GUS Poyet has hailed Albion’s Carling Cup triumph against Sunderland at The Amex as “very special”.

The Seagulls’ manager believes the 1-0 victory after-extra-time is evidence of his team’s continuing improvement after losing 3-0 in the FA Cup at Stoke in their previous collision with a Premier League club.

Poyet said: “It’s very special because last year when we went to Stoke we thought we had everything covered in terms of defending and we didn’t.

“It was a good wake-up call. I am sure the players learnt a lot from it. This time we had the chance to play against a different syle of football and we adapted better without any doubt.”

Craig Mackail-Smith headed the only goal in the first period of extra-time after hitting a post in the second half.

“I think we deserved it, second half especially,” Poyet said. “I think we were very, very good, probably one of our best 45 minutes, especially when you consider the opposition.”

Poyet faces an anxious wait see if he needs to draft in a centre-half ahead of Saturday’s home game against Peterborough after captain Gordon Greer went off at half-time with a calf problem and his replacement Romain Vincelot was taken to hospital with a suspected dislocated elbow. Adam El-Abd and Tommy Elphick have yet to feature this season due to injuries.

Poyet said: “We’ll see. We need to check on Gordon. It’s a problem but probably for one game only.”

andy.naylor@theargus.co.uk