Albion have received support for their promotion credentials – from a prolific rival.

Burnley marksman Andre Gray expects Chris Hughton’s unbeaten Seagulls to stay in contention at the top end of the Championship following Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Turf Moor.

The £9 million striker is impressed by the progress Albion have made under Hughton during his 11-month reign.

Gray squandered a hatful of chances for Brentford when Albion, in danger of relegation, beat them at home in the FA Cup in January in Hughton’s first match in charge.

Gray told The Argus: “I remember that game. I should have got a hat-trick and we ended up losing.

“They have come a long way since then. There was obviously good recruitment in pre-season and it really started from there.

“They’ve got a great team together now. You can see how solid they are and why they are up there.

“It’s a lot about togetherness. We’ve got that and a few of the teams at the top have as well, that’s the main thing.

“If you’ve got that togetherness then the consistency will come and they’ve got that.”

Gray, whose early penalty in Sunday’s stalemate took his tally for the season to 11 goals, enjoyed his tussle with culprit Lewis Dunk and fit-again captain Gordon Greer.

“The defenders were up for it with me,” he said. “I relished the battle and they did too. I think it was even.

“I don’t think you go 17 games unbeaten and not be up there. After five or six games you might say it’s luck but when you get over ten, 12 or 13 games it’s obviously not luck, there’s a reason for it.”