It's 20 up for Murray as title edges closer

But the 1-0 midweek success in a re-arranged game at lowly Dagenham and Redbridge was harder-earned than you might recall.

Glenn Murray's 20th goal of the season gave Albion a post-war record eighth successive win.

All of those wins came in a busy month of March.

Gus Poyet’s men survived a torrid first half in which ex-Seagulls striker Bas Savage (who gave Gordon Greer quite a tough time) should have put the hosts ahead. Here is how a tense evening progressed....

Pre-game: Albion bring Elliott Bennett back into the starting XI, in place of Matt Sparrow, but Chris Wood has to settle for a place on the bench after returning from international action. Dagenham are unchanged from their draw with Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

Southampton's managerial duo Nigel Adkins and Andy Crosby are interested observers. They take their seats in the back of the stand at about 7.30pm.

1st min: Albion are defending the packed, and noisy, away end in the first half. They quickly get a cross in.

3rd min: Vincelot gets in a tremendous shot on target from about 20 yards but it is blocked by team mate Savage, who is winded in the process.

6th min: Bennett starts in a central role but his first couple of passes are poor.

16th min: Albion have an almighty escape. Nurse produces brilliant skill to get away from Greer in the inside left channel. His angled shot is parried by Ankergren and Savage somehow fails to force the ball over the line as Elphick and Painter scramble back to cover. Hard to see how that stayed out. Most of the crowd were convinced the ball had to go in.

18th min: The highly-rated Green has a fierce shot blocked on the edge of the box as the Daggers build momentum.

21st min: Calderon is booked for a foul.

22nd min: Savage gets involved again as he beats Greer with good footwork on the edge of the box but his well struck shot is straight at Ankergren.

31st min: Green gets away down the right and drives a low cross between Ankergren and his defenders - but Nurse cannot get a touch as the ball flashes across goal.

37th min: The leaders are being forced to play a longer game than usual with Greer regularly looking to hit the front two from deep inside his own half. The bumpy pitch and pressure from Dagenham are both playing their part in that.

45+1 min - HALF-TIME: Goalless at the break and the second-best Seagulls will be grateful for that.

47th min: Albion are now attacking the away end - or at least hoping to. There is a hint of promise as Sandaza's flick gives Murray the chance to advance on the area and possibly let fly. But he delays his shot and is eventually crowded out.

48th min: Scannell's curler goes narrowly wide of the far post.

56th min: Lovely work from Savage to beat Greer quite easily and make room for a shot to the left of goal but his well struck volley is pushed out by Ankergren.

59th min - GOAL: Was it a shot? Probably - but Noone's scissors volley flies across goal and MURRAY forces it home at the far post via the underside of the bar. That's his 20th of the season. Sandaza's presence helped create the chance for Noone to try his luck.

60th min: Albion send on Kishishev for Bennett before play can resume after the goal.

66th min: Albion old boy Savage makes way for Lancaster.

69th min: Arber fouls Murray and is booked. Dicker rolls the free-kick square to Noone but it bobbles over his foot as he goes to shoot, allowing Daggers to break...

70th min: ...and Ogogo to play in a dangerous cross which no one can reach as it flies temptingly across the goalmouth.

73rd min: Currie goes on for Scannell. Fair play to Albion's fans. They applauded Savage off the pitch and they now clap Currie as he comes on.

75th min: Albion send on Sparrow for Dicker.

78th min: Adkins and Crosby make their exit. "Adkins what's the score?" sing some Albion fans.

84th min: Wood comes on for Noone.

87th min: Murray turns on the edge of the box and shoots just wide.

90th min: Half-chance for Vincelot but his 20-yard volley as he turns and falls loops over the bar. We then go into a minimum of four added minutes.

90+4 min: Ogogo takes out Sandaza and sees yellow.

90+5 min - FULL-TIME. That was hard work - but a precious win for Albion. The celebrations can really start behind the goal away to my left - and then step up a level as Poyet goes in to the changing rooms under that stand with fists clenched in celebration.

Dagenham: Roberts; Doe, Arber, Vincelot, McCrory; Green, Scannell (Currie 73), Ogogo, Gain; Nurse, Savage (Lancaster 66). Unused subs: Lewington, Antwi, Ifil, Lee, Morgan.

Albion: Ankergren; Calderon, Greer, Elphick, Painter; Bennett (Kishishev 60), Bridcutt, Dicker (Sparrow 74), Noone (Wood 84); Murray, Sandaza. Unused subs: Brezovan, Taricco, Dunk, Navarro.