Albion's long-serving utility player Gary Hart today pledged to "grin and bear" his exclusion from the starting line-up.

Hart was dropped to the bench for the first time since Dean Wilkins took over as manager against Blackpool at Withdean on Sunday.

He had been switched from centre forward to rightback for the previous match against Chesterfield following the loan signing of Sam Williams from Aston Villa.

Hart then lost his revised role to Coventry loan capture Andrew Whing as Albion crashed to a 3-0 defeat.

He admitted: "It is really disappointing to lose both my places up front and at rightback. I don't think my form has been bad.

"The gaffer decided to freshen things up a bit and it was just a shame it was me. Even Sam Rents found himself left out after playing really well against Chesterfield.

"Every manager has his way of doing things. I've got to grin and bear it and get on with it. I've had a chat with Dean Wilkins. I've come back before and I'll do it again."

Hart came on in the closing stages of the Seagulls' fifth straight defeat against Blackpool. He said: "We know it was bad. We don't know what is going on at the moment, whether it is just down to confidence. There are a lot of kids playing now and maybe they are feeling the heat a little bit.

"We've proved we are not a bad team because for four games when Dean took over we were playing opponents off the park.

"I understand the fans are not happy, I wouldn't be if I was a supporter but they have got to stick with us."

Hart began his bid to win back a first team spot in unlikely surroundings at Church Road, Chichester last night.

He played on the right wing in a 1-0 victory for the reserves against Chichester in the second round of the Sussex Senior Cup.

Jake Robinson scored the only goal of the game, a solo effort shortly before the break.

Albion's victory was marred by a late red card for Georges Santos.

The veteran centre half took exception to a tackle by a Chichester player and reacted by pushing him in the face.

Santos will now be suspended from the next three first team matches.

Director of football Martin Hinshelwood looked after a largely inexperienced line-up, as manager Dean Wilkins and his assistant Dean White were on scouting missions at matches yesterday afternoon and last night.

Albion reserves (4-4-2): Sullivan; P. Hinshelwood, Elphick, Santos, Rents; Hart, Fraser, Loft, Robinson; Molango, Gatting.

Subs: Cobbs (for Molango), Winterton, Martin, Gargan, Skinner.

Elsewhere in the Senior Cup, Whitehawk went through 2-1 at home to Ringmer thanks to goals from Gareth Green and Kevin Townsend. Phil Elkins hit a firsthalf equaliser for the visitors.

Simon Clayton and Jimmy Smith were the marksmen as Arundel came from behind to beat local rivals Littlehampton 2-1.

In division one of the County League, Dan Leach scored a hat-trick as Hailsham won 5-0 at Sidley. Simon Stevens and Scott French were also on target.

Danny Gillard was another hattrick hero as Lingfield beat Crawley Down 5-2 in division two. Chris Arrow was the other scorer.

Results, Sussex Senior Cup 2nd rnd: Albion Reserves 1 (Robinson 44) Chichester 0, Arundel 2 (Clayton 17, Smith 75) Littlehampton 1 (Huet 9), Whitehawk 2 (Green 30, Townsend 58) Ringmer 1 (Elkins 40).

County League division one: Sidley United 0 Hailsham Town 5 (Stevens 15, S.French 46, Leach 78, 80, 89).

Division two: Lingfield 4 (Gillard 54, 81, 83, Arrow 65) Crawley Down 2 (T.Saunders 23, 90pen), Wealden 1 (Tate 19pen) East Grinstead Town 1 (Burns 5pen).

TONIGHT'S GAMES John O'Hara League Cup 2nd rnd: Lancing v East Preston (7.30).

County League division one: Eastbourne Town v Hassocks.