Albion's failure to score for the first time this season at Wolves emphasised the one factor evidently occupying the hierarchy if a challenge for automatic promotion is to be maintained.

Has Chris Hughton got enough goals in his squad?

The Seagulls attempted to add another firepower option to their armoury at the end of the transfer window via their interest in Argentinian Jonathan Calleri and English-based Czech Matej Vydra.

Glancing at the current Championship table, with Albion sitting proudly on top, there appears no reason for concern.

Closer inspection reveals the goal tally could be a worry, recent history contrastingly suggests it need not be.

Albion have found the net 11 times so far in their eight-match undefeated run.

It should have been more. Hughton highlighted the need to be more clinical following last week's 2-1 home win against Rotherham. Tomer Hemed missed a penalty at Molineux, where Albion failed to break down ten men.

It is a healthy enough haul, although they are being outscored by second-placed Middlesbrough and four others.

They are also being matched by Fulham and Brentford, both languishing in the bottom half of the table.

As has always been the case in the Amex era, a sound defence is serving Albion well. The five goals conceded is the joint-lowest with Boro.

The eighth match last season was also a 0-0. Interestingly, at that stage under Sami Hyypia, although 12 points fewer had been gathered, the Seagulls had only scored two goals fewer.

Encouragingly for Hughton, five different players have found the net in the Championship.

Hemed has raced to five, Kazenga LuaLua three. Sam Baldock is off the mark and Hughton will be particularly pleased his central midfielders, Dale Stephens and Beram Kayal, have contributed as well.

Ironically, considering Lewis Dunk finished overall top scorer last season, Albion are waiting for their first goal from a defender.

Does it really matter? Is success in the Championship determined by the number of goals you score? Apparently not.

In 2012-13, when Albion reached the play-offs under Gus Poyet, they accumulated 69 goals.

Every other team in the top six scored more, with one notable exception. Hull hit only 61, yet still went up automatically as runners-up.

The case against goals governing where you finish was strengthened further by the manner in which Oscar Garcia's Albion sneaked into the play-offs the following season.

A modest tally of 55 was better only than six of the bottom seven. The key was having the second-best defence, with just 40 goals conceded.

So it is possible to thrive if, like Hull, Oscar's Albion and Hughton's Seagulls to date this season, you keep the back door locked and keep on coming out on the right side of the tight games that clutter the Championship.

It is just a lot tougher on the nerves.