Albion can set a new club record by avoiding defeat at home to MK Dons tomorrow.

They have already posted their longest unbeaten start to a season.

But, as they look to make it 16 undefeated this season – and 17 in all – tomorrow, the warning signs will be there as to what can happen when the first setback arrives.

Albion’s unbeaten start is the best the Championship has seen since the season before they joined the division.

Back in 2010-11, QPR went 19 without defeat before goals from Danny Graham (two) and Jordan Mutch sent Watford to a 3-1 success at Loftus Road in December 10.

The second tier had not seen anything like that since 2004-05 when Wigan were undefeated in their opening 17 fixtures.

But, after suffering their first defeat, both Hoops and Latics went on to lose the next game as well before getting back on track.

The record Albion could set tomorrow is for an unbeaten record at any stage of a season or, in this case, spanning two seasons.

But, apart from that QPR side of 2010-11, their undefeated start puts anything in this division in the past decade firmly in the shade.

The Argus:

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of Albion’s 16 without defeat is that there has never really been a time when it seemed they would lose.

They have only trailed twice – and never in the final 35 minutes – and have closed games out efficiently.

Perhaps the closest to defeat was last time out at the Amex, when they were reduced to ten men against Preston.

Other clubs have ridden their luck at times.

Back in 2010, QPR scored twice in added time to draw 2-2 at Derby in game No.4 and needed a contentious last-gasp penalty to force a 1-1 scoreline at Portsmouth in game 16.

At a time when Seagulls fans are perhaps concerned about too many draws, our figures show Rangers had the balance firmly in their favour with 11 wins and eight draws before they lost to Watford, then 2-0 at Leeds.

They went on to win the title.

By contrast, two sides went unbeaten for 11 games at the start of last season but a plethora of draws cost them. Nottingham Forest won five and drew six while Bob Peeters’ Charlton had just four wins. Forest drew the last FOUR games of their 11-match run, including a 0-0 at home to Sami Hyypia’s Albion, pictured above.

QPR also started with 11 undefeated in 2013-14, pictured below, on their way to winning promotion via the play-offs.

The Argus:

Their balance was eight wins and three defeats but they were a match behind their rivals so never actually hit top spot.

Albion’s 0-0 draw at Sheffield Wednesday in midweek was notable for the statisticians. It took them to 15 games unbeaten this season, which beats the best undefeated record at any time in the Championship in 2014-15 (14 by Bournemouth).

Leicester avoided defeat for 21 matches in 2013-14 on their way to the title, a run which started after their 3-1 setback at the Amex and was ended when Albion won 4-1 at the Walker’s Stadium.

There is something slightly untidy about the fact that, if Albion get a point or three tomorrow, they will set a record which spans two seasons.

But that odd game which makes the difference – the 0-0 draw at Middlesbrough at the end of last term – includes a tale which may be an urban myth but which will add to the story which is told in years to come.

The theory among some fans and members of the media on Teesside is that, as scores came in from elsewhere that day, Boro decided they did not want to win.

They were, the story goes, quite happy to shut up shop in the last few minutes and settle for the 0-0 draw because Aitor Karanka wanted to play Brentford in the play-offs.

Fact or fiction? We will probably never know, although the way Boro summarily dismissed the Bees 5-1 on aggregate did nothing to silence the conspiracy theorists.

A similar result tomorrow would make history but not satisfy Chris Hughton’s men.

They need a win. And, when that defeat finally arrives, they will have to be ready to respond.

CHAMPIONSHIP: BEST UNBEATEN STARTS (Won-drawn-lost, final position)

2014-15: Nottingham Forest 11 (5-6-0, 14th); Charlton 11 (4-7-0, 12th).

2013-14: QPR 11 (8-3-0, 4th*).

2012-13: Nottingham Forest 6 (2-4-0, 8th).

2011-12: Middlesbrough 11 (5-6-0, 7th).

2010-11: QPR 19 (11-8-0, 1st).

2009-10: West Brom 8 (6-2-0, 2nd).

2008-09: Wolves 9 (7-1-0, 1st).

2007-08: Bristol City 8 (3-5-0, 4th).

2006-07: Cardiff 5 (4-1-0, 13th); Southampton 5 (1-4-0, 6th).

2005-06: Derby 5 (2-3-0, 20th).

2004-04: Wigan 17 (11-6-0, 2nd).

*- promoted via play-offs