During Albion's four year spell in the First Division from 1979 to 1983 there were only six teams they failed to beat.

Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal were all humbled by the Albion at one stage or another, along with many of the other leading sides such as Everton and Tottenham.

Albion failed to beat Bristol City, Watford and Luton but the Seagulls only shared the top flight with them for one season apiece.

Notts County could not be beaten over two campaigns.

That leaves two sides who were a complete thorn in Albion's side for four seasons - West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City.

Albion's eight clashes with Stoke in the top flight of English football over those four years produced three wins for Stoke and five draws.

To be honest, most of them were pretty drab affairs. The sequence included four goalless draws, a total of nine goals and only two of those for Albion.

Links between the clubs over the years do not amount to many.

In 1982 Mickey Thomas left the South Coast for Stoke and most Albion fans were glad to see the back of him.

A player of undoubted talent, the Welsh international's spell at Brighton was inglorious. He made just 23 appearances, scoring once before going AWOL on four occasions as the 1981-82 season neared its end.

Joe Corrigan, the great Manchester City goalkeeper, joined Stoke on loan from Albion after losing his place to Graham Moseley. Unfortunately, Corrigan picked up an injury at Stoke which ultimately ended his career.

Midfielder John Ruggerio joined Albion from Stoke in 1977 but he was a peripheral figure in the Seagulls' rise to the First Division.

In recent times, current Albion midfielder Steve Melton had a short spell at Stoke before moving south.