The more Albion evolve as a Premier League club, the more challenging it will become to maintain the tight-knit unity that helped them to promotion and safety in their first season.

Unsung members of the squad like Gaetan Bong are crucial to the process.

Players that Chris Hughton can depend upon, not just to perform consistently but also not to rock the boat, mature enough to recognise that survival among the elite is a squad game.

So, when Bong's run of 14 successive Premier League appearances at left-back ended with Brazilian newcomer Bernardo taking his place on the opening day of the season at Watford, there was no sulking.

Bong knew his chance would come again, perhaps not quite as soon as it did courtesy of Bernardo's uncomfortable debut at Vicarage Road (below), but certainly at some stage.

The Argus: Bong said: "The thing is before I came to England I knew it was hard and before I came here I was working very hard. Maybe the lucky thing is I came from the Championship, because the Championship makes you adapt in this league.

"You realise everything is not only about football. I had a funny conversation with Ali (Alireza Jahanbakhsh), because most of the time in training his opposition is me.

"I think after a couple of days he wanted to move a little bit, because he understood even in training I am going always hard.

"It doesn't mean I'm not careful, because we are on the same team, but I know what I'm doing, every single day working hard. Everyone knows that here.

"Okay with Gaetan maybe you are going to lose something, but if I was the best left-back in the world I would not be playing for Brighton.

"I'm not perfect. I am going to bring something, but maybe there's something I won't have. But when I'm at my best level I know I can do the same things and maybe better things.

"When we went to Watford and I was on the bench I was speaking with Holebas, who I know very well from Olympiakos. I was playing in front of him there.

"He asked me, you don't play? Why not? He knows me, that's why he was asking me.

"I know when I am at my best level what I can bring. I'm not perfect, no-one if perfect. None of the players at Brighton are perfect, they all just bring something different."

The Argus: The Fulham team Bong (above right) will face at the Amex today are bringing something different to the Premier League.

They have spent in excess of £100 million after promotion in an attempt to consolidate, around twice as much as Albion did last summer.

One of the newcomers Bong could face now that the Cameroon defender has ended his self-imposed exile from international football is fellow countryman Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa.

The fee for the midfielder from Marseille was over £5 million more than the £17 million Albion paid for record buy Jahanbakhsh (below).

The Argus: Bong said. "Last year when he was playing for Marseille I think he was one of the best. I haven't watched a lot of French football, but I watched a couple of games because my friend Gomis was playing. I went to the stadium and he was a very good player, very strong, technically good, and capable to go forward, box-to-box.

"I am happy he has come to England, another good player signing in the Premier League, but we have midfielders as well and a good team.

"We just need to show him it's hard to play against Brighton. That is the best way to say welcome.

"It doesn't mean because you spend money you are going to have the best team.

"Money is not everything. We see it with many clubs. They spend millions for some players, but it doesn't mean they can adapt in this league.

"If they decide to spend then maybe theye didn't have enough players or enough good players.

"We have a different strategy at this club. We spent money as well, but I think the only difference is because we've already had one year in this league we know we have players who can play in this league.

"We showed it last year. We have just brought more players to bring more quality and to double all the positions, for everyone to know you cannot be there and chill.

"Because if you are, somebody is going to take your position."

The increased quality strength in depth created by the latest wave of overseas summer signings should enhance Albion's prospects of second season safety, as long as they buy into the unity mantra.

"Everyone in this club can play," Bong (below right) said. "It doesn't mean if you are not playing in this one you won't be playing in the next one. We need everyone and if you don't play don't take it as a punishment. Maybe we need something different.

The Argus: "That's why I want us always to be all in the same direction. For the new players, coming to England, if you are expecting to play all the games you are dreaming.

"This league is tough and if you play all the games it's because you are flying. If you are flying it's good for the team, but we saw it last year that teams who make changes and use all the players, at the end of the season they can finish well with fresh legs.

"The managers and the club know it now. It is the best way to stay (up), to have a good group and everyone going in the same direction, playing or not playing.

"If we start from the fans and after that people outside and after that people inside thinking, why is he playing? I like this one, I don't like that one.

"Then we are going nowhere and we are going to have the same feelings, players moaning, not happy. Then they don't bring something to the team, they just pull the team down.

"If you are both in the same position, both fighting to play, then you push the level higher. That is the best way for me and that is why the club this year have brought in new players, for everyone to raise their level."