and QPR capitalised on the Seagulls' inactivity last weekend with home wins which stretched their advantages over McGhee's men to 14 and ten points respectively, although both have played a game more.

McGhee said: "If we have got any hope of catching Plymouth or Queens Park Rangers then at the very worst we cannot allow them to beat us.

"In that respect they are big games and so, of course, is Barnsley.

"I would say it is not so much a make or break month for us in terms of automatic promotion as just break.

"Even if we beat QPR or Plymouth that doesn't necessarily mean we are going to catch them, but if they beat us then I don't think we will catch them.

"December wasn't a great month for us in terms of points. We got four and I think we really have to take eight this month to make any inroads."

Albion face the possibility of a further fortnight's break between the clashes against the top two following the postponement of the January 20 match at Luton.

The Barnsley game will have to be rearranged if the Yorkshiremen get through their FA Cup third round replay at Scunthorpe next Tuesday.

McGhee has been assured by chairman Dick Knight that there is still scope for him to strengthen the squad.

"He just reaffirmed he is determined to support me in trying to find another couple of players. He is as keen as I am to try and strengthen a little bit, which is good news."

Michel Kuipers makes his comeback from car crash injuries in a friendly at Leyton Orient today (1pm). The Dutch goalkeeper and his fit-again rival Ben Roberts play a half each.