ALBION are counting the cost of their Worthington Cup exit against Southampton.

The failure of the Premiership strugglers to sell their allocation of tickets robbed the Seagulls of almost £6,000 in gate receipts.

Southampton were entitled to around 1,000 seats for Tuesday's second round tie at Withdean.

The empty spaces in the visitors' section reduced the crowd figure to 6,489.

That is Albion's third lowest home attendance in the last year, above only the first round match against Wimbledon and last season's LDV Vans Trophy tie with Cardiff.

Southampton's lacklustre response is bound to annoy Seagulls supporters unable to get a ticket for the crunch clash.

Chief executive Martin Perry said: "Southampton did not sell something like 300 of their tickets.

"We tried to persuade them to take the tickets in two phases, ten per cent and then if they sold well the other five per cent they were entitled to.

"They refused because they have got 17,000 season ticket holders. It was very unfortunate and we are very unhappy about it. There were nearly £6,000 worth of unsold tickets, which is a great shame."

Boss Micky Adams does not expect Albion's 3-0 defeat to have an impact on their bid to go top of the Second Division with a win at Wrexham tomorrow night.

"I certainly don't want that performance to affect us, because that would be criminal," Adams said. "We go to Wrexham hoping the confidence we have gained from a creditable performance will do us the world of good."

The players are in determined mood after their heaviest ever defeat at Withdean.

Matt Wicks, who deputised for the injured Danny Cullip in defence, said: "I think 3-0 flattered Southampton a little bit. We can take a lot of positive things away from the game."

Adams rates Cullip doubtful for tomorrow night's trip to Wales because of his hamstring problem.

Meanwhile, the Albion supremo has been installed joint third favourite by bookies for the manager's job at his old club Coventry following the sacking of Gordon Strachan. Adams is quoted at 5-1, the same price as Joe Royle and Harry Redknapp.

West Brom boss Gary Megson is favourite, ahead of Coventry coach Roland Nilsson. The 37-year-old Swede has taken caretaker charge at Highfield Road and wants the job permanently if results go well.

watson's milestone - page 40 Andy Naylor andy.naylor@theargus.co.uk