Yeovil Town defender Craig Alcock insists he won't be worrying about former manager Russell Slade today – he'll just be trying to impress his own boss Terry Skiverton.

All eyes will be on Slade at Brighton as the new Seagulls chief takes on the club that sacked him less than a month ago.

Alcock may only be 21 but he knows no one can afford to take an eye off the ball in a relegation six-pointer at the Withdean Stadium.

In the youth team graduate's case he has to concentrate on holding down the right back berth – a similar scenario for most of his team-mates in their respective positions.

"Russell Slade gave me the opportunity to play and I thank him for that but I have got a new gaffer now and I am trying to impress him," admitted Alcock.

"We are going down there to do a job. Hopefully we will get the win and then we can talk after.

"This is the first change of manager I have ever had but both of them are their own people with their own ideas.

"The new gaffer has brought some interesting ideas and it has been refreshing.

"We have got a new gaffer and we have got to do the best for him. He is putting us out there on the pitch so we have got to believe in what he is saying and trust ourselves."

Yeovil have spent the last few days recovering from Tuesday's 4-0 defeat at Leeds United.

"It was a difficult night." said the Cornwall-born defender. "It was a big club, a big crowd and a big opportunity for the lads but unfortunately it didn't work out like that.

"It was another learning experience and it is great to play in front of a crowd like that."

However, today's meeting with Brighton is even more important.

"It is a massive game. As long as we get results against the teams around us they are not going to close any gaps on us," said Alcock.

"At the end of the day it is in our hands and it is down to us. We can't kid ourselves but we have been unlucky in certain games. Yet it is down to us to beat what is in front of us.

"We have had a reasonably good record there in recent years and hopefully that will come to fruition again."

Alcock admits he tries to avoid looking at the League One table. "I try not to look at it but you can't deny that it is getting very tight," he said.

The table also reveals that Yeovil brought up an unwanted half-century on Tuesday as their goals against total went up to 52.

"It is a well known fact that it is a bit of a problem, especially with us not scoring on a regular basis, but we are a team and have to do everything as a team," said Alcock.

Meanwhile, the defender is still waiting for progress on a new contract. Slade had recommended the youngster be rewarded with a new deal. However, nothing has been forthcoming so far.

Yeovil Town (from): Wagenaar, Alcock, Peltier, Forbes, Skiverton, Smith, Jones, Schofield, Worthington, Roberts, Welsh, Tomlin, Warne, Rodgers, Murtagh, Downes, Street.