Albion boss Steve Coppell believes the four-way battle to beat the drop could be won and lost in the transfer market and the treatment room.

The transfer deadline is looming in a hectic March for the Seagulls and their relegation rivals Sheffield Wednesday, Stoke and Grimsby.

Albion face five matches in 18 days, starting with the home game against Rotherham and culminating in a Withdean revenge mission against arch rivals Crystal Palace.

Coppell said: "I think a month or so ago was different. Now we have put ourselves on an equal footing with the other teams down at the bottom.

"For any of the teams at the bottom to catch up nine or ten points on the teams above is a helluva big ask and most unlikely. It looks like three from four.

"It's going to be tight down there and I think possibly the team that gets out of this situation will be the one that does some prudent business between now and transfer deadline.

"Then, after the transfer deadline, it could be the team that is fortunate with injuries, so a couple of things may be out of our control.

"We don't really have the wherewithal to go into the market and make a significant signing, whereas I am hearing at the moment the other teams at the bottom are all working hard trying to get players in.

"I've said more or less since the first week I came to the club that if everyone was fit then I would be happy with the squad, but you can never depend on that in football."

First choice goalkeeper Michel Kuipers is still recovering from a pulled thigh muscle sustained in the FA Cup exit at Norwich in January.

Rightback turned centre half Robbie Pethick has missed the last four matches with a back problem, while the well documented injury and illness saga of Paul Kitson has sidelined him since mid-September.

"If you go through the spine of the team, if Michel was fit then we would have a really competitive situation with the goalkeepers," said Coppell.

"If Robbie Pethick was fit then defensively we have got cover and competition.

"If Paul Kitson were to somehow get out of that treatment room and be a part of things then that would be a massive boost.

"It is almost a laughing matter now the way his injury situation has gone and we are totally baffled."

Matchday coverage at thisisthealbion.co.uk