Albion boss Sami Hyypia admits it is hard to take any positives out of the 3-0 surrender at table-topping Derby County.

The Seagulls succumbed to three goals in the opening 20 minutes at the iPro Stadium yesterday and remain in the relegation zone after taking two points from the last 12 available.

Hyypia, speaking in his post-match press conference, told The Argus: "When you lose a game of course there are some positives as well but at the moment I am so down I am not thinking about what was positive.

"If it is positive that you run a lot in a game then I think many of our players got high mileage but for me football is about other things as well.

"I don't know if we showed too much respect at the beginning. We couldn't play our game on the ball at all and we were getting a little bit too deep in the areas of our defending.

"It gave Derby a chance to take advantage of that and they took it very well.

"They are a very good side, very good players in every position. I think their cleverness and movement made it very difficult for us, especially in the midfield, to defend.

"But of course, when you are 2-0 or 3-0 up and the other team are desperate to do something and press high, then sometimes it makes things easier. They had the courage to play through our pressing many times and then it looks very good."