Bob Booker was relishing Albion's head start on their promotion rivals and said: "Now lets see what the rest of them can do."

The Seagulls assistant manager and his boss Peter Taylor were keeping an eye on the rest of the Division Two high-flyers this weekend having stolen a march on them with the 1-0 win over Cardiff on Thursday.

That result put Albion back into second place, pending the outcome of this weekend's games.

Booker paid tribute to his sides battling qualities in that hard fought success at storm-lashed Withdean and said: "Hopefully some of the others slip up now.

"We will be out on the road this weekend keeping an eye on the other teams.

"We have got Tranmere on Tuesday so obviously they will be watched.

"Then we will be looking at the table and seeing how things shape up.

"We've got our win, now it's up to the rest of them."

Bobby Zamora's early penalty gave the Seagulls those precious points but it was in defence where they shone brightest in the face of a second half bombardment from the Bluebirds.

Booker added: "I've told the players what a big result that was against Cardiff because it was so important we bounced back from losing against Brentford.

"At this stage of the season its all about making the most of your games in hand and we did that on Thursday."

The promotion focus remains on the south coast today where Stoke can move back above Albion, albeit having played more games, by taking a point or more at Bournemouth.

Bristol City and Huddersfield have an intriging clash at Ashton Gate, Brentford go to mid-table Colchester and leaders Reading, buoyed by Alan Pardew's manager of the month award for January, look to pile on the worries for lowly Bury at Gigg Lane.

Tranmere, whose boss Dave Watson was at Withdean on Thursday ahead of Tuesday's Withdean clash, entertain Chesterfield, while Meadow Lane could be another destination for the Albion spies as Notts County host next week's opponents Oldham Athletic.

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