Albion manager Martin Hinshelwood has appealed to the army of away fans to "really stay with us".

The Seagulls travel to Watford on Saturday in search of their first League win since the opening day victory at Burnley.

More than 1,000 supporters have already pre-booked tickets and many more are expected to pay on the day at Vicarage Road.

That is despite a run of nine straight defeats which has plunged Albion to the bottom of the table and jeopardised Hinshelwood's job.

"The support in numbers and noise is first class and has been for the last few years," Hinshelwood said. "We hope a few will travel to Watford and get right behind us.

"We know where we are failing with individual mistakes. I know it is difficult for them, but we need the supporters to really stay with us because everyone who goes out there doesn't try to play badly or not try for the club.

"We have waited for a long time to get into the First Division and so have these players. They want to stay in it."

Albion's title double in the last two seasons was based on their tremendous record at Withdean, but the away form has been marginally better so far this term.

They have only lost by more than one goal once, at pacesetting Portsmouth, compared to a hat-trick of defeats by two clear goals at their formerly formidable temporary home.

"That will possibly help," Hinshelwood said.

"We have got our only win so far away. At home nobody has murdered us, but we are just shooting ourselves in the foot by giving away early and sloppy goals."

Hinshelwood has tinkered with the training routine this week in an effort to iron out the faults, with the defenders, midfielders and attackers split into three groups.

Follow the Seagulls' crunch game at Watford this Saturday at thisisthealbion.co.uk