Nottingham Forest 3, Albion 0.

The success or otherwise of Albion's automatic promotion challenge will be determined by performance levels.

More performances like those produced away to Barnsley and at home to Reading will see them over the line.

More displays likes this one and, before that this year, at Preston, Huddersfield and even Brentford where they snatched a point, will condemn them to the lottery of the play-offs again.

You can play well and still not win, even lose, if key moments or decisions go against you.

The reverse can be true, as away regulars will testify. Albion got more than they deserved either side of Christmas at Birmingham and Fulham.

Generally speaking though, over a period of games, good levels will yield good results. That is what Albion need now in the 11 that remain to see the job through.

The spirit, the togetherness, is not a matter for debate. What is up for scrutiny is the ability to reach the standards they are capable of as the pressure builds - and to minimise the type of errors that cost points.

The three goals responsible for the heaviest defeat of the season were all due to mistakes. The first, and most crucial, was by the officials, the second by David Stockdale wrecked any chance of retrieving a result, the late third by Lewis Dunk compounded a wretched afternoon on the banks of the Trent.

Albion are in deep water defensively because of injuries. Liam Rosenior's welcome return from seven months out has eased a left-back crisis, caused by Seb Pocognoli's groin issue on top of Gaetan Bong's absence since early January with knee trouble.

The one area they could ill-afford further disruption was at the heart of the back four, where the partnership between Shane Duffy and Dunk has underpinned the push for the Premier League.

The Seagulls can, yet again after last season's injury-ravaged exit from the play-offs, count themselves extremely unfortunate in this respect.

News of Connor Goldson's season-ending heart scare came soon after the closure of the January transfer window.

The ankle injury sustained by Duffy (below) after he had been thrown up front in the closing stages at the City Ground threatens to be more damaging than the result.

The Argus: Where does this leave Albion? With Uwe Huenemeier, whose own injury-induced activity over the last 15 months was exposed at Brentford, and rookie Chelsea loanee Fikayo Tomori.

A better option may be to move Bruno back into the middle, where the skipper started the season, and use Tomori at right-back. Which ever solution Chris Hughton chooses, the defence which has kept 17 clean sheets suddenly has a severely makeshift feel to it.

This is where the renowned dressing room unity will be vital. There is nothing to be gained from Albion feeling sorry for themselves.

If anything, they need to try to harness it as extra motivation, not that any is really required. Triumph over adversity and all that.

A scrappy contest, devoid of meaningful creativity from both sides, turned against Albion on the hour in disputed circumstances.

Zach Clough had only just been introduced when his shot was glanced in by Britt Assombalonga from an offside position.

A replay was shown on the big screen, which is not supposed to happen when there is any element of controversy.

Albion players pointed to the evidence, but referee Oliver Langford rightly ignored the screen and decided the goal should stand after consulting his assistant, who should have spotted Assombalonga's deflection.

Chris Hughton, a little surprisingly after the gruelling defeat by Newcastle, limited the changes for the third match in a week to Rosenior's return. Solly March, Oliver Norwood and Tomer Hemed were all introduced in the retrieval mission, but Albion's attacking endeavours were unconvincing throughout.

Hopes of a point, never mind three, evaporated when Stockdale initially dealt competently with a backpass from Rosenior at an awkward height with his first touch.

The Argus: He fatally wanted a second touch, while apparently oblivious to the lurking Ben Osborn, who picked his pocket (above).

Stockdale escaped with a similar incident against Newcastle, when Yoan Gouffran intercepted his pass. Goalkeepers comfortable with the ball at their feet always run the risk of such embarrassment and Albion's No.1 is still well in credit over the course of the season.

Dunk, who has also been outstanding, brought down young sub Ben Brereton deep into injury time, leaving Clough to complete the misery from the spot.

Albion need Dunk more than ever now to maintain form and also to keep his head. Another needless booking, his 12th, means he is three away from a three-match ban.

Hughton said: "Credit to Dunky. If I look at recent games, he knows where he is as regards bookings and he's been good. He has improved in this period of time.

"We now have a tough away game at Rotherham on Tuesday and I have to pick a side that is going to get a result there.

"At the moment I'm not happy, because it's a performance we didn't want, a result we didn't want.

"I can't say we deserved to win the game. I think the first goal changes things, that's a fact, but it happened and we've got to respond to that. We needed to play better than we did."