ALBION boss Chris Hughton has hailed the promotion heartache at Middlesbrough as perfect preparation for the play-offs.

The Seagulls faced a big and fervent crowd in the North-East showdown.

The 1-1 draw was not quite enough to take them up but it stretched their unbeaten run to 14 matches.

Now they have a similar, high-octane test against opponents with a strong home record in the first leg of the play-offs against Sheffield Wednesday this evening.

A season’s best gate of well over 30,000 is expected at Hillsborough as Sheffield try to bridge the 15-point gap between the teams in the final league table.

Hughton believes the Boro blockbuster will help Albion cope.

“I think as much the environment as the actual game itself,” he said. “I think it was great preparation for us. Away from home, a noisy, enthusiastic crowd, that would have taken up 90 per cent of the stadium. They are the things we have to expect and they (Sheffield) have the advantage of playing at home.”

Steve Sidwell is set to replace the suspended Dale Stephens in central midfield as Albion aim to give themselves a good chance of completing the job in Monday’s second leg at the Amex to reach the Wembley final on May 28 against Hull or Derby.

Hughton said: “These are the moments, an injury or a red card, that you want experience around and players who have been there and done it.”