The sun was shining at the training ground yesterday, it's mid-March and Albion, for once, are in mid-table.

Time to wind down a little then, relax perhaps?

Or maybe not. The League One leaders are in town tomorrow and Albion are anxious to improve on a record of just five wins out of 18 at Withdean.

So, when Dean Cox was quizzed about the luxury of being in no man's land, nine points adrift of the play-offs and eight clear of the relegation zone with only nine games to go, his response was of the 'you must be joking variety'.

"No, definitely not," said Albion's diminutive midfielder. "The training has still been as hard and the gaffer has been drilling into a few players.

"It's not a case of staying where we are and being happy with that. We have got to start performing at home for the fans and for the gaffer."

"We've already beaten them (Scunthorpe) once. It has not been the best for us at home but what a time it would be to start against the team sitting at the top of the league.

"If we can do the double over the leaders it is something for the fans to gloat about at work and to their friends. We are going to go out there and give it our all."

Cox, all 5ft.4ins of him, played a big part when Albion upset Scunthorpe's ten men at Glanford Park in October.

He opened the scoring with, of all things a header, the fourth goal out of nine in a hugely encouraging debut season at senior level for the lightweight playmaker, who will not be 20 until August.

"I think that's the only one I've scored with my head and I keep being reminded!" Cox said. "If the movement and the cross is good I'll still head it in.

"I'm on nine goals now and double figures would be nice, especially against the leaders. Hopefully I'll get a chance and put it away.

"It has been nice to just be involved in the squad and the goals have been an extra bonus."

Cox evidently enjoys Withdean more than the team. Six of his goals have come at home, the last of them against Swansea in December.

"I think my form has picked up again after a little dip," he said. "But I know I can play better and to prove that against the top players in this league would be the right time to show it."

Cox was playing on the left wing when he scored at Scunthorpe, his position for the majority of the campaign.

His last goal came at Leyton Orient last month and coincided with the switch to a midfield diamond formation, with him on the right.

Diamonds may not quite be Cox's best friend but he appreciates the value of a system which has produced three wins, two draws and one defeat - at home to Scunthorpe's closest pursuers Bristol City - in the last six matches.

"It's a lot different," he said. "There is more space on the wing and you are expected to take on players.

"Where I am now it's a bit more disciplined and I maybe don't get as forward as much but try to influence things by getting balls into Bas (Savage) and Alex (Revell), or to get Jake involved at the point of the diamond.

"It's a bit scrappier but it's working at the moment. We've just had two draws away. I think the gaffer likes it and the players like it as well, because it's a bit more direct.

"There is not a lot of passing. You are going forward straight away so it's a bit easier for players to understand what you are trying to achieve."

Mid-table mediocrity may beckon but it will still be quite an achievement if Albion become the first team to beat Scunthorpe twice this season.