ALBION boss Micky Adams has turned up the heat on promotion rivals Hartlepool.

Adams reckons tomorrow's clash at Victoria Park is a must win for the team closest to upsetting his side's automatic promotion dream.

The Seagulls make the long journey to the north-east in buoyant mood after consecutive home wins achieved in convincing style.

Wednesday's 4-1 rout of Barnet followed last Saturday's 3-0 hammering of Hull.

Adams said: "I thought it was a massive match for us on Wednesday. Hartlepool are ten points behind us now and we still have a game in hand, so they have got to win to give themselves any sort of chance.

"We can relax. The emphasis is all on them rather than us."

Adams is waiting on the health of Steve Melton as Albion bid to become the first team to score a League victory over Hartlepool in 18 matches, stretching back to the end of November.

Melton missed the Barnet stroll through illness and he was still not well enough to train yesterday.

If he fails to recover then Nathan Jones is expected to make his first away start for six weeks in an unchanged line-up.

Richard Carpenter struck his first goal for the club when Albion hammered Hartlepool 4-2 at Withdean in October.

The midfielder, off target since late November, said: "I am due another goal. We've had two good results which has put us in a nice position, ten points in front of them.

"Wednesday was a big psychological boost for us, but we know we cannot afford to take our foot off the pedal. They've picked up tremendously since the game here so it's going to be tough, but it's nice to be back on track."

l Former Albion midfielder Jeff Minton has joined Rotherham from Port Vale for the rest of the season.