DAVID STOCKDALE feared his latest stunning save to earn Albion a result was in vain.

The keeper got his fingertips to a shot from Calum Woods which crashed against the crossbar in the 0-0 draw at Preston.

Stockdale told The Argus: “He hit it that fast it was the quickest reaction I’ve ever done. I got a touch but I heard the bar go and I instantly thought it had gone in.

“Our fans were groaning a bit and as I turned around Connor (Goldson) was kicking the ball, I thought with anger, I thought it had come back out.

“Then everyone patted me on the back afterwards. Everyone said great save.”

Stockdale made a similar stop on to the crossbar in the draw at Hull last month and another key save before that in the home win over Bolton.

His latest heroics early in the second half completed a hat-trick of clean sheets and promotion-chasing Albion have now lost only once in nine games.

“It’s a point gained for me, definitely,” he said. “They are not easy places to come to. Cold Saturdays and sometimes people don’t turn up.

“I felt we turned up, just not enough to break them down. They did their job. Everyone is trying for something in this league.”

Albion, after four home wins in a row, now have back-to-back games at the Amex against Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow night and Reading a week later.

Stockdale said: “We’ve got a great away record as well but at home we have to keep going. If we carry on what we’re doing we will be right in there.”

The Seagulls remain fourth in the table.