Chris Hughton will demand an Albion improvement at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

But he hopes defeat at Preston serves as a timely reminder that they are still a long way from their ultimate goal of promotion.

The Seagulls are six points ahead of third-placed Leeds with a game in hand but still have to visit Elland Road.

Wednesday will head to the Amex on Friday buoyed by their 2-0 home win over Huddersfield, in which the introduction of new signing Sam Winnall gave them a noticeable second-half lift.

Albion boss Hughton said: “We hope this defeat in the long run won’t do us any harm. It will bring us back to basics.

“For anybody who was getting carried away, it will bring us back to earth.

“We need to be better in the next game.

“We have got very tough opposition, albeit at home.”