Brighton & Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton emphasised that his side go into every contest with the same attitude ahead of this afternoon’s game against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.
The Seagulls visit the West Midlands with their opponents having not won a game in 20 Premier League matches, but the Albion boss stressed the importance of guarding against complacency.
He said: “We just have to win as many games as possible and pick up as many points as possible in between now and May.
“We go into every game knowing we want to try and get some points because it’s a tight division and a bad run could change everything – that’s why we focus all our efforts on every game.
“This could be the launchpad for a revival for them, and that’s why we have to be very guarded – you look at their side on paper and it's very good and very capable. It will be a difficult game for us.
“I would think no different if they were on a good run because it’s a difficult place to go whatever the circumstances of the division and form.”
As well as being without Izzy Brown for the trip to face Alan Pardew’s side, the Seagulls will also be without Steven Sidwell too, with Hughton revealing that the midfielder faces another spell on the side-lines following his latest set-back with an ankle injury.
“Steve picked it up in training and he’s had a small fracture in the ankle which has been operated on – that will keep him out for a period of time.
“It’s unfortunate because he’s a durable individual who rarely misses training and he’s been fortunate in his career injury-wise up until this point.
“He also has over 200 Premier League games, though, so he can still be a big influence around the place.
“You want the likes of him, Liam Rosenior and Bruno to be good and influential around the building and affect the players around them.”
The situation regarding Connor Goldson was also discussed in the manager’s meeting with the media.
The boss revealed that the defender is an individual who he’d be happy to give game time to elsewhere, given the player’s prolonged absence, as long as the side were able to bring in a new face the other way.
“We would like to get him out on loan and there has always been interest in him – that hasn’t changed.
“Some club situations might have changed but we are very confident that if we were in a position where we wanted it to happen, then it would.
“We are reliant on someone coming in but we want Connor to play regularly, as does he at this stage of his career.”
Supporters can watch Chris Hughton’s full look ahead to this afternoon’s game with West Brom on Seagulls TV – and Albion fans can sign up to the service for free by clicking here.