SAMI Hyypia admits Albion have become the nearly team of the Championship after another draw.

The 3-3 stalemate at Norwich, the eighth for the Seagulls in the last 11 League outings, has left Hyypia’s side hovering above the Championship relegation zone on goal difference.

The Finn says his players must stop switching off for periods in games to haul themselves clear of trouble.

Hyypia, asked if Albion are the nearly team of the division, conceded: “I wouldn’t want that situation but that’s what it looks like a little bit.

“We are conceding with little lapses of concentration. Maybe that’s one thing we need to learn or do better, to keep the concentration for 90 minutes.

“I’ve never seen a game that lasts only 60 minutes. It is very important we keep the concentration for 90. For the manager to teach that is not very easy.”

Albion scored three times in a Championship fixture for the first time under Hyypia, through the fit-again Bruno, the outstanding Kazenga LuaLua and the recalled Adrian Colunga (penalty).

They have also now leaked three goals in each of the last two away matches.

Hyypia said: “My Norwich colleague (Neil Adams) will think they should have won but all their goals could have been avoided very easily. We had a bit of a lapse of concentration in possession in our build-up play.

“Then, when you are defending and not doing the right things defensively - not 100 per cent concentrated or not putting 100 per cent pressure on the ball - you invite problems. That cost us a lot.”