GUS Poyet reckons Albion are the nearly men of the Championship after continuing their struggle for results against the teams in the automatic promotion and play-off places.

Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough means the Seagulls have taken only five points out of 18 against the sides above them. It was also the fourth time they have failed to score.

Poyet told The Argus: “The game showed we can be very, very close to any of the top six teams. We came away to a top four team and after ten or 15 minutes of the second half we were the team really playing in their half all the time.

“People started getting nervous in the stands because Boro couldn’t get out. Saying that, you need to take one chance or create something or finish one move. That was the difference.

“It was very close, so we need to be in certain ways pleased with the performance. It’s the last ball where you need quality or to make the right decision. It was nearly there but not good enough.”

Middlesbrough v Albion - five pages of analysis in The Argus today