Albion can draw on inspiration from Hillsborough as they aim for a first ever Villa Park win and the title which would follow.

Top spot in the Championship would be secured with three points against Villa on Sunday.

They have never won at Villa but the Seagulls have become hoodoo-busters this term en route to the Premier League.

None of those jinx-breaking wins were sweeter than a 2-1 success in the Steel City on October 1.

Albion had never won at Sheffield Wednesday until this season but they had scored an historic victory over the Owls on neutral territory in London. The latter came at Highbury in the 1983 FA Cup semi-final.

Now comes Villa Park – and the same scenario. Albion have visited Aston ten times, drawing twice and losing on eight occasions.

But they have a famous win over Villa in the capital to their name, beating them 1-0 at Stamford Bridge to take the Charity Shield in 1910 thanks to a goal from Irish inside-forward Charlie Webb.

The last five meetings at Villa Park have all ended in home wins, most recently in the 2009-10 season when third-tier Albion went down 3-2 in the FA Cup.

The Argus:

Tommy Elphick shoots past Steve Sidwell to score for Albion at Villa seven years ago

That losing sequence began with the Seagulls’ first ever away match in the top flight, in August 1979, when they lost 2-1.

Alan Mullery’s men could have won that game. They played well and Brian Horton was inches from putting them into a 2-1 lead when his header right in front of the Holte End hit the bar.

Almost immediately, Tony Morley blasted Villa’s winner from a free-kick.

There was a 0-0 draw in the third division in 1970-71 when Brian Powney played well in goal and Pat Saward’s team impressed locals with some enterprising counter attacks.

Two seasons later, Peter O’Sullivan gave Albion the lead straight after half-time and debutant Barry Bridges almost made it two.

But Villa fought back to claim a 1-1 draw and Albion were eventually relegated from the second tier.

So another Hillsborough is the order of the day. And not another Deepdale, where Albion have still not won.

But there are other precedents.

Chris Hughton’s side have ended notable droughts at Barnsley, QPR and Wolves in the last 11 weeks.

Wins at Oakwell and Molineux were the first since 1991 and they went 60 years without success at Loftus Road.

Three less momentous landmarks also merit mention, if only for the record, Albion picked up their first win at the New York Stadium in Rotherham this term at the third attempt.

They also managed a maiden league win at Burton and first competitive success at the Kassam Stadium, Oxford, both at the first attempt.