Gus Poyet has kept faith – as far as possible – with the Albion side which lost at Southampton.

The Seagulls boss has made just two changes, both enforced, to his starting line-up for the home game with Coventry City today.

Casper Ankergren returns in goal after Steve Harper returned to Newcastle at the end of his month-long loan.

Inigo Calderon is back at right-back in place of Mauricio Taricco, who starts a two-game ban after his dismissal at St Mary's.

Coventry have thrown highly-rated Aston Villa attacking midfielder Gary Gardner, signed on loan in midweek, straight in for his debut.

The England under-21 international scored a hat-trick for Aston Villa against Ajax in the youth equivalent of the Champions League on Tuesday.

They also recall Carl Baker, the last player to score a hat-trick for an away team at Brighton when he hit a treble for Stockport in August, 2009.

Both teams come into the game in need of a win but convinced their performances in recent weeks have merited better results.

Coventry have not won away since last season while Albion are seeking only a second success in 12 outings.

Albion: Ankergren; Calderon, Greer, Dunk, Painter; Bridcutt, Navarro, Harley; Noone, Barnes, Mackail-Smith: Subs: Brezovan, Vincelot, Hoskins, Barnes, LuaLua.

Coventry: Murphy; Christie, Keogh, Crainie, Hussey; Clingan, Thomas, Gardner, Baker; Jutkiewicz, Platt. Subs: Dunn, Bigirimana, McDonald, McSheffrey, Wood.

Ref: Gavin Ward (Surrey).