Albion chief Steve Coppell has called on his players to "scratch, bite and battle" their way out of relegation trouble.

Coppell tries to end a horror run of ten straight League defeats when he launches his reign against promotion challengers Sheffield United at Withdean tomorrow.

The Seagulls cannot buy their way out of strife at the foot of the First Division, so Martin Hinshelwood's successor will be attempting to alter what he has in a bid to instigate a revival.

"Realistically, if you keep on doing what you are doing then you are going to get more of what you've got, so there have to be changes," Coppell said. "There has to be a different way of doing things.

"One solution is to bring new players in. That's not really an option, so the changes then have to be of a playing nature.

"Defensively we have got to get tighter, from an attacking point of view we haven't scored in seven games so we have got to improve in every department.

"It's scratch, bite, battle, do whatever you have to do to get results for 30 odd games from here on in.

"Whatever happens I want the players to know they have been in a game, I want Sheffield United to know they have been in a game and I want the supporters to appreciate the fact that the 11 players who play for Albion are going to be giving their all."

Coppell has been in the job for ten days, but it was not until yesterday that he had the full squad together for the first time.

He spent last weekend studying a succession of video nasties, tapes of Albion's matches this season and the defensive howlers which have cost them so many points.

"There have been unfortunate results," he said. "Some of the goals given away have been bizarre. These things happen and you have got to bounce back from that.

"If we all improve five per cent here and there and get our act together we will be okay. All I can ask is that the players respond.

"Some players may be upset after Saturday that I have not selected them. I will have to see their reaction. Is it 'I'm going to show him' or sulk in the corner. I am going to learn all these things in the next couple of weeks.

"It's a steep learning curve for me. I just want to know I have given my all and I am sure the players don't want to give up lightly what they have worked so hard for."

Coppell's team selection will be "an educated stab in the dark", based on instinct, his memories of playing against Brighton last season at Brentford and the opinions of the backroom staff, including Hinshelwood in his new role as director of football.

That may mean recalls for Gary Hart, Charlie Oatway and Guy Butters in place of Daniel Marney, Dean Hammond and suspended skipper Danny Cullip.

"It could be a totally different eleven the following week," Coppell said. "It really is suck it and see."