Kerry Mayo warned Albion's Championship opponents today that one of them is facing a hiding.

Seagulls supporters are desperately hoping it is sooner rather than later.

Tomorrow, in fact, at relegation rivals Crewe.

The battle of the bottom two represents an opportunity for Albion to shrug aside their shyness in front of goal.

They have hit the target just once during an unfortunate run of four straight defeats but Crewe have the worst defence in the country.

Dario Gradi's strugglers are leaking goals at a rate of more than two per game.

They could be in trouble again if Albion take the kind of openings they created and squandered against Coventry, Leicester, Norwich and Watford.

Mayo predicted: "Eventually somebody is going to be on the wrong end of a trouncing from us, 3-0 or 4-0.

"In the last few games we have played the other team have gone ahead when we should already have been two or three up ourselves.

"If we start putting our chances away it's a different ball game. People will be looking at us as a totally different side."

Mayo is hoping history does not repeat itself. He is one of the few survivors of the side beaten at Crewe last season.

The team that day included Adam Virgo, Dan Harding, Darren Currie, Leon Knight and Michel Kuipers, as Albion continued a gruesome record at Gresty Road.

They have lost on all five visits so it is just as well that Crewe have renamed their ground the Alexandra Stadium this season.

"I played centre back up there last year," Mayo said. "Again we were the better side but came away losing 3-1.

"It was one of those games like we've had quite a lot of lately. The manager is frustrated, the players are frustrated, but we're composed enough to get on with the job in hand.

"It's not a must-win game but we are going to go there to win. If we keep playing the way we are then eventually we will turn it around, even though I know we are running out of games.

"We're not thinking about being relegated, we are thinking about staying up in this division.

"Sunderland will be coming down. The Stadium of Light and the Walkers Stadium are the sort of places we want to be playing at.

"We're not looking behind us and we're not getting down. After Saturday's result, whatever the outcome, we will be pushing on for the next game."

Mayo's role tomorrow has been affected by Richard Carpenter's unexpectedly prompt recovery from a calf injury which forced him out of last Saturday's narrow home defeat by Watford during the warm-up.

Mayo took Carpenter's place in the centre of midfield after steady performances in the position at Norwich in the previous game and at Southampton last month, when he scored.

The versatile stalwart, who is in his testimonial season, said: "When I joined as a youth team player I was a left midfielder.

"I played centre midfield for Jimmy Case when he gave me my debut and stayed there for the rest of that season and most of the next as well.

"It was when Micky Adams came that I started playing at leftback really.

"I didn't have time to think about it last week when Chippy was complaining about his calf.

"When you get told to do a job it's no different, your mind is set on the game anyway.

"It's great news that Chippy has only been out for a few days instead of weeks, as we initially all thought."

Carpenter is a certain starter, providing he suffers no late reaction. His experience will be important against a Crewe side low on confidence. They have not won since Bonfire Night at Millwall.

Mayo has a big night of his own looming at the Coral greyhound stadium in Hove next Tuesday, the latest event in his benefit calendar.

But first things first. Albion could, so to speak, be going to the dogs if they lose tomorrow.