ALBION will draw on 20 years of hurt and resilience to keep the Premier League dream alive, the club’s loyal fans have said.

Seagulls supporters said the club’s never-say-die attitude forged in the club’s battle to survive after the loss of the Goldstone will help lift them for the play-offs after the disappointment of Saturday.

The club will have to reach the Premier League and its potential £290 million riches the hard way after the 1-1 draw to Middlesbrough in the must-win automatic promotion decider.

Promotion to the Premier League would represent a revenue increase of at least £170 million across the next three seasons with extra revenue of £95 million.

There would be guaranteed parachute payments of £75 million should the club make a swift return to the Championship.

Albion will play Sheffield Wednesday, who finished 15 points worse off than Albion in sixth, at Hillsborough on Friday before the return leg at the Amex on Monday, May 16 with a day out at Wembley on May 28 at stake.

Fans said this season remained the club’s best chance and they were confident the club will make it third time lucky after play-off defeats to Crystal Palace in 2013 and Derby County in 2014.

Liz Costa, vice president of the Brighton and Hove Albion supporters’ club, said: “We came home disappointed but we’re ready to go again, we don’t give up.

“After all we’ve been through, 19 years ago we were just celebrating still being in the football league, but now we can go one better.

“The players need to pick themselves up and they will and we can get them going again.”

Albion's army of supporters felt the heartache of Saturday's defeat both at Middlesbrough, where 2,570 were in full voice.

Thousands more were at the Amex watching it on the big screen and in the concourse and many pubs were full as crowds watched it across the city hoping for a party celebration.

Paul Samrah, who founded the Falmer For All campaign, said: “We have got to show resilience and character.

“The fans are hurting, so are the players but the players now have the chance to make it right while all we can do is support them all the way and that is what we will do.

“All players have ambitions to play in the Premier League and at Wembley and now our players have the chance to do both.”

Supporters said they could lift the club even though at present only 2,000 Albion fans have been allocated tickets for the 40,000 capacity Hillsborough stadium.

Ms Costa said: “We will only get the top tier of the Leppings Lane end when we should be getting the top and bottom.

“After only initially getting 2,000 for Middlesbrough as well, it feels like somebody is trying to stop us doing what is our right which is going to support our team.”

LONG AND FRUITLESS TRIP FOR THE FANS

IT PROVED to be a day that would test Albion fans’ mettle and the players will be needing more support than ever as they dust themselves down for another stab at promotion via the play-offs. 

With more than 300 miles separating the American Express Community Stadium and Riverside, many of the travelling Seagulls supporters made their way up north on Friday night for the lunchtime kick-off. 

Those leaving on Saturday were faced with a five-hour journey and a seriously early start. Those on the train might have spotted Albion chairman Tony Bloom in one carriage making its way north.

But by the time they arrived in Middlesbrough, their home city was awash with white and blue. 

The pubs were rammed, trains were crammed and The Amex well populated with the club putting on a special screening of the crunch Championship game at the stadium. 

More than 5,000 fans took up the offer and the 12.30pm kick-off meant an early start too for the pubs.

Fans were in full voice and well oiled before the clock had ticked over into the afternoon at The Hikers Rest in Coldean Lane, Brighton. 

Supporters sang away the pre-match nerves with a pint in hand but that was as good as it would get for them both in the city and in the North East. 

Seagulls supporters said once again they were subjected to homophobic taunts from Boro fans.

This was days after club chief executive Paul Barber confirmed they would be writing to all Premier League clubs warning them about homophobic abuse if they reached the top flight for the first time in 33 years.

The turning point of the game, and the talking point after, was the controversial red card handed to Dale Stephens just before the hour mark.

The Albion players got a standing ovation from fans at The Amex but the overriding emotion was frustration towards Mike Dean’s decision to send Dale Stephens off which left many flummoxed, including Tom Harris, 22, who had travelled from Eastbourne to watch the game in the stadium. 

He said: “I’m gutted. We lost because of the referee. The red card cost us our key player.”

Graham Finley, from Hove, said: “I personally think Derby are going to be the team that goes up. I’m 64 years of age, a lifelong supporter. I thought it [the red card] was a bit harsh. The game was all about the referee.”

David Winter, 54 and Bruno Rigolli, 69, of Seaford, were positive.

David said: “We let in a silly goal but with 10 we played extremely well”

Albion fans looked on enviously at the final whistle as Boro fans flooded on to the pitch to take part in jubilant celebrations with their players.