Bruno has hailed Albion’s efforts in taking the play-off race the full distance.

And he has highlighted the mature efforts of their young stars in keeping them in the hunt.

The Seagulls, who visit Nottingham Forest on Saturday, need to pick up more points than sixth-placed Reading on the final day of the season to leapfrog them in the Championship table.

That would almost certainly secure a play-off berth, although there is an unlikely scenario whereby Blackburn could nick sixth place.

Bruno, scorer of a potentially vital equaliser in Albion’s last away game at Huddersfield, said: “We deserve a lot of credit to be where we are.

“We had important players ruled out, we have used young players who have had great responsibility playing in parts of the pitch where matches are decided.

“They have had responsibility which, at their age, they shouldn’t have. Caskey (Jake Forster-Caskey), Jesse (Lingard), Solly (March).

“We have exceeded expectations. We are giving it 100%. We have never let that level slip. In this division it is very hard to remain consistent.

“But we have always given it everything. We have always been in the upper part of the table and that is very difficult to do.”

Forest defender Greg Halford has until 6pm today to respond to an FA charge of misconduct after an incident in last Saturday 4-1 defeat at Bournemouth, in which he scored.