Albion 1, Huddersfield 1

Albion probably do not need to win another game to stay up.

That is just as well after blowing their best chance to take three more points.

This was the stand-out opportunity in their remaining matches, especially after going ahead.

Huddersfield, struggling for form and goals, have been hopeless at playing catch-up in the Premier League.

They had lost 16 times out of 17 after conceding the opening goal but Albion gifted them only their second point from a losing position.

The Seagulls are crawling towards safety the only way they know how - the hard way.

One point from successive home games against Leicester and Huddersfield was not the return Chris Hughton (below) hoped for to compensate for such a challenging run-in.

The Argus: Hughton summed it up. He said: "We played well last week, didn't win, didn't play as well this week but had better chances to win it."

Huddersfield, spurred on by former Albion transfer targets Alex Pritchard and Aaron Mooy, deserved their point on the balance of play.

Based on chances, Albion should have won with something to spare.

Against Leicester, Glenn Murray missed a sitter and had a penalty saved.

This time two sitters were squandered, together with two other golden opportunities to improve on a wretched scoring record from set pieces.

Add to that a gift-wrapped equaliser and a below-par performance should nevertheless have produced a victory to ease the palpable anxiety which engulfed the Amex.

Hughton said: "Everybody knows how important a win is and the points it puts us on. Some think it would be close to giving us enough.

"All of that's normal. Whether some of that seeps through to the players I don't know, but it certainly wasn't one of our better performances."

Two of the most dependable players in the spine of the side over the course of the campaign typified the general malaise.

Huddersfield's high press and high defensive line backfired inside the opening minute but Davy Propper fired wide when clean through.

The Dutch midfielder has yet to transfer his scoring touch with former club PSV Eindhoven and at international level, although in fairness he generally occupies a deeper role.

His effective partnership with Dale Stephens, reunited by the latter's return from hamstring trouble, could be instantly broken up again for half of the six fixtures remaining after Propper was sent-off 15 minutes from time for a tackle on Jonathan Hogg.

Referee Anthony Taylor dismissed the already-booked Victor Moses for a blatant dive in last season's FA Cup final.

Propper's punishment was more contentious. It was a strong challenge but not a high one, worthy of a yellow or perhaps an appropriate orange if such a punishment existed.

There is sufficient doubt for Albion to surely mount a nothing-to-lose appeal, because it would not fall into the frivolous category which risks an even stiffer sentence.

Hughton said: "I don't think the referee is in a good enough position to assess it properly, so taking that into consideration I think it's harsh. If you give red cards for that you will see a whole heap more week in, week out."

The Argus: Propper's misery was matched by Shane Duffy after Jonas Lossl allowed a low drive from the recalled Solly March (above) to creep in via a diving deflection onto the post and then rebound off the poorly positioned keeper.

Duffy did not look with a backpass which Steve Mounie intercepted to round Mathew Ryan and convert his third goal of the season against Albion.

The normally reliable Irish central defender, fortunate not to receive a second caution from Taylor for a foul on Rajiv van La Parra, capped an uncharacteristic display with a header off target from a corner which ought to have been buried once Propper had been dismissed.

Duffy's accomplice Lewis Dunk headed across the face of goal, instead of into it, from three yards from another corner.

Then, again with ten men, Jose Izquierdo's dallying and poor touch when substitute Leo Ulloa sent him clear enabled Lossl to smother the Colombian (below).

The Argus: Hughton said: "They are the moments. Down to ten men, Jose scores that goal, we come away with a huge sigh of relief. I would say it was a game we deserved to win, simply because of chances, maybe not on the balance of play but on chances."

Huddersfield have a hard finish as well and are still three points behind Albion with a worse goal difference. Guaranteed survival remains tantalisingly close and Selhurst Park would be a satisfying stage on which to extinguish any lingering doubts.