Albion boss Steve Coppell has encouraged players and fans alike to keep their nerve during the tense relegation run-in.

Coppell believes the Seagulls still have "as good a chance as anyone" to avoid the drop from Division One.

The players returned to training at Withdean yesterday with no fresh injury worries to concern Coppell and no sign of mental scars after Saturday's home defeat by Preston.

"Their mood was excellent, as it has been all season," he said. "We have got to put that one to bed now and look forward to the next one at Leicester on Saturday.

"That is the most important thing and it's going to apply for the next four games.

"We have got to be realistic and say chances are none of the teams at the bottom are going to win all four. If they do they deserve to stay up.

"It's keeping that steady nerve at the moment. The coaching and playing staff haven't got carried away with victories and we are certainly not going to get too down about defeats.

"After 14 games we had four points. The season is an absolute marathon, 46 games over nine months in all conditions, injuries, so many things happening financially with a lot of clubs, and by good play, grit, determination and desire we've now made it a four-game sprint.

"That is a fabulous testimony to what the players are about.

"Little things mean an awful lot now, but if they maintain what they have been doing over the previous 20 odd games then we have got as good a chance as anyone."

Lots of fans headed for the exits long before the final whistle at Withdean on Saturday as Preston won with two goals in the last 19 minutes.

Coppell said: "All I am looking for is the players to give 100 per cent commitment and discipline over the next three weeks and the supporters the same.

"I've been saying to the players our games are all 90 minutes, not 70 or 65, and I would say exactly the same to the supporters. Give us the full 90 minutes. We need it at the moment and together we can do it."

Paul Kitson could make his first start since September over the crucial Easter period against either Leicester or next Monday at home to fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday, providing he comes through another run-out in the Reserves against QPR at Northwood FC tonight (7pm).

Meanwhile, former Albion manager Micky Adams is at Bramall Lane tonight to see if Nottingham Forest, another of his old clubs, can clinch promotion for his Leicester side by avoiding defeat against Sheffield United.

"I am not going there for that, only to do my job by having a look at Sheffield United who are our next away opponents on Easter Monday," said Adams, a Blades supporter as a kid.

"Mind you, how I will feel at the end of the game is something I don't know."

Albion Reserves: Packham; Wilkinson, Jones, Pethick, Virgo, Rogers, Hammond, Oatway, Kitson, Marney, Piercy.

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