Albion boss Gus Poyet has urged his midfielders to carry on scoring after ending their goal drought.

Dean Hammond and Andrea Orlandi were both on target in the first half of last night’s 2-0 victory against Bristol City at The Amex.

Hammond’s header and Orlandi’s free-kick were the first goals from midfielders for the Seagulls this season.

Poyet told The Argus: “It’s key nowadays, because when you rely only on your strikers, not only do you put pressure on them but as soon as you get one or two of them injured it looks like that’s it.

“I was saying before the game Bruno, Gordon Greer and Adam El-Abd had all scored one, Wayne Bridge a couple, so we were looking maybe for Marcos Painter or Lewis Dunk to stand up but it’s not up to the defenders. It’s up to the attacking midfielders and the strikers.

“Andrea had ten better chances in other games but sometimes when you don’t expect the ball to go in it goes in. Maybe now he is going to score a few more.

“We ask Dean to get in there as well with Liam Bridcutt in the side.

“It’s important that the mid- fielders give us an extra bit.”

Poyet left top scorer Craig Mackail-Smith and fellow striker Ashley Barnes out of the starting line-up together for the first time and brought in Will Hoskins and Stephen Dobbie.

He said: “I thought it was time. I’ve got two very good players who have been desperate to start. I think they had a good game, nothing spectacular.

“Hosko went very close and Dobbs had a half chance. They are there, part of the group.

“Now the other two know they need to work hard to get back, which is great for me and the team.”