Nathan Jones has challenged Albion to avoid a Christmas slip-up at struggling Charlton.

The in-form Seagulls attempt to stretch their unbeaten away run in the Championship to six matches in the Boxing Day clash at The Valley (12.30).

Assistant head coach Jones told The Argus: “We have to continue that. It’s a little purple patch we are in at the moment but purple patches can easily turn into black ones and you can lose points.

“We are determined not to let that happen. We are on a decent run, one defeat in ten, which is good. It’s where we want to be but we need to continue that.”

The teams around eighth-placed Albion have tougher-looking fixtures, so a third win out of four could lift Oscar Garcia’s side into a play-off place.

Reading are at Leicester (3pm), Leeds are at Blackpool for a tea-time kick-off and Nottingham Forest host QPR in the evening.

But Jones is taking nothing for granted against a Charlton side just two points and a place above the relegation zone and without win in five matches.

He said: “There’s a minimum 25 games left and we have to make sure that we are right at it every game, otherwise sides will take advantage. The Championship is a cruel league in that way. You can get punished and we just need to make sure we are focused.”