Gus Poyet has urged Albion to stay in the breakaway group at the top of the Championship by seeing off arch rivals Crystal Palace at The Amex tonight.

The Seagulls have dropped to fifth after losing at Leicester and drawing with Leeds but have a four-point cushion over Cardiff and the rest of the chasing pack as the table starts to take shape.

Another international break is looming following Saturday’s trip to Ipswich and the manager is keen to keep in touch with the pacesetters.

Poyet said: “We are in a group of teams that it looks like are slowly making a gap. If we can maintain that gap we are going to have an unbelievable season, spectacular.

“I think the aim now is can we keep with those teams and start getting away from the rest?

“So far we have been very good. We can compete, now we need to compete for another 38 games. It’s a long way but it’s there for us. Let’s keep competing and winning games.

“If there is one game you want to win it’s this one. I’ve been at clubs where they don’t care where you finish as long as you win the derby and we need to do it.”

Full story plus three pages of big match preview in The Argus today