Michel Kuipers has saluted the battling point at Nottingham Forest which sneaked Albion into a play-off spot.

Monday's goalless draw at the City Ground, combined with Tranmere's 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth, eased the Seagulls above Rovers into sixth place on goals scored.

Kuipers, the star of an heroic defensive effort, declared: "It's a massive result. To lift ourselves into the top six with a very difficult away game is magnificent.

"We have got ourselves in the play-offs and now it is a case of staying in there."

Chris Commons, Luke Chambers and Wes Morgan were all denied by the flying Dutchman as Albion joined promotion favourites Swansea and Carlisle as the only sides to stop Forest scoring at home since October.

Kuipers said: "I was pretty pleased with the saves I made. When you make saves like that then you know you are going to get a result. On another day they really should go in.

"We defended well and everybody threw their bodies on the line.

"They still had quite a few opportunities so, taking that into consideration, everybody is really pleased with a 0-0 draw."

Ian Westlake missed the match with a calf injury sustained in Saturday's home victory against Swindon.

The on-loan midfielder cannot play against his parent club Leeds at Elland Road this Saturday but Albion are hoping to keep him for the rest of the season.

Manager Dean Wilkins said: "We have already been in touch about extending it but we've not had a concrete reply yet."

Wilkins is still keen to add to his squad before Thursday's loan transfer deadline and veteran centre half Guy Butters will not be allowed to rejoin his old club Gillingham.

Wilkins said: "They enquired about Guy and that is where it started and finished. We have brought Guy on at the end of each of the last two games and he is still very much part of things."

How important is Michel Kuipers to Albion's play-off push?.