Andrew Whing insists he will not be distracted by the glamour clash with Manchester City as Albion search for their first home league win of the season.

The Seagulls host Walsall on Saturday, looking to bounce back from the 4-1 defeat by Scunthorpe on their latest Withdean outing in League One and draws before that against Leyton Orient and Bristol Rovers.

Man City visit in the second round of the Carling Cup four days later but Whing is adamant Robinho and co will not be on his mind against Walsall.

The right-back said: “I am not even thinking about the Man City game at all. The league games are the most important ones for us, our bread and butter.

“We are desperate to win at home against Walsall, rather than think about Man City until it comes around.

“It’s going to be tough, as it was last season when we battered them but only drew 1-1 in the end.

“The gaffer is pulling his hair out about our home form. I think it is about belief and confidence and it is a massive game for us against Walsall. We need the points in front of our own fans.”

Whing was part of a defence which rediscovered their mean streak in last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Yeovil.

It took a late, deflected strike by Paul Way to deny the Seagulls a fifth clean sheet in eight matches after Joe Anyinsah had been controversially sent-off on his debut on loan from Preston and Nicky Forster had given them the lead from the spot.

Whing said: “Everyone was hurt by the Scunthorpe result. The goals we conceded were a shambles.

“We were a different team to the one that turned up then, the way we defended.

“We dug in and got a creditable draw. I think with 11 v 11 we would have won hands down, especially the way we were playing in the second half.

“We take a lot of credit, especially after last week. It was a good point for us.”

Anyinsah’s red card did not only cost the on-loan Preston winger a one-game ban, it also cost Whing his second yellow card of the campaign.

He was so incensed with Nathan Jones for the former Seagulls’ part in Anyinsah’s dismissal that he talked his way into a caution from referee Paul Taylor.

“That is why I got a booking, for what I said to the referee,” Whing explained.

“It ruined the game for us. We were thinking we were on for three points. Going down to ten men made it extremely difficult for us, even though we went 1-0 up, but the whole team defended superbly.”

Irish centre-half Colin Hawkins, doubtful before the match with hernia and foot injuries, stood out again with Tommy Elphick after their off-day against Scunthorpe.

Whing is full of admiration for Hawkins but believes Albion can cope without his former Coventry team-mate if he misses out against Walsall following hernia surgery in Munich on Tuesday. “Colin and Tommy have had a great relationship,” Whing said. “He’s been playing with a groin injury and I was in the treatment room on Friday and goodness knows what has happened to his foot.

“Credit to him. He came out and gave it his all when he is not 100 per cent fit.

“The whole team defended brilliantly but it all comes from those two winning their headers in the middle.

“Considering the injuries he's got, Colin has been fantastic for us. From what I've heard this operation he had is short and sharp. It might be a bit tight for Saturday but he should be back for the Man City game.

“It is going to be a blow if he is out on Saturday but Joel (Lynch) was fantastic at Northampton. We’ve got good players to come in, which is something we were probably lacking last season.

“Tom Fraser and Gary Hart came on at Yeovil and put in a great shift for us as well. The competition for places is brilliant.”