Albion supporters with their tickets already booked for the play-offs can expect more of what they saw in the narrow victory which has secured their place in the end-of-season lottery.

It is likely to be mighty tight over two legs, who ever they face.

The Seagulls have lost by more than one goal in the League only four times in 45 matches. On the other hand, they have won by more than a single goal just six times in 29 games since Mark McGhee took charge.

Encouragingly, against relegated County they achieved the kind of victory which was common place in the title triumph under Peter Taylor two seasons ago.

The Second Division was much better then, but that is merely a debating point to match rather meaningless discussions over the relative merits of players, managers and teams from different eras.

You can only beat what is in front of you and in front of Albion on Saturday were opponents displaying the kind of defensive detemination which, if demonstrated earlier in the campaign, would have kept them up.

A satisfied McGhee said: "It was pretty much the performance I hoped for, although the goal did not come as early as I would have liked. We weren't sure what to expect from Notts County and what we got was a resolute performance. They had a fantastic group of supporters they played for.

"They made it difficult for us but we plugged away, kept our patience, probed and prodded and eventually got the breakthrough. Even though it was an own goal I think it was a goal we deserved."

Albion's play-off rivals will find it tough getting through a defence with Player of the Season Guy Butters and runner-up Danny Cullip in such commanding form and protected by the midfield diligence of Richard Carpenter and Charlie Oatway.

Ben Roberts kept a comfortable fourth successive clean sheet stretching back to one of those rare convincing defeats at Blackpool over Easter.

"I thought the back four again were excellent," McGhee said. "The two centre halves were solid. Ben didn't have much to do.

"If there was a pick of the bunch I think it had to be Richard Carpenter. He was absolutely superb. Richard and Charlie are working ever so hard in front of the back four to make them difficult to get at and we are not taking any chances.

"Danny and Guy are winning their headers and clearing their lines and when the ball gets cleared we are keeping it.

"Chris Iwelumo is getting hold of it, as was Nathan Jones. It is important that the ball doesn't come back to you. That is part of the defensive record, the fact that we have retained possession."

Scoring goals is proving more of a problem. Albion have not managed one themselves from open play since John Piercy's late consolation at Blackpool five games ago. Leon Knight has added a penalty to his impressive tally over that period, while Chris Iwelumo has drawn a blank.

Iwelumo, foiled three times in the second half by County's excellent young Irish keeper Saul Deeney, played a key role in the goal which gifted Albion their ninth Withdean win out of ten with 16 minutes left.

He back-headed Adam Virgo's long throw at the near post and 18-year-old Kelvin Wilson marred an accompished full debut by diverting the ball past Deeney from close range.

Albion might have been reduced to ten men by then but for a sensible substitution by McGhee. County midfielder David Pipe was stretchered off to hospital for X-rays on an ankle injury after a tackle by Oatway early in the second half which earned him a caution. He was replaced by Gary Hart a few minutes later.

"We don't want to lose Charlie, that was definitely part of it," McGhee revealed. "We wanted to win the game and I felt bringing on one more creative player was going to give us a better chance of doing that, but it was also in the back of my mind that I didn't want Charlie getting sent off.

"Charlie's had a long season. He has come back from a serious injury and he has been fantastic. He trains hard and works hard and I didn't want to run the risk of him getting clumsy or tired and colliding with somebody."

Speaking of collisions, Hart was involved in a controversial incident shortly after his introduction. Scampering on to Knight's pass, he went down inside the area as two defenders challenged. Referee Andy Hall booked him for diving instead of awarding a penalty.

"It was definitely a penalty," the substitute protested. "I would have shot otherwise.

"Port Vale won, so it was lucky we did too. There is always a doubt in your mind that you might not make it. We did it with an own goal but I thought we deserved it. Their keeper made some great saves and they were relaxed and made it hard for us."

The result at Wrexham on Saturday, combined with others, will determine Albion's play-off opponents and whether they are at fortress Withdean for the second leg.

"I think playing the second leg at home is a lot better, because you know what you have got to do when you come home," Hart said. "If you lose at home you don't deserve to be in the final anyway.

"Swindon have been one of our bogey teams. We don't fear anyone, but personally they are the team I would like to steer clear of."

  • ALBION (4-4-2): Roberts (gk) 7; Cullip (cd) 8, Knight (f) 6, Oatway (cm) 6, Carpenter (cm) 8, Butters (cd) 8, Jones (lm) 8, Virgo (rb) 7, Harding (lb) 6, Iwelumo (f) 7, Reid (rm) 7. Subs: Kuipers, Hart 6 for Oatway (withdrawn 58), Piercy for Iwelumo (withdrawn 90), McPhee, El-Abd.
  • Scorer: Wilson own goal (74).
  • Bookings: Oatway (52) foul, Hart (66) diving.
  • NOTTS COUNTY (4-4-2): Deeney; Fenton, Baraclough, Oakes, Barras, Richardson, Pipe, Wilson, Williams, Bolland, Parkinson. Subs: Baldry for Pipe (injured 55), Scoffham for Parkinson (withdrawn 77), Harrad, Bewers for Oakes (withdrawn 82), Barchbrini.
  • Bookings: Barras (25) foul, Richardson (56) foul.
  • Half-Time: Albion 0 Notts County 0.
  • Attendance: 6,618.
  • Fans' View: PHIL BEENEY (Tokyo) It was a pretty even first half but we gained a bit of impetus in the second half. Everyone thought it was a penalty when Gary Hart went down and people said the linesman was flagging for one. Seeing any game is good for me but we still hoof the ball too high and don't pass it on the ground enough.

LAURA WILCOCK (Mile Oak) The performance wasn't good in the first half but we definitely improved and the team started to look a bit more together. Danny Cullip was solid and Nathan Jones had a good game. I don't really have any preferences for the play-offs because I think we'll beat whoever we play.

DAVE RIDER (Southwick) I thought Gary Hart's booking galvanised the team because we had them on the back foot straight afterwards and the crowd was on its feet. Until then it was a run of the mill, scrappy game. Everything was so compressed until Hart came on to give us the width we had been lacking for long periods.

MARTIN BOURNE (Fareham) It wasn't a great game but winning is everything at this stage of the season. We've got to play better if we want to make the First Division. I'd like to play Hartlepool in the play-offs, but once you get there you just take your chance with whoever you end up with.