Dale Stephens believes Albion have the ingredients to sustain a promotion challenge in the Championship – despite frittering away six points.

The Seagulls go into the international break still on top of the table and unbeaten after Cardiff held them to a third draw in succession.

Stephens equalised with his third goal in four games but a dominant Albion could not fashion a winner as their 100% start at the Amex came to a frustrating end.

The in-form midfielder has been left wondering what might have been following previous draws at Wolves and Bolton but remains optimistic about Albion’s prospects when they resume at Leeds on October 17.

Stephens told The Argus: “We’ve drawn the last three games. If you look at that collectively we’re probably three wins short.

“We feel disappointed but we have made a good start and hopefully it will even itself out over the course of the season.

“It’s good to score but it’s better to win. I would have traded a couple of my goals for more points, definitely, but we go into the break still full of confidence to achieve what we want to achieve.

“We’ve got bundles of quality in the dressing room, matched with great staff as well, so if you look at it all we think we have got the ingredients. But things can happen in football that can’t be helped.”

Stephens absolved Gordon Greer from blame for a late miss from a yard from his cross when the skipper was unsighted.

He said: “He’s disappointed but it should never have come to that in the first place.

“We created numerous opportunities to put the game to bed. Unfortunately you don’t always get what you deserve.”