Teams usually tighten up straight after a tonking, which suggests Albion can take nothing for granted against Boston tonight.

It looks a straightforward task for the Seagulls on paper.

Boston were thumped 5-0 at Shrewsbury on Saturday, their third defeat out of four in League Two.

The goals against column has already reached double figures and they lost their star striker after their only victory.

Julian Joachim, who played for Aston Villa and Leicester in the Premiership, scored twice in a 4-1 home win against Darlington and then promptly joined Boston's victims for £100,000.

The lopsided evidence for Albion to make resounding progress is tempered by Nottingham Forest's surprise exit at Accrington Stanley on Monday.

If that does not act as a warning signal to the Seagulls then Kerry Mayo, Richard Carpenter and Gary Hart can remind their colleagues how difficult Boston were to overcome in the only previous meeting between the clubs.

That was in November 2003 at Withdean, just days after Mark McGhee's appointment as manager.

Boston cancelled out Carpenter's first-half opener in the closing stages and Albion needed an extra-time brace from former striker Chris McPhee to reach the quarter-finals in the southern section of the LDV Vans Trophy.

Boss Steve Evans admits a long trip to the South Coast from Lincolnshire was not quite what he was hoping for.

Evans said: "When the draw was made it wasn't the tie that we were looking for but we will treat them with respect and look to cause an upset.

"Brighton were plying their trade in the Championship last season so our challenge will be extremely tough but we are confident of acquitting ourselves well.

"We had a horror show in the second half at Shrewsbury on Saturday, but if we eradicate those costly individual errors we will be much better off."

Evans is looking forward to renewing acquaintances with Albion keeper Michel Kuipers. He said: "It will be great to see the big man again. He was nothing short of superb for us during two spells last season."

Kuipers will be trying to keep out Boston's new front man Bob Davidson, signed on loan from Glasgow Rangers, with strikers Francis Green and Anthony Elding still sidelined by suspensions.

Evans has also borrowed French teenager Danny N'Guessan from the Scottish giants. The 19-year old wide midfielder joined Rangers from Auxerre last year for £150,000.

Midfielder Richie Ryan is added to the squad tonight.

He has recovered from an injury sustained at King's Lynn in pre-season and could make his debut in a reshuffle if centre half Mark Albrighton is ruled out by a groinstrain.

Albrighton's anticipated absence would mean a different partner for Paul Ellender at the heart of the defence.

Ellender has called on his team-mates to cut out the individual errors that have cost them dear so far this season.

The skipper, guilty himself of a blunder which led to Shrewsbury's third goal on Saturday, said: "At the moment, we are being punished severely for every mistake that we make.

"The players must make sure we concentrate more to ensure that this is eradicated. The team shape and quality of our football has been excellent at times but that is no good if we as players make these mistakes.

"We should have been at least two up at Shrewsbury on Saturday, as we playedexceptionally well in the first half.

"Brighton were a Championship club only last season and we know it will be a big ask of us but we deserve a little luck and it is a cup tie, so anything can happen."