Adam El-Abd has put Albion’s mean-minded defence on Ollie alert on derby day.

The Seagulls have let in only 16 goals in 19 games but the best record in the Championship will be under threat from Ian Holloway’s Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Albion’s arch rivals have scored 11 in five matches since Holloway took charge, including eight in two at home.

El-Abd, back in contention after hamstring trouble, was part of the Albion defence besieged by Holloway’s Blackpool in a recent 1-1 draw.

The centre half said: “Ian Holloway sets his team up to play attacking football.

“I think he has done that where ever he has been. Blackpool, especially at their place, throw the kitchen sink at you and go hell for leather to get goals.

“I am sure it won’t be much different at Selhurst, so it’s something we have got to brace ourselves for and hopefully we can impose our game and make life difficult for them also.”

A second win in 29 years at Palace could lift Albion back into the play-off zone after spending the last six weeks outside the top six.

El-Abd said: “We had a spell where we won five in a row, which propelled us to the top of the league, then you can easily have a bad run.

“We have got to remain consistent and solid in our shape and then we are more than capable of putting a run together like we are at the moment.

“We are in the middle of a half-decent run which, if we win, becomes a very good run and we’ll end up in the mix again.”