Steve Sidwell has urged Albion to capitalise on their head-start against his old club Fulham in the automatic promotion race.

The Seagulls were playing catch-up on top two Burnley and Middlesbrough at Nottingham Forest on Monday night, playing 48 hours after them as Sidwell snatched a vital 2-1 victory in stoppage time.

Roles are reversed when Albion face Fulham at the Amex on Friday evening knowing a win will take them back into the top two, with Burnley at Birmingham and Boro at relegated Bolton the following day.

Sidwell told The Argus: “It’s our turn now. We’ve got to do it. It doesn’t matter what anyone says, pressure does play its part.

“You forget about it when you are on the pitch but before the game they will be in there, psyching each other up. We need to win, to keep in with the pack.”

Fulham, who Sidwell played for in the Premier League, have pulled clear of the relegation dogfight and have the Championship’s second top scorer, 21-goal Ross McCormack.

“It’s not just him,” Sidwell warned. “The front two, him and (Moussa) Dembele, have been very good. That’s been the story of their season, they’ve scored goals at will but leaked them as well.

“We’ve got to be on our toes up and down the pitch. They are on a good run of form, got dragged into the relegation battle but have come out with two or three wins.

“That’s vital for them. It won’t be a pushover at all. Being at home gives us a slight advantage but they are going to want to finish their season on a high as well.”