Adam Virgo has shouldered the blame for Albion's worst result for 36 years.

The skipper insists the players are responsible, not manager Russell Slade, for the 7-1 thrashing at Huddersfield.

It was the club’s heaviest defeat since Brian Clough’s side were battered 8-2 by Bristol Rovers at the Goldstone in December 1973.

Virgo said: “Every time a team loses, the manager in this modern day gets the blame.

“I, as the captain, now accept full responsibility for the players that go on the pitch.

“Yes, the gaffer selects them and he sets the formation but for the first 20 minutes we were playing to the way he wanted us to play.

“Because a couple of goals went in we lost our shape completely. I take responsibility for that.

“He has been in the game for a long time and for him to say that is the worst performance and the most humiliating night of his career hurts us a lot, to see that somebody was that down.

“It’s our fault because we put that performance in. It was virtually the same team that played against Brentford so it’s nothing to do with the selection or the way he wants us to play. We as individuals just weren’t good enough.”

Virgo and his colleagues are desperate to make amends against fellow strugglers Stockport at Withdean.

He said: “I will always back the manager 100%. We saw the change he made towards the end of last season and it is going to take a bit of time this season.

“Now we need to show enthusiasm to win the ball back, to defend our goal and to get forward.

“We want to show people the Huddersfield result affected us a lot and we want to put it right as soon as possible.

“Everybody’s pride has been hurt. What can you do about it? I could go home and kick the dog or train harder.

“I can do a helluva lot more as captain and we can as a team. We are now playing a team in a similar situation to us that hasn’t had a good start.

“If we get three points then who knows? It could just be the little kick-start we need.”